Wood Stock Progress Hybrid

[NE WOOD BURNER]

Have not been on in some time.
A little update:
new stove was hooked up in September and has been running perfectly!
it has been warm this year, but we have kept her going most every day!
We are finding it certainly fit our needs well. very controllable heat.
We have been using the cook top for extra burners at gathering times and we usually make chili and soups regularly. We did find the pot needs to be raised off the cook top for slow cooking.
We did however notice that our kindling pile is still the same. since we have not had to relight so often as we used to in the my old fisher!
This will be the second year heating from the first floor, so we will see how it goes!
We sold the jotul insert, tore down the three flue chimney and rebuilt a brick chimney in process of a new hearth in place of the old fireplace. intentions are to install another progress Hybrid on the hearth.
Happy New Year!

 

[JA600L]

How long do you let it go between reloads?

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

My lady loads it in the morning no later than 5am. and refills when she returns at 6-7pm. of course its not cold yet. so the real test will be when we dip below freezing.

 

[toddnic]

Glad you are enjoying the Progress Hybrid! It is an amazing woodstove. We have been unseasonably warm here in western North Carolina but have started using it again over the past few nights. The good news is that I don't have to be as worried about collecting wood this year since we are not burning as much. Your house must be really big to need 2 PH's

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

Glad you are enjoying the Progress Hybrid! It is an amazing woodstove. We have been unseasonably warm here in western North Carolina but have started using it again over the past few nights. The good news is that I don't have to be as worried about collecting wood this year since we are not burning as much. Your house must be really big to need 2 PH's

Its not a huge house. its a cape . we installed our first one on a new hearth in the kitchen area on one end of the house. my intention was to use this stove on the hearth in the livingroom and install a cook stove in the kitchen. I find that this one can be controlled so well that a second one would gain me more burner space and allow for a nice view of the fire where the old fireplace was. I am 45 minutes from Woodstock so buying local is a major consideration for my new thought process. and having heat and cooking capability for anticipated power outages is a great benifit.

 

[begreen]

My lady loads it in the morning no later than 5am. and refills when she returns at 6-7pm. of course its not cold yet. so the real test will be when we dip below freezing.

Sounds like a keeper! (the lady and the stove)

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

Sounds like a keeper! (the lady and the stove)

Yes! the heating system works best with a working country Girl!

 

[Woody Stover]

its not cold yet. so the real test will be when we dip below freezing.

From what I've read, that thing is a heat monster and burns plenty long. I don't think you'll have any problem. Of course, high-output woods like White Oak etc. will really stretch your burn times at higher air settings. With primo wood even my little Dutchwest will keep our small house between 68 and 72 on 12-hr. loads, with outside temps of 40/20. When it gets to single digits and windy, I have to load at 8 hrs. and might have to run the blower if I let room temp drop too far before reloading.

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

From what I've read, that thing is a heat monster and burns plenty long. I don't think you'll have any problem. Of course, high-output woods like White Oak etc. will really stretch your burn times at higher air settings. With primo wood even my little Dutchwest will keep our small house between 68 and 72 on 12-hr. loads, with outside temps of 40/20. When it gets to single digits and windy, I have to load at 8 hrs. and might have to run the blower if I let room temp drop too far before reloading.

Agree on the Oak! the wood is very dry maple,birch and ash currently. i reserved my oak for the colder temps. I find so far that the continuous burn and heat retention of the stove certainly takes away the swing of hot to cold. upstairs is plenty warm just from natural air flow.

 

[toddnic]

From what I've read, that thing is a heat monster and burns plenty long. I don't think you'll have any problem. Of course, high-output woods like White Oak etc. will really stretch your burn times at higher air settings. With primo wood even my little Dutchwest will keep our small house between 68 and 72 on 12-hr. loads, with outside temps of 40/20. When it gets to single digits and windy, I have to load at 8 hrs. and might have to run the blower if I let room temp drop too far before reloading.

It is currently about 35 degrees outside and we have a couple of outside doors open to regulate the temperature inside (and that is with a couple of softwood splits and a couple of small hardwood splits). The stove is unbelievable in its heat output. We have a few days here in western NC with subzero temps and the PH has no problem keeping the house warm.

