Lopi Cape Cod

[Holzwurm]

I will do that! Thanks for the heads-up. Looks like you might get a replacement under the warranty?

 

[lopiliberty]

That sucks!! What a shame for a nice and expensive stove to crack only after one year of burning. Wonder if this was an isolated incident or all the cape cods are faulty and will develop cracks?

 

[alforit]

I planned on selling My Cape Cod because I don't need it since I got the Ashford. I was cleaning it up to make it look new, inside and out. I removed the brick to vacuum everything out real good and I found a crack! It's got a nice big crack going all the way through right where the back bolts to the bottom of the stove. You might want to remove your firebrick and take a look! Bummer!

WOW Webby, that sucks...............Not good for a stove of that price.....Will be interested to hear what lopi has to say about it. if I were them I would send you a brand new one ASAP..........and deliver it and remove your cracked one.

 

[BrowningBAR]

I planned on selling My Cape Cod because I don't need it since I got the Ashford. I was cleaning it up to make it look new, inside and out. I removed the brick to vacuum everything out real good and I found a crack! It's got a nice big crack going all the way through right where the back bolts to the bottom of the stove. You might want to remove your firebrick and take a look! Bummer!

Well, good thing I didn't buy it from you!

 

[NVHunter]

Dang Webby that is bad news Hopefully this was a fluke and not a bigger issue for Lopi.

I was going to ask you how many square feet you are heating with your Ashford now?

Whats your total square footage of your place? Does it seem like the Cape Cod or the Ashford was a better fit for you?

I'm on the fence with these two stoves. I have 2300 square feet to heat and want to hear it from someone who has personal knowledge of how both stoves preform. Your the best to ask as you have real experience with both. I also have cathedral ceilings for half the house (where the stove will be installed too)

Thanks for the input and good luck with the replacement.

 

[webby3650]

Well, good thing I didn't buy it from you!

I would have found it no matter who bought it. I always go through them with a fine toothed comb before I sell one!

 

[webby3650]

Dang Webby that is bad news Hopefully this was a fluke and not a bigger issue for Lopi.

I was going to ask you how many square feet you are heating with your Ashford now?

Whats your total square footage of your place? Does it seem like the Cape Cod or the Ashford was a better fit for you?

I'm on the fence with these two stoves. I have 2300 square feet to heat and want to hear it from someone who has personal knowledge of how both stoves preform. Your the best to ask as you have real experience with both. I also have cathedral ceilings for half the house (where the stove will be installed too)

Thanks for the input and good luck with the replacement.

I have 2200 square feet, the Ashford is right in the middle of the house where the cod was. The Cod, like all non-cats make a lot of heat but its hard to keep a regulated temperature. It's nice to wake up to warm house and stove full of coals! It's a much more even heat. I plan to add the blower soon, with this design I think the blower make a big difference.

 

[NVHunter]

So the Ashford is working pretty good for you then?

My only concern is that I won't be able to put the stove in the middle of the house. My alcove idea fell through so my only other option is where the gas fireplace is (far south side of the house, completely opposite of the bedrooms)

Would the Ashford get enough warm air out to allow the ceiling fans to move the air around?

 

[webby3650]

That would be hard for any stove. I don't see why the Ashford would be any different than any other stove in this situation.
Is there no way to add a chimney so it can be centrally located?

 

[NVHunter]

I could do the alcove in the center of the house but the wife said no. The stove's hearth pad would stick 12" out into the hallway and with little ones running around she's afraid they'll get hurt.

She wants the stove to be where the gas fireplace is currently at. The location where the gas place is at will be an easier install and I'm sure it will heat that half of the house (kitchen, dinning room, family room and living room) with no problem.

Do you think with a blower and the ceiling fans moving the air around I'll be able to move the warm air around some what? This is why I'm now leaning towards the cape cod with a fan, says it will heat 3,000square feet with the fan...

I have central forced air heating currently from a natural gas furnace. The stove is to supplement and help lower the gas consumption during the winter.

Still on the fence with the stoves... Both have there pluses and minuses...

I'll draw a sketch of my floor plan and show everyone what the house looks like and where the stove will probably go.

Thanks

 

[lakeguy]

I planned on selling My Cape Cod because I don't need it since I got the Ashford. I was cleaning it up to make it look new, inside and out. I removed the brick to vacuum everything out real good and I found a crack! It's got a nice big crack going all the way through right where the back bolts to the bottom of the stove. You might want to remove your firebrick and take a look! Bummer!

