Which Stove to Purchase???

[Ken MO]

We are considering several stoves to purchase for out home. We are replacing a large Lopi to hopefully reduce the creosote deposition at the top of the chimney (6" stainless pipe inside an 8" clay pipe the void is packed with insulation). I want to stay away from the catalyst technology. We burn log wood and use the stove as a primary heat source in our home but we have a heat pump with propane back up. The home is about 2,300 sqft but we don't really try to heat the whole thing. It is a two story so the "easy draft" of the Osburn may be an issue.
The brand and models we are considering are:

• Osburn Matrix
• Morso 7110 B
• Spartherm-800-MO
• Enerzone Solution 3.5
• IronStrike Grandview 300
• Stuv 16-68

I have read a bunch of reviews but have not seen a side by side recommendation. Since the moderators seem to know what is going on, please make your recommendation (I am trying to get one that is EPA 2020 qualified). If your recommendation for a big stove is not in this list, please state your preferred. We like the Osburn Matrix look but functionality and reliability is preferred over appearance.

I am very mechanically competent and have various licenses (EPA for HVAC, PE, etc) so I am not concerned about a local installer or repair person as I typically perform my own work. Thus, having a local vendor is not as important as with some other folks.

Thanks,
Ken

 

[begreen]

The list needs to be narrowed down. There is a huge difference in stove sizes between these stoves. What model Lopi is currently installed? How has it worked so far for heating?

 

[Ken MO]

The Lopi model is difficult to tell but it is pretty big as its combustion chamber is 27" wide. Today I pretty much concluded I am the cause of the creosote deposition. The wood is pretty dry (on occasion I toss in one that I think is not so dry) but I pile a bunch on and close the dampers allowing just in-leaking air to do the combustion (lazy and trying to throttle the combustion). If I open the damper a bit the flames really take off and soon the wood is ash. The door seal looks good. I can push the door tight against the box and still air leaking in, probably around the inlet damper.
It works well for heating. In cold weather we burn Hedge (Osage Orange) and other times Oak, Red Elm, Walnut, etc.

 

[begreen]

Is this a very old or newer Lopi? Please post a picture of the Lopi so we can get a sense of what is currently in place and then make suggestions.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

How tall is the chimney?

 

[Ken MO]

The chimney is maybe 25'+. Pictures of the Lopi are attached. We will probably keep this but need an insert for the other house.

 

[begreen]

The Liberty is a good, clean-burning stove. If creosote is accumuating, it's likely due to how the stove is run. This could be the fire being choked down too soon or poorly seasoned wood. One thing that will help is to change the single-wall stove pipe to double-walled. That will keep the flue gases hotter. Then add a probe thermometer to the new stove pipe to track flue temps. Keep them above 350º until the coaling stage of the fire.

For the other case, it would be good to start over with a new thread and describe the other house, it's heating needs, the size of the area to be heated, etc. Specifically, we need the fireplace dimensions, the fireplace room size, and how open this room is to the rest of the house.

 

[Ken MO]

Good advice. Thanks!