We just ordered the Encore model for our Cabin here in Franklin NC. great video thanks for inviting us into your home! more good times to come! Kenny and Marlene
I just want to say a BIG THANK YOU!!! for making this video! I reciently bought this exact woodstove, and have not started it yet. I need to read and watch videos many times before I feel confident. I am SO glad you have no idea how many times I have watched your video to get my mind wrapped around having a woodstove. I didn't grow up with wood heat so I am very much a rookie at this!! I really like how you are so easy going about explaing it, but still express important tips/trick/ and hacks. I also like how you're using it exactly how I would. Ie: heat and cooking.
Nice review, thanks. We purchased our VC Encore about 25 yrs ago; model 2550. It’s a catalytic model. Needs new gaskets, as it’s running a bit hot even when flue and primary air is off. There’s also a probe/thermostat on the back for secondary air. Need to check that for proper functioning. The catalytic element should burn the exhaust, once the element reaches 550 F, and the flue is closed to redirect exhaust thru the refractory chamber. The catalytic element on the newer Encore has much easier access for maintenance than the 2550.
Great video! We're looking into an Encore or a Defiant and have a 2200 sqft home to heat. Plan to put it in the basement, turn on furnace fans to bring warmth to the house in the winter.
Great video! Watch it before and after getting our VC Encore stove. After breaking it in for a few hours with a small fire here is our first good hot burn.
Best stove I've ever used. My house is very easy to heat so I build a small fire and this stove will keep the fire for hours. The top load feature works great, also this stove burns from the bottom because of the grate in the base , burning from the bottom of the wood allows 1 good sized flat sided stick dropped onto a good bed of coals and then closing the damper and air intake. Using this method with good seasoned oak will keep a from fire bedtime to morning. I don't use the catalytic converter, it's optional and I just don't need that much heat so it's the old fashioned way for me.
I unlatch the ash pan but leave it in place (almost closed) to add air for getting the fire going. I don’t have much air from the full open air lever. Door windows are always dirty due to low air flow on full open. I have the Defiant. Yours has a good secondary air burn. Again mine has not much air when doors and ash pan are closed….
I highly suggest just using the ash pan as your starting boost. I’ve found on my intrepid ii that if I have the front doors open the air flow is a little slower. But man that rush from the bottom gets it going in a hurry!
Get yourself a covered ash bin, that way you can quickly shovel out the ash pan into it and don't have to run outside every time you empty the ash pan, letting in all the cold air. Also since the cover fits snugly on the ash bin, you don't have to worry about any hot coals that get put in the bin. Per the owner's manual your thermometer should go on top of the griddle and once the temperature goes over 500 degrees, then it's time to flip the damper lever to engage the catalytic converter.
Open the ash door get the catch pan then close the ash pan door. Then go dump the ashes when you come back NO raging FIRE.... a few ashes in a couple minutes won't hurt. Not telling you how to go about just a little advice I've been doing it that way since Vermont put a ash pan on the Dutchwest. Over 25 years...good luck
Yes unfortunately I found this out after I did this video and can’t figure out how to correct the video and edit it. I have been around wood stoves and fireplaces my entire life but this is the first with a ash pan. Like you say it make perfect sense now and works very well. I appreciate the feedback👍
I LOVE the top load and I would never go back to the front-load-only stove. I just use the front to build a fire if the coals are dead, but for basically the entire winter I can top load perpetually. From the video it looks like your griddle doesn't have a gasket in the groove, has it always been that way? Does it work ok? Mine only tends to last a single season because it gets nicked by the logs that I put in through the top-load. On my stove, I have to engage the cat or the stove will overfire if I don't remember to turn the thermostat down to 50% or less. Also, on my stove I have the detachable handle on the cat control instead of on the front door. I think that might be wrong because my front handle is roasting pits into itself.
I think that detatchable handle wold really annoy me. I've never used a top loader either. Trying to select a make and model now for my 800sqft house in Canada. HearthstoneCraftsbury looks great, but this one is $1000. cheaper... The cooking plate looks good. I want that feature in my choice.
