Hey Mike and All, When we were going through this we looked at most of the stoves on the Planet. I was pretty close to going with the T-6; just because it was a tad bigger than the T5. I also like the Summit but the look of steel doesn't fit out house. Then we went to look at the Hearthstone's and my wife said she really like the look; which I didn't think she would at all. (unpredicatable they are).
I'd have gone for the Equinox, but the Mansfield was in stock and at an end of season price, I took it. Its been in for long enough that I can comment on it. Our house is 2400 SQ/FT with one room that is large with Cathedral ceilings on the slant 9ft/16ft and 25X40 feet L/W. My Defiant CAT and Encore CAT heated it; so I should have stuck with them. But, I fell for the BS and went with the new improved Defiant NC. (ANIGHTMARE).
Since putting in the Mansfield I'm having good luck. My first floor zone was not operating (bad zone control valve) and I didn't know it. After casual maintenance burning in the eve. we load up at around 9:30PM and get it hot (450-550) then add one more split to compensate for the burn off at 10:30 or so. At 6AM we have lots of coals and the stovetop is down to 250-300. The house has cooled off from 72 up/70down to 66up/63 down. The furnace still doesn't come on even though its set at 63 and fixed. Our temps here have been in the single digits for the past few weeks overnight and up to the 20's daytime. If I pushed the stove more I could get more heat out, but I don't need to. And, I'm still learning it and how to push it; am taking that learning process slow.
The best news is that my wife gets up first, when she comes down she rakes the coals a bit, adds a couple of splits and shuts the door. By the time I get down, all is well the temp is coming up and I top it off and go to work. We get home at 5:30PM and the house is warm, 65 or so down/ 68 up.
I have nothing but good things to say about the Mansfield. I also think the Aldera T5 or 6 would have produced the same results for us. My only problem with the Isle Royale was that the secondary burn assy rotates on open/close and I wondered how that would hold up over a 10-15 year timeframe.
If I were into the look of steel, I'd have just gone for the Summit Classic as it is one nice unit; but that look wouldn't go in our house.
In another thread, I'd commented that letting the temps float down a bit is part of living with wood burning. Unless you want to get up in middle of the night to reload. Last night I threw another two small splits on at 4AM ( I was up anyway) and my temp stayed up through 9AM. I prefer letting it cool off a tad for sleeping anyway and a full night's sleep without reloading is nice for me.
Am interested in hearing about Tom's T6 evaluation; he's always pretty much on the mark!
Best to All,
Steve.
I'd have gone for the Equinox, but the Mansfield was in stock and at an end of season price, I took it. Its been in for long enough that I can comment on it. Our house is 2400 SQ/FT with one room that is large with Cathedral ceilings on the slant 9ft/16ft and 25X40 feet L/W. My Defiant CAT and Encore CAT heated it; so I should have stuck with them. But, I fell for the BS and went with the new improved Defiant NC. (ANIGHTMARE).
Since putting in the Mansfield I'm having good luck. My first floor zone was not operating (bad zone control valve) and I didn't know it. After casual maintenance burning in the eve. we load up at around 9:30PM and get it hot (450-550) then add one more split to compensate for the burn off at 10:30 or so. At 6AM we have lots of coals and the stovetop is down to 250-300. The house has cooled off from 72 up/70down to 66up/63 down. The furnace still doesn't come on even though its set at 63 and fixed. Our temps here have been in the single digits for the past few weeks overnight and up to the 20's daytime. If I pushed the stove more I could get more heat out, but I don't need to. And, I'm still learning it and how to push it; am taking that learning process slow.
The best news is that my wife gets up first, when she comes down she rakes the coals a bit, adds a couple of splits and shuts the door. By the time I get down, all is well the temp is coming up and I top it off and go to work. We get home at 5:30PM and the house is warm, 65 or so down/ 68 up.
I have nothing but good things to say about the Mansfield. I also think the Aldera T5 or 6 would have produced the same results for us. My only problem with the Isle Royale was that the secondary burn assy rotates on open/close and I wondered how that would hold up over a 10-15 year timeframe.
If I were into the look of steel, I'd have just gone for the Summit Classic as it is one nice unit; but that look wouldn't go in our house.
In another thread, I'd commented that letting the temps float down a bit is part of living with wood burning. Unless you want to get up in middle of the night to reload. Last night I threw another two small splits on at 4AM ( I was up anyway) and my temp stayed up through 9AM. I prefer letting it cool off a tad for sleeping anyway and a full night's sleep without reloading is nice for me.
Am interested in hearing about Tom's T6 evaluation; he's always pretty much on the mark!
Best to All,
Steve.