Hi Cape Cod folks!
I am too am quite disappointed with my beautiful new CC burn times, seemingly erratic cat performance, voracious firewood consumption, poor airwash at lower settings, and more time at clean up than my previous stoves. At this time think I will try to get it through the winter, but if these things don't improve will go elsewhere and take a loss on the CC. So far advice from rep and dealer, not very helpful. Maybe will study the Ashford if we can't work out the bugs in the CC as the BK people have the cat technology down pat. Lakeguy

 

[alforit]

I would have found it no matter who bought it. I always go through them with a fine toothed comb before I sell one!

I think BB was just joking with you .......

 

[webby3650]

Hi Cape Cod folks!
I am too am quite disappointed with my beautiful new CC burn times, seemingly erratic cat performance, voracious firewood consumption, poor airwash at lower settings, and more time at clean up than my previous stoves. At this time think I will try to get it through the winter, but if these things don't improve will go elsewhere and take a loss on the CC. So far advice from rep and dealer, not very helpful. Maybe will study the Ashford if we can't work out the bugs in the CC as the BK people have the cat technology down pat. Lakeguy

I didn't experience poor burn times or dirty glass. In fact it has the cleanest glass of any stove I have ran to date! I can get the 12 hour burn time out of it. When it was cold I would be loading every 8 hours, that's pretty common for most stoves.
What do you mean by "erratic cat performance"?

Here's some low burn dirty glass.

 

[webby3650]

I could do the alcove in the center of the house but the wife said no. The stove's hearth pad would stick 12" out into the hallway and with little ones running around she's afraid they'll get hurt.

She wants the stove to be where the gas fireplace is currently at. The location where the gas place is at will be an easier install and I'm sure it will heat that half of the house (kitchen, dinning room, family room and living room) with no problem.

Do you think with a blower and the ceiling fans moving the air around I'll be able to move the warm air around some what? This is why I'm now leaning towards the cape cod with a fan, says it will heat 3,000square feet with the fan...

I have central forced air heating currently from a natural gas furnace. The stove is to supplement and help lower the gas consumption during the winter.

Still on the fence with the stoves... Both have there pluses and minuses...

I'll draw a sketch of my floor plan and show everyone what the house looks like and where the stove will probably go.

Thanks

I think that the Cape Cod with a blower will make tons of heat and will do a nice job. I will blast some serious heat but in turn will sacrifice burn times. So, if you think BIG heat in short bursts will do better in your set-up then it will certainly do it.
The Ashford is much more even and gentle, once the place is warm it will run for a long time. But if you have to keep it on high to do the job, they will be using the same amount of wood.

 

[NVHunter]

Yea, I don't mind refueling the fire. I think I'm gonna go for the Cape Cod once I get things in order.

Thanks again for all the input everyone. Sounds like it will heat the house and that's what I want even if I have to refuel it every 12 or so hours

 

[Grisu]

Sounds like it will heat the house and that's what I want even if I have to refuel it every 12 or so hours

And that sounds like a spoiled cat-stove owner. (non-cat owner loading his stove about every 6 to 8 hours.)

 

[Grisu]

I didn't experience poor burn times or dirty glass. In fact it has the cleanest glass of any stove I have ran to date! I can get the 12 hour burn time out of it. When it was cold I would be loading every 8 hours, that's pretty common for most stoves.
What do you mean by "erratic cat performance"?

Here's some low burn dirty glass.

Forget it, webby. BB and I already offered him some help to get the most out of his Cape Cod but he just wants to rant apparently.

 

[webby3650]

Forget it, webby. BB and I already offered him some help to get the most out of his Cape Cod but he just wants to rant apparently.

Don'y know how I missed that one?

 

[lakeguy]

Forget it, webby. BB and I already offered him some help to get the most out of his Cape Cod but he just wants to rant apparently.

Look guys, please don't patronize me or call me a ranting liar and talk down to me as I actually do own this Cape Cod and run it every day and I have some real problems with its performance. Eg. Best burn time so far is 5 to 6 hr - dealer and rep advice so far with not much impact on problems. Nice people but problems persist.

