Morso 1125 or something else / new?

[jonvan]

Hi All,

Hoping for some input to help make a decision that my wife and I are struggling with.

The scenario:

We live in an 1830's Pennsylvania stove farmhouse with a walk-in hearth that we are looking to add a wood stove in. While this will not necessarily be our primary heat (maybe it could end up being that ), we'd like it to supplement an upcoming anticipated conversion from fuel-oil furnace to heat pump (likely with propane backup as well). A previous home we rented had a VC Vigilante which we enjoyed -- ran through 3 cords of wood the last year we were there.

However, we are having a hard time deciding on a stove.

We purchased a ~1976 Morso 1125 on Marketplace that has never been been used -- the previous owner found it stored in a basement in it's original crate, apparently it had been saved for a home addition that never materialized. From my understanding, it requires an 8" insulated flue, which we would need to have installed. Currently we just have a non-lined stone chimney. While I understand the styling of the 1125 is not for everyone, we like it and it goes well with our furniture. Picture below! Full cost of installation is ~$3800 (includes stainless chase / cap, double pipe at bottom). Photo of the Morso below. We have 22" from the top of the stove body to the mantel right now with it mocked up.

I'm hesitating to invest the $3800 in installing an 8" insulated liner, as we understand that most modern (and not-so-modern) stoves use 6" liners, and if for whatever reason the Morso doesn't burn well, we are stuck with trying to find a different stove that uses 8" pipe, which seem relatively few and far between, compared to those that use 6". Most of the 8" options I've seen seem pretty large for our smaller house -- Hearthstone Green Mountain 80 (seen mixed reviews on these), I believe a Blaze King option, etc. House is ~1400sf so quite small... but the stone does get quite cold!

Alternatively, our chimney professional can source a Ventis HES240, and after you figure in the tax credit, the cost of the Ventis and 6" liner pretty much comes out to be the same cost as the 8" liner installation. If we didn't like the Ventis, we'd at least have a 6" liner that was easier to find a different stove for in the future. The simple styling and the glass door on the Ventis are appealing, though my wife doesn't like the pedestal look. Another option we saw that we like is the Lopi Evergreen NexGen. Opinions on either?

Anyways, I guess I'm just looking for confirmation that we'd be crazy to spend the money on installing the 8" liner for the Morso... or not! Any input appreciated.

 

[begreen]

The 1125 is a seriously radiant stove. It can put out a lot of heat but has large, 30" clearance requirements. The most concerning factor is the wood mantel. It's attractive, but will likely be too close to the stove. The 8" liner will need to be insulated so make sure it will fit in the chimney which will need to be cleaned before use.

 

[jonvan]

The 1125 is a seriously radiant stove. It can put out a lot of heat but has large, 30" clearance requirements. The most concerning factor is the wood mantel. It's attractive, but will likely be too close to the stove. The 8" liner will need to be insulated so make sure it will fit in the chimney which will need to be cleaned before use.

Thanks! I had seen 18" clearance requirement in the manual -- is it definitely 30"? That would be a deal breaker for this one.

 

[gthomas785]

That's a beautiful room and fireplace. Do not ruin it by putting the Ventis in there. By the way that wooden beam across is not a mantel, it's a lintel! It holds up the whole front of the chimney. And may need to be shielded depending on what stove and chimney you use. I know the 6" / 8" is a tough call when you're not totally set on the stove model. Good luck!

 

[jonvan]

Another photo showing the inside of the hearth. We will be removing the bead board and fabricating a metal backing plate (believe that is the correct term) for the flue to pass through. The lintel (thank you for the knowledge, @gthomas785!) was cut back at an angle at some point in the past... a bit odd (maybe concerning even), but gives some more clearance I guess.

 

[begreen]

Thanks! I had seen 18" clearance requirement in the manual -- is it definitely 30"? That would be a deal breaker for this one.View attachment 335914

My manual for this stove is an old photo copy but this is what it says for the 1125G (olive green version).

Resource icon

Morso Stoves

Aug 4, 2022

Morso Stoves

• webfish
• Manufacturers

 

[jonvan]

My manual for this stove is an old photo copy but this is what it says for the 1125G (olive green version).
View attachment 336112

Resource icon

Morso Stoves

Aug 4, 2022

Morso Stoves

• webfish
• Manufacturers

Thanks! The shape of the stove on that diagram looks like it is for another model? I also saw the below highlighted section on your linked manual. Not sure if this applies for the top of the stove. I'm thinking about having a heat shield fabricated for the lintel.. not sure yet.