@@americanharleyrider8 I ended up buying a Regency F1150. Had it installed last November. It's all right, I find the door very large and cumbersome to open in front of me. Thinking that top loading door would be pretty handy. The Regency also won't burn more than 2-3 hours. The air intake lever doesn't go down low enough. Another problem with it is the ceiling of it keeps falling out if I bump it with a log. Thinking I will go for a Vermont Castings one next time. Thanks for your input.
I bought a VC Dauntless three months ago and it’s a learning curve. Choice of fuel is critical. I’ve tried different species, because of what I had available. I’m putting up next season’s wood starting now. Hickory,white oak are my choice of what I have. The top load and grate bottom are great features. My home is 1400 sq ft and I heat entirely with the VC. I have electric heat if needed as a backup.
@@marniewhitefeather2120 Thinking I'll get a Vermont Castings next time. I got a Regency and it's good, but smoke often comes out the front when loading and it can't do the overnight burn as advertised. I also find the large door cumbersome to swing out.
Great video. I’m up here in Alaska looking at one of these. Once up to temp I’m told the fire isn’t very big. My wife uses fire as TV. How low are the flames?
We have heated near 100% 24/7 with PAST VC old Defiant and Encore ( 2550 ) stoves...3 in both Mass and Maine over about 30 years. Those models when maintained and burnt well do the job. We tried the new and improved Flexburn 2040. The first one would not work since the air control was inoperative and not repairable. The dealer brought out a second 2040. This one had an uncontrolled burn, the first we ever had with previous VC stoves. Flaming logs had to be thrown in the snow. Fortunately the dealer refunded the price completely and took the SECOND Encore back. Ethics. The company was no help at all, refusing any comminication. Be warned if you use the Flexburn for real heat ( we have no central heat here in Maine ); it is unsafe from REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE. Yes, the VC stoves are pretty, but for safe, stable heat, not. Nice review BTW if you only need entertainment fires, minisplits, or for central heat furnace thermostats set at 65 F.
We’ve heated our cabin with it for three years now and we moved to this cabin this fall so use it everyday almost it has worked well. I do not like the damper lever though feels very sloppy.
My stove looks just like the one in the picture. Our damper has a lot of stuff stuck behind it and the damper won’t open. Any suggestions on how to get in there to get all the stuff out? Any help would be appreciated.
I have the same stove. I cannot understand how you got anything behind the dampener…you’d have to disconnect the flu and clean it out by hand or with a shop vac.
Hey so I've got the identical stove and I've noticed that you don't have a gasket on ur griddle door on the top of ur stove...do you ever end up with smoke Leakes because of this ? I also love the top load option but curse the gasket because I catch it with splits often
Thanks for the reply for whatever reason this stove has a bad reputation I don't understand it.. it is pretty complicated compared to a traditional woodstove but once you get your head around it it's likely the only brand you will want to have...the thing works extremely well
Hey, that's a great looking fire! I just bought a VC Dauntless and thinking about putting in a catalytic combustor. How do you install the cat temp gauge? Is it like a stovetop magnet or is it an actual probe into the firebox? Thanks for any info you can give!
I just installed a catalytic temp probe into my Defiant this season, there is a metal plug in the back of the stove that you can remove with a blade (screwdriver or whatever), and you insert the probe through the back shield, into the back of the stove, and it sticks right into the catalytic combustion chamber. The probe is about 4" long. Installation was easy, and if I knew where everything was, I wouldn't have removed the back shield (I didn't know what i was doing and wanted to be able to see better). I also use a stovetop magnet, and they are very different. If you have the flue open, there is no heat going to the combustion chamber, so the stovetop will be 700º+ but the probe will read like 250º. Then when you close the flue to force the exhaust through the catalytic combustion chamber, the probe quickly rockets up to 600º+. DM me if you want any other info, I am happy to share pics or experiences.
@@tmesian wish my new Defiant burned hotter. Flue open is hotter but on catalytic position, the tem goes down to just less than 350 deg, hardly hot enough to operate catalytic combustor. Heat from combustor is always minimum, and glass doors get black within minutes and don’t have any wash air.
