Anyone running a Kozy heat Z42?

[mobetter]

How is it keeping up with these frigid temps? Are you happy with the unit, or wishing you went with something different?

Considering one of these, this and a few free standing units are on my short list. I would like some first hand accounts.

When the thermometer gets this low, I would guess the gap between the good, and not so good units come to the forefront.

Post your first or second hand observations, all input is greatly appreciated..................STAY WARM!

 

[mobetter]

Bump, for the night shift

 

[beekeeper]

Mobetter -- I've installed one in new construction. The house is still unfinished and hasn't even been insulated yet, so I've only tried it a couple of times. I'll be honest, I've been unimpressed at the amount of heat I've gotten out of it -- it seems to me that even with the fans running there the amount of heat moving out into the room isn't that great. My brother-in-law just put in one of the cheap Vozelgang "box of death" stoves, and while I wouldn't want one it certainly radiates a tremendous amount of heat. So I'm wondering if the zc / inserts are really anywhere nearly as efficient as a good free standing stove.

Take my words with a grain of salt - only have run it a couple of times and not in a good real-world environment, but since you aren't getting many comments I thought I'd chime in. I had about the same number of responses when I've asked questions here about Kozyheat.

 

[beekeeper]

Note that these aren't exactly a hot item on here -- you'll get lots of discussion on Quad / Jotul / Travis, but not much discussion on these. You can try searching old threads but there's only a few.

 

[ddhbl]

I am in Green Bay wWisconsin.

17 year old 1640 Square foot brick ranch. Z42 kept the house heated all last week wven when the outside temperature was -19F. Anytime the temperature is above 10F the unit keeps the great room at 80F and the bedrooms at 70 or above. Last week the great room was about 75 and the bedrooms never were below 66.

Very pleased with the Z42. I replaced a zero clearance gas fireplace last summer and this is my first winter witht he Z42.

Dave

 

[the_dude]

I'm running a Z42 CD and I love it. It heats my 1800 sq ft (which is very open) quite well. Last week we had highs in the negatives, and I was able to keep the furnace off most of the time. If run properly, I have also experienced 8+ hour burn times. All in all, a great unit. If I had to do it all over again, I would put in the exact same unit.

This is my first year running this fireplace and my second year in the home. Last year, from Mid Oct until now, I had used approximately 500 gallons of LP to heat my home. This year, in the same time frame I have used approximately 125 gallons. I am pleased with the ability to supplement 75% + of my heat with the ZC42.

 

[beekeeper]

Those comments sound good - hopefully I'll be of the same opinion when I get the house finished and can try it out under "real" conditions. As I noted on here a month or so ago, the fan kit sure doesn't seem to move much air on mine. I think if the fans moved more air I'd get more heat pushed into the room (yes, they're running on high, etc).

 

[the_dude]

I think you will be surprised. I have ceiling fans that run, as well as one tower fan in the doorway of the room farthest from the stove blowing toward the stove. There is usually very little temp. difference in all the rooms an the main level. Again, my home is very open, but it seems to push the heat around just fine.

 

[amitch]

What temp do you guys run your z42's at? I run mine between 450-525 measuring with a rutland thermometer half way up the doors. I have been very pleased the heat output although it takes 1-2 hours to get it up to temp.

 

[beekeeper]

I've not checked temps on mine yet, but that's what has bugged me: that it seems to take an hour or so to get a whole lot of heat out of it, which it makes it seem like you really have to crank a lot of BTU's up the chimney before much comes into the room.

 

[the_dude]

I have a rutland therm on the top center of one of the doors. When it is rolling, I am usually at around 450 degrees. I can easily achieve that in much less than 2 hours! Here is how I start from scratch.

1. Lay two small splits north to south on the far west and far east.
2. Fill middle with tinder.
3. Lay 4 small splits east to west across the two splits from step 1.
4. Lay 3 -4 4 small splits north to south across the splits from step 3.
5. Light the tinder. If the stove is 100% cold, leave the door ajar for 5 minutes or so.
6. Close door if it was open, leave air intake wide open.
7. After about 15 - 25 minutes or so, the wood should be completely engulfed in flame. Tapper back the air control. I usually close it all the way down. At this point, the Rutland usually reads around 250 or so.
8. By the time those splits burn down to coal (usually another half hour or so since I usually use basswood or other low BTU wood for kindling and they were small splits) my door therm is usually reading around 400 and I am under an hour in to the whole process from a cold start.
9. At that point, I open the air, add some higher BTU splits, and let them take off. Close down the air in 15 minutes or so, and I am rolling at the 450 mark.

I have never timed it, but I think above is pretty accurate to what I normally experience. If it is taking a lot longer to get up to temp, there could be a number of factors, such as closing down the air too soon, less than ideal moisture content of wood, etc.

 

[blkshadowsabre]

Just got my z42cd installed today,awesome heat output although my house is only 4 months old ,and 1200 sq ft,it is 28 ish outside and I am keeping the house easily at 80 degrees.I think it was worth it here in Mnly time will tell but so far so good.

 

[mobetter]

Thaks for the replies, Narrowing it down to either the Z42 or the Woodstock Fireview. Both units will require quite a bit of modification to the area that will be its new home. I like the idea of much less wood use with the smaller Fireview. But the big fire viewing area of the Z42 might go better with our current space constraints and decor (read Wife likes the look of a traditional fireplace) My guess is the heat output would be pretty close between the 2.

 

[the_dude]

Please don't take any offense, but I am quite confused. How did you get down between a non-cat fireplace and a cat wood stove as your final two options? Seems like the opposite ends of the spectrum to me. That is also a no brainer--if you have the room, the fireview all the way! I love my Z42, but a cat soapstone stove would be my preference if I had the room.

 

[mn_jon]

I have this in my home. It is about 2100 sq ft of new construction. It gets to below -40 F here and has for quite a few times this year. I am amazed at how well this thing heats. It doesn't use much wood and I do have the blower fan installed. I just wish I could keep my 1 year old away from it and burn it more often. Lately I have just been burning it hot all night. I burn primarily softer woods that I can scrounge (and season) locally. I can't imagine how hot this would burn with oak or other hard woods. We have new windows, erythane foam insulated 6inch walls and r60 in the attic also, so that may have a lot to do with it. We have offpeak heat storage to heat the slab, so I am hoping to use this more and save some $$ on the electric bill. Let me know if you have any questions.

Jon