That is how our CC behaves day
day after day not withstanding advice from from various non CC owner "experts". Been running various wood stoves for 35 years and have no axes to grind whatsoever. The honest truth is, dare I say it? I am disappointed with how this new unit is behaving so far. So please only offer advice unless you actually run one of these CC hybrids, had a similar set of problems and have something practical of substance or helpful to say. Wondering if some configurations or set ups of this unit may give this one the worst attributes of tube stoves and cats instead of the best of "hybrid strength". Guess I thought i would have much better performance for my $3500 and all the written advertising. Anyone with any practical suggestions for this unit? Installation was done by a very reputable dealer. Firewood is dry DFir. So far no practical answers!!??

 

[alforit]

Look guys, please don't patronize me or call me a ranting liar and talk down to me as I actually do own this Cape Cod and run it every day and I have some real problems with its performance. Eg. Best burn time so far is 5 to 6 hr - dealer and rep advice so far with not much impact on problems. Nice people but problems persist.

That is how our CC behaves day
day after day not withstanding advice from from various non CC owner "experts". Been running various wood stoves for 35 years and have no axes to grind whatsoever. The honest truth is, dare I say it? I am disappointed with how this new unit is behaving so far. So please only offer advice unless you actually run one of these CC hybrids, had a similar set of problems and have something practical of substance or helpful to say. Wondering if some configurations or set ups of this unit may give this one the worst attributes of tube stoves and cats instead of the best of "hybrid strength". Guess I thought i would have much better performance for my $3500 and all the written advertising. Anyone with any practical suggestions for this unit? Installation was done by a very reputable dealer. Firewood is dry DFir. So far no practical answers!!??

Lakeguy,

Sorry to hear about your Cape Cod issues...........I don't think member Grisu was trying to patronize you or talk down to you.......They are actually trying to help you by suggesting you start a thread with the title that you are having problems with your cape cod.....Example: Need Help with Cape Cod ............ I think the way you came in to the other thread and this thread looked like you were just wanting to vent.

So try it again , and start a thread for help. You will get lots of help here .

 

[Grisu]

Look guys, please don't patronize me or call me a ranting liar and talk down to me as I actually do own this Cape Cod and run it every day and I have some real problems with its performance. Eg. Best burn time so far is 5 to 6 hr - dealer and rep advice so far with not much impact on problems. Nice people but problems persist.

That is how our CC behaves day
day after day not withstanding advice from from various non CC owner "experts". Been running various wood stoves for 35 years and have no axes to grind whatsoever. The honest truth is, dare I say it? I am disappointed with how this new unit is behaving so far. So please only offer advice unless you actually run one of these CC hybrids, had a similar set of problems and have something practical of substance or helpful to say. Wondering if some configurations or set ups of this unit may give this one the worst attributes of tube stoves and cats instead of the best of "hybrid strength". Guess I thought i would have much better performance for my $3500 and all the written advertising. Anyone with any practical suggestions for this unit? Installation was done by a very reputable dealer. Firewood is dry DFir. So far no practical answers!!??

I concluded you are ranting because you did not even ask webby who successfully ran a Cape Cod for advise but instead just criticized the stove. In addition, we have now three people who recommended to open a new thread which is still missing. This is the most helpful forum I know on the internet. I dare to say we could help more than 95% of people who came here with problems with their stove. Sure, it may be tiring to answer a bunch of questions and there is no warranty that we will fix your problems but so far you have not even given us a chance. In case you are really interested in getting meaningful heat out of the Cape Cod and actually open a new thread maybe you can already include the answers to the following questions:

1. How long has that DougFir been split and stacked in the open getting lots of sun and wind exposure? Was it top-covered? Do you have a moisture meter? Did you measure the inside of a freshly opened split?
2. What kind of chimney do you have? How tall is it? Is your house rather air-tight? Do you have an outside air kit?
3. How do you start the fire? When do you close the door? How many pieces do you load at a time? What happens when you start reducing the air? What is the lowest air setting you can run the stove?
4. Do you have a stove thermometer? What kind of temps do you see? What does the cat probe say?

Maybe there is something wrong with the stove like having a crack similar to webby's but that is also something we can try to figure out.

