Scandia wood stove

[jb in ny]

I have a stove that is marked "Scandia" on either end with no other markings. It vents through the top and has a damper like a fireplace inside plus a small level on the top of the back of the stove to open a little door vent near the bottom.

I know that Scandia went out of business for a while and was told that there a "Taiwan" models out there. How do I know if mine is a real Scandia? It's size is 23" depth including the ash collector on the front, 33" wide and 31" high.

It has an 8" pipe with a reducer from 8" to 7". Can I put an 8" to 6" reducer on the pipe?

Any information would be appreciated. Thank you, Diane

 

[begreen]

Post a picture, Craig may be able to id it. Most Scandia around here are not desirable. They are cheap knockoffs of Jotuls, etc.. If there is no plate on the back of the stove it's pre EPA and I wouldn't bother with it.

 

[jb in ny]

When you say plate on the back of the stove - there is a piece of metal across the whole back of the stove - does that mean it has a cataylic element and it should not be used without it? I will try to get a picture as soon as we get it out of storage. Thanks for your reply, Diane

 

[Corie]

Diane, I agree with BEgreen. It would be much easier for us to make a diagnoses if we have some nice clear pictures to go by.

 

[jb in ny]

Will do - might take a couple of day. But were there models that were equipped with catalytic elements (I'm certain I'm not using the correct terminology) but air tight stoves is what I'm wondering about. In a stove like that, I think I would prefer to buy new than mess with one that I would have to reinstall parts to. I live in upstate NY and the majority of chimney fires here are associated with airtight stoves and the owners lack of knowledge on how to burn them.

I currently burn pre-EPA stoves - one 1897, a 1928 Kitchen Maid wood/gas which is a great heat source when the temperatures drop below 25 and a Heatrola - at least that's what my father-in-law calls it because it shaped like a Victrola record player and was probably a coal stove. That is in perfect condition and burns a good wood fire also. So you can understand my hesitancy to burn a used airtight. Was given a nice blue Vermont Castings but it needs parts so I will probably just sell it. I digress - sorry- I will get a picture. Thanks, Diane

 

[Corie]

If in fact this used stove is a Scandia, you would be mucher better off (depending on what exactly it needs) sticking with the Vermont Castings.

 

[begreen]

When you say plate on the back of the stove - there is a piece of metal across the whole back of the stove - does that mean it has a cataylic element and it should not be used without it? I will try to get a picture as soon as we get it out of storage. Thanks for your reply, Diane

That "may" be a heat shield? The plate I'm talking about will be about 3 x 5 inches, typically silverish and will have a lot of info on it about clearances, EPA approval etc. Dust off the camera and take some pics. Also take some pictures of the Vermont Castings including the areas that need repair. See if the VC stove has an EPA plate onthe back of it too. As Corie noted, it could be a far better stove.