 

[fire_man]

I'm a happy PH owner, too. I switched out a Fireview for the PH and never looked back. The ashpan is fantastic. One trick I found is it's best to keep the air lever open a bit (even in warmer weather) to make sure it burns cleanly with no smoke trail and less soot buildup.

 

[Setter Fan]

Northeast wood burner, can you compare the heat output of your Jotul insert vs the Progress Hybrid?

I have a Jotul 550 and have been looking to replace or just add the Progress Hybrid to our house. Really looking for longer burn times and additional heat. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

Well the jotul insert was a beauty! but it was an insert in an outside chimney fireplace. I did heat last year with it no trouble and some oil. blower ran 24/7 on high with a box fan to move the heat. reload every 4-6 hours. mind you it is a smaller appliance but met the temporary need we had waiting for the PH. The PH is on the opposite end of my cape with a new interior steel chimney on a new hearth right next to kitchen. very convenient. it has been burning since approx. middle of October with no trouble. if its warm out we just throw in 2-3 pieces and turn down low. but my lady just chucks it full when she leaves for her 12 hour shift and turns air down low and returns to coals and refills. house is warm and cozy. approximate 14 hours span. using birch,ash and maple 3 years dry.
It would not be fair to compare heat outputs of the jotul to the PH. The PH is a heater! No fans!
I have run many different brands of stoves in my 46 years. delivered and installed hundreds of stoves(wood and coal) by far this is the easiest i have run for a cat stove. I cant speak for other newer cat stoves, since i am comparing to cat stoves of the 80s. i would consider this PH to be equivalant in ease of operation to the Efel hopper feed coal stove that I am familiar with.
We are planning on another PH to go on the new hearth and chimney in the living room and a third steel hybrid to go in the basement apartment/office.
Is it overkill? sure but, we have many winters that drop to below 0 for extended times here in the icebox of NH. I have experienced long power outages over the years so no fans is important.
I would not hesitate to buy a steel hybrid either, i just like the PH side load and traditional parlor stove looks for the first floor area..
I do like the factory direct sales approach. especially since i am only 45 minutes from them. and they are right next to hypertherm and we do a fair bit of business with them as well.
If you ever in NH you can check out this one or the four my brother has going.

 

[Setter Fan]

Thanks appreciate the feedback. I assumed the PH would be a big upgrade in heat output and burn times, but its good to hear real life examples.

Wife and I went up to Woodstock a few weeks ago and she really liked the Progress Hybrid over the Ideal Steel.

Also, listening to the Insert fan 24/7 along with loading every 4 hours for max heat does get annoying.

Thanks again

 

[fire_man]

That's why I upgraded from the FV to the Progress. I had to reload too many times during cold snaps. The Progress gives an easy 10 hour burn.

 

[OhioBurner©]

Northeast wood burner, can you compare the heat output of your Jotul insert vs the Progress Hybrid?

I have a Jotul 550 and have been looking to replace or just add the Progress Hybrid to our house. Really looking for longer burn times and additional heat. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I have the Ideal Steel, not a PH but close and since it replaced my Jotul 550 figure I'd throw some comments in. Only have had it since Thanksgiving (that is the day I installed it) and only run half of that time since, but in the days I have run it so far I am very impressed. My 550 just couldn't cut the mustard. During the middle of winter perhaps if you were around to run it on a high burn and reload every 4 hours, but often times when I was home on my days off I still struggled to keep that side of the house warm. It was alright for the milder days though. It could do an overnight burn if packed full but that was about it... 6-8hrs, maybe 8-10 if packed full of good BL and with the doghouse air blocked. At the beginning of '15 I was also gone from home 14hrs door to door for work and the stove could never last. I'd come home to a cold house with a cold stove that needed re-lit from paper and matches. No good. The Ideal Steel has no problems lasting 14 hrs with a full firebox, and with minimal experience with the stove I have had plenty of hot coals for a reload even after 16. And that is with 1yr ash. The PH I hear is close to this as well, but perhaps not quite the length of burn of the IS (not entirely certain).

One big change from the Jotul 550 to IS is the radiant heat. The Jotul just didn't have much. In a great room with 17-19' ceiling I'd be cold sitting in the chair 4'-6' from the stove! With the IS I can feel the radiant heat walking all around the room, it's much nicer. YMMV if your house layout is different of course. And while the blower of the 550 on high all the time wasn't too annoying, it still is nice to have a completely silent stove and feel even more heat.