 

[Holzwurm]

1. How long has that DougFir been split and stacked in the open getting lots of sun and wind exposure? Was it top-covered? Do you have a moisture meter? Did you measure the inside of a freshly opened split? 2. What kind of chimney do you have? How tall is it? Is your house rather air-tight? Do you have an outside air kit? 3. How do you start the fire? When do you close the door? How many pieces do you load at a time? What happens when you start reducing the air? What is the lowest air setting you can run the stove? 4. Do you have a stove thermometer? What kind of temps do you see? What does the cat probe say?

Good questions! But could be misunderstood as patronizing by someone with 35 years experience... But there might also lie the problem. If this is maybe Lakeguy's first EPA stove, the CC won't behave like any of the others he had. I have very limited experience with our CC, but I can tell you that it runs completely different than my non-cat UShearth 2000 stove in the barn. It takes a while to heat up the stovetop temps to 500 F before the stove gets 'over the hump' and it's downhill from there.


Notice the difference between the stovetop and the flute. I choose to go by the top indicator since it is actually connected to the burn box instead of the shelf which had the convection air as insulation. webby3650 where did you take your temps?

 

[BrowningBAR]

I would have found it no matter who bought it. I always go through them with a fine toothed comb before I sell one!

I was only joking.

 

[BrowningBAR]

Look guys, please don't patronize me or call me a ranting liar and talk down to me as I actually do own this Cape Cod and run it every day and I have some real problems with its performance. Eg. Best burn time so far is 5 to 6 hr - dealer and rep advice so far with not much impact on problems. Nice people but problems persist.

That is how our CC behaves day
day after day not withstanding advice from from various non CC owner "experts". Been running various wood stoves for 35 years and have no axes to grind whatsoever. The honest truth is, dare I say it? I am disappointed with how this new unit is behaving so far. So please only offer advice unless you actually run one of these CC hybrids, had a similar set of problems and have something practical of substance or helpful to say. Wondering if some configurations or set ups of this unit may give this one the worst attributes of tube stoves and cats instead of the best of "hybrid strength". Guess I thought i would have much better performance for my $3500 and all the written advertising. Anyone with any practical suggestions for this unit? Installation was done by a very reputable dealer. Firewood is dry DFir. So far no practical answers!!??

No one is calling you a liar. No one is talking down to you. People are trying to get you to post what the problems are and how you operate the stove.

1. What was your previous stove?
2. How are you loading this stove? (split sizes & how many splits)
3. How are you operating the stove? (what are your air control settings?)
4.What are your stove top temps?
5. How dry is your wood? (how long has it been cut, split, & stacked?)
6. Is your chimney lined?

 

[lakeguy]

No one is calling you a liar. No one is talking down to you. People are trying to get you to post what the problems are and how you operate the stove.

1. What was your previous stove?
2. How are you loading this stove? (split sizes & how many splits)
3. How are you operating the stove? (what are your air control settings?)
4.What are your stove top temps?
5. How dry is your wood? (how long has it been cut, split, & stacked?)
6. Is your chimney lined?

Sorry for not knowing your protocols re starting threads as I am new to your forum.
Thanks for the response and good questions. Answers:
1. Three previous stoves. Still running a Godin Grand in the shop. Still a workhorse and still a great performer. Have run lots of stoves over the years. Such as an airtight Mountain Aire with bimetal air control then a VC Reliant hybrid cat, The CC hybrid seems like a different animal all together.
2. I am loading up with 16 inch splits of about 4 inch diameter. Maybe it's my 16 inch lengths that are an issue? As CC is all EW which leaves pretty big spaces at each side?

Do our own firewood. Wood is processed - one year stacked outside top covered with pallet top but rain screened and at least one year in ventilated woodshed. Have always used moisture meter checks and check split faces.

Start off with cedar kindling top down method to bowl of smaller splits. No problems with startup at all in fact the CC stove starts easily but always no leftover overnight coals.

3. Have two stove thermometers. One on pipe and one on stove top as per manual advice. Will move the stove top one up the collar as per your good advice ... Thanks.
4. Run it up to 350 then close damper. Keep air wide open to 400 then throttle down a bit keeping at 400 ish. When overnight fill her up burn wide open with bypass open till new wood really burning well and close damper and throttle fully down air.
6. Replaced chimney with new stainless at install - outside with total length 6 ft in and 6 ft out... Chimney draws well but is not causing any over firing issues. Install done by certified tech.

CC Beautiful stove with lovely fires but burn times about 1/2 of what we expected. Hence the frustration. Thanks for any suggestions. Don't want to be a bother.