Hi, I'm new here, but I've been researching past threads for many days. We are building a 5000 sf home, metal roof, single story, open floor plan. We live in Missouri, so winters aren't too severe. We have unliimited wood and plan on using the wood stove as our primary heat, but will have electric back up. The decision has boiled down to BKK vs Equinox. Our family of 15 really enjoys fires--even though it is completely worthless, we will miss our fireplace in our current home. Of these 2 stoves, will both be useless as far as viewing the fire? My brother owns the BKK and says it's impossible to keep clean if you do slow burns, but in his opinion, it's the best stove out there! The Eq. dealer told me the glass will stay pretty clean, but then again....he's a dealer! I'd appreciate ANY advice you can offer! Have to make a decision soon, and I'm torn! Thank you for your help.
I have been burning my Equinox 3 or 4 seasons & I will say keeping the glass clean is a relative statement.
Will it get sooted up & black not really.
Will it say clean like a window just washed with Windex ,positively not .
After 10 to 20 hours you will see a frosted look to the glass.
Between the ash & heat this is how it will say until you clean it with a wet paper towel.
You can still view the fire just fine. I dont even bother cleaning the glass but 2 or 3 times per season.
Its a very easy stove to operate & not much maintenance.
A pipe damper is a must have unless you have poor draft.
I dont care for the drop down side door. It is spring loaded to help with the weight of it.
If it was a side swing like every other stove made it wouldn't need springs. totally unnecessary ( dopey if you ask me).
Yes the spring did fail buy other than the door being heavier the door still functions. ( I replaced the spring & coated with antiseeze for lubrication
I only side load the stove I find it much easier
Will it keep up in a 5000 SF .home ? probably not. But it is a great 24 / 7 stove .
A full load ( I mean packed) depending on draft & outside temps will keep stove top 500 for hours them cool down slowly to 300 between 8 or 9 hours. Restarts at 12 hours are simply as open air control , hot coals to the front & load up.
In my application slate floor over concrete & piped out the back into brick fireplace.
Everthing gets hot & says hot . the floor & the red brick.
The colder it gets the more the stove put out.Last year
But Im at about 2500 SF.
Hope this review helps.
doug