The air control is much nicer too. The 550 once it was up and rolling would almost always run with the air fully closed off. Could have just been a pretty strong drafting chimney, but not much I could do about it. If the thing got away from me, again there really wasn't anything I could do except open the front door and hope the large volume of cool room air would calm the overfire. With the IS you can easily control it across a wide range, even put it right out if you go to minimum. The PH air control isn't as precise, but should be close, and better than the 550.

I haven't had the new Woodstock in a high burn / cold spell yet, it might still struggle on my 14hr days, but far better than the 550 I hope. That is where the PH might have a good advantage, I hear it has a higher burn compared to the IS. It's also a fantastically beautiful stove, I really wanted the PH. The 550 is a great looking insert too, though unfortunately I think that was it's biggest feature. I kept my 550 and plan on reinstalling it when I move out, and taking the IS with me. Or at least that is the plan so far.

 

[begreen]

Both are good heaters. You should get a lot of pleasure out of either. The comparison is not equal however. One can expect a major difference going from an insert to a freestanding stove, especially when the stove is 50% larger.

 

[Setter Fan]

The jotul is beautiful and was good last week when I was home and able to run it all out. Loading every 5 hours with three year old ash and maple.

The problem is I need to be around for re-loads to get max heat. Early morning are cold and now that I am back at the office and wife is running insert... this happens too much. Burning oil.

Thanks again, just venting!

 

[begreen]

My wife is the same way, she will only put in a few splits at a time. Oh well, at least oil is cheap this year. Did your insert get installed with an insulated block off plate? That can make an appreciable difference.

 

[Setter Fan]

Inside center chimney, 6" SS liner insulated at top and bottom (stuffed with Roxul) but no metal block off plate. Installer felt the block off plate was unnecessary and I did not know enough to argue at the time.

Debating replacing the insert or leaving it in the fireplace and installing the Progress Hybrid at the end of the house/Cape near kitchen and family room. PH would be straight up venting double wall pipe inside the house but shorter stack maybe 16/17 feet vs the 23 foot existing fireplace chimney.

Sorry to hijack the thread but have been looking for people that have gone from a small insert to a Progress Hybrid or Ideal Steel. Really appreciate the feedback.

 

[Setter Fan]

keeps the dogs happy!

 

[weatherguy]

I went from the BK princess insert to the PH. I loved the BK, long burn times threw some nice heat but the PH is a beast compared to the insert. My insert struggled when it got below 20, right now it's 18 and my office is 71, the burn times are close to the BK but not quite as long. I load one full load and two smaller loads or two full and one smaller when it's cold. The nice thing about the PH is the soapstone holds the heat a long time so even when the loads almost burned down the stoves still hot.

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

Inside center chimney, 6" SS liner insulated at top and bottom (stuffed with Roxul) but no metal block off plate. Installer felt the block off plate was unnecessary and I did not know enough to argue at the time.

Debating replacing the insert or leaving it in the fireplace and installing the Progress Hybrid at the end of the house/Cape near kitchen and family room. PH would be straight up venting double wall pipe inside the house but shorter stack maybe 16/17 feet vs the 23 foot existing fireplace chimney.

Sorry to hijack the thread but have been looking for people that have gone from a small insert to a Progress Hybrid or Ideal Steel. Really appreciate the feedback.

As begreen pointed out and I leaned toward. it is not a fair comparison between an insert and a free standing stove.
I would like to see a picture of your fireplace hearth and insert. sounds like you have an interior masonry chimney also(which is good). mine was an exterior but the insert performed better than expected. I bought it used of the Hearth classifieds. If you plan to keep the insert I bet we(hearth) can help you tweak it!
A free standing fireplace install may save you some coin if the layout permits, since you could utilize the liner in the interior chimney.
NP hijacking the thread, conversations go that way around the Hearth!

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

Sorry didn't see the attachment earlier. I noticed that your stove part of the insert is deep into the fireplace. on mine i could adjust the stove to stick out past the fascia plate. more stove in room the better.

 

[Rearscreen]

I'm sort of discredited here because I believe that the Jotul (which I have plenty of experience with) has a catchy name, looks beautiful aesthetically, and is available almost anywhere but eats way more wood than it should. I'd love to know how many people dumped their Jotul for a PH. I'd also like to know who dumped their PH for a comparable Jotul.