 

[EbS-P]

that is a neat looking stove! But I’d want to see the fire. If it were me I’d probably put in a cook stove from Drolet just son I could say was eating a dinner baked in original 1830 hearth!

I vote new 6”. Check out @Ashful and his BKs in he’s giant fireplace!

 

[begreen]

that is a neat looking stove! But I’d want to see the fire. If it were me I’d probably put in a cook stove from Drolet just son I could say was eating a dinner baked in original 1830 hearth!

I vote new 6”. Check out @Ashful and his BKs in he’s giant fireplace!

It's considered a fireplace / stove and can be run with the doors open, thus the larger 8" flue requirement. There was a screen for the fireplace mode.

 

[begreen]

Thanks! The shape of the stove on that diagram looks like it is for another model? I also saw the below highlighted section on your linked manual. Not sure if this applies for the top of the stove. I'm thinking about having a heat shield fabricated for the lintel.. not sure yet.
View attachment 336113

Agreed, there is a contradiction there. I only have this old copy of the manual and don't know who made the photocopy. It would suck if they combined it with a page from another model, but that could be possible. If installed, definitely do a proper shield for the wood lintel, install a non-combustible block-off plate with an insulated ss liner up the chimney.

 

[jonvan]

Update-- looking at a Jotul F400 tomorrow. Seems like this might be a better fit considering the clearances we have available, and the glass would be nice. Still will do a non-combustible block off plate to help keep the heat in. To protect the lintel, possibly just a double wall pipe like the below example will work?

 

[EbS-P]

I like mine. I wish it was bigger. I just wrapped my liner with a an 8” piece of split black stove pipe.

 

[begreen]

The newer version is the F445.

 

[jonvan]

I like mine. I wish it was bigger. I just wrapped my liner with a an 8” piece of split black stove pipe.

Good to hear. I believe the seller (who restores older stoves) also has a 500 and a 600, so the full range to check out! Larger might(?) be overkill for our space, but hard to determine. At least they all use the 6” liner if we ever wanted to switch between them.. that was my major hang up with trying the Morso.. the limited other options with 8” flue.

 

[all night moe]

You could heat shield the lintel with a piece of metal spaced an inch away for air flow. Not sure how to do this best being at the upper lip of a fireplace opening.

I concur. What a beautiful house and fireplace.

 

[bigealta]

I like my f400 too. I might be tempted by the f500 with the side loading door and bigger firebox. It depends on how much you are going to use the stove.

 

[bigealta]

 

[all night moe]

View attachment 336340

Great pic.

 

[begreen]

Good to hear. I believe the seller (who restores older stoves) also has a 500 and a 600, so the full range to check out! Larger might(?) be overkill for our space, but hard to determine. At least they all use the 6” liner if we ever wanted to switch between them.. that was my major hang up with trying the Morso.. the limited other options with 8” flue.

The F400 will be cleaner burning and has a very nice fireview. It's a visual treat. The wood lintel will still need shielding as this also is a radiant stove. The F500 is about .5 cu ft larger.

Both of these stoves want at least 16' of flue to draft properly. A bit more wouldn't hurt due to the 8" pipe.

 

[jonvan]

The F400 will be cleaner burning and has a very nice fireview. It's a visual treat. The wood lintel will still need shielding as this also is a radiant stove. The F500 is about .5 cu ft larger.

Both of these stoves want at least 16' of flue to draft properly. A bit more wouldn't hurt due to the 8" pipe.

Just to verify, the Jotul 4/5/600 series all require a 6” pipe, correct? Or can you use them with an 8”? If it seems like these would work with an 8” liner, I’d be less hesitant to invest in properly installing the Morso as we’d have a solid backup option. I just thought the stoves designed for a 6” would have trouble drafting with a 8” insulated liner which the Morso requires we install. That being said, the cleaner burn and glass fire view of the Jotul that you mentioned are appealing… as is the wider availability of replacement parts.

 

[bigealta]

If it were me i'd put in a 6" liner and sell or put the morso in a corner as decoration.
f400, f500 use 6" not sure about the f600?