@@mountainfunguy5657 Don't know what to say, maybe your wood is not dry enough? I easily clear 600º on the stovetop with the flue/bypass closed. I typically need to turn the right-hand thermostat down because I like to keep it right around 500º or so. I burn seasoned hardwoods (mostly maple, beech, and ash with some occasional birch mixed in). I don't care much if I get some creosote on the glass, it will burn off when I do a hot fire, or I can hit it with some charcoal and water if it bugs me. But I can't really avoid it if I load the firebox and damp everything down for a slow ovenight burn. But for me the dirty glass is an acceptable side effect of being able to just flip the thermostat forward in the morning and have a roaring fire in a few minutes with the dried/charred wood in the firebox. But if I leave the flue/damper open, it overfires every time. It gets _really_ hot, like 1000º+ (unless I turn the thermostat down to halfway or less, but even then it gets too hot IMO).
Thank you so much. I just purchased the Encore in March, (had an old Dutchwest) a bit different. I am thinking of asking Ace to install the temp gauge since it came with the cat combustion. At least I hope it is there lol. Appreciated the tips and the actual video of the entire operation. BTW, I know the manual says to get 18 inch wood pieces to top load, my wood supplier says they can do 18-20, do you think a 20 can fit there or should I buy a little chain saw to cut it all down to size (what a chore). Thanks again
@@backinthewoods2022 Thank you. Keeping my fingers crossed that they do 18 inches, another wood supplier said they couldn't guarantee the size. Goodness I suppose front loading it is, I like to warm up the house in the evenings, that's all. Cheers and again thanks for responding
@@backinthewoods2022 I pray most of the pieces will be 18 inches otherwise I will have to saw them off this year and find another supplier next year . Thanks for your response
Bought an Encore model, had almost a year. Vermont Casting is NOT the quality it used to be since the company was bought out. Literally falling apart. 100% NO support if you try to contact the company, not even an email contact. Insulation, glass on door fall off as they are poorly attached. The bypass lever on the right side does not work properly. Almost all the nuts, bolts, screws were loose when I received it. Buyer beware, they are just throwing theses stoves together as fast and cheap and expensive as possible.
I am watching this video because I want to see if there is any mention of the catalyst access cover falling off, I have only been using my stove for two winters and the access cover will not stay in place, very annoying when you consider that I paid more for a wood stove in hopes of getting a well made, long lasting product.
@@backinthewoods2022 on the access cover falling off (that's a pain) the bottom ledge can get worn down - or replacement covers are slightly smaller . Try adding a little furnace cement on the ledge let it dry. Then reinstall cover this helps hold it up higher so the top can't fall out.
@@nicolebourque1544 The dryers work with the side warming tray which has the holes for them. the stove itself does not have the holes. BTW, Duncan Syme who founded Vermont Castings said, "if you didn't have a wood stove, where would you dry your mittens?"
They work from the heat off the fire no batteries. The help move a little air around but nothing crazy. They are also kind of expensive but have lasted 5 years so far and don’t take power which is perfect for us.
I figured this out after I made this video and yea I am an idiot for it Never had a stove with a ash pan until now not sure how to edit the video either I have tried Thank you👍
That’s not an option when you heat your house with wood in a northern state. The fire goes around the clock. I did however discover that when I lift the tray out I’m able to close the door which seals it back up when I go to dump the ashes. I was not aware at the time I made this video that the stove was designed that way which makes sense now. This is my first stove with an ash pan.
Cracking the ash door open a bit will make starting a fire much easier but leaving it open with a hot fire will really supercharge it, you're right ,better be careful.
I remove ashes when mine’s hot but I do close that ash door. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a spare ash pan to replace while hot ashes are being taken out? Hot ashes, hot ash pan, definitely need good glove to dump when removing handle lid outside. Can’t dump it without taking the handle lid off
We just ordered the Encore model for our Cabin here in Franklin NC. great video thanks for inviting us into your home! more good times to come!
Kenny and Marlene
Hey neighbor,
I just got one too, having it installed in a week or so. Live in Glenville NC!
I just want to say a BIG THANK YOU!!! for making this video! I reciently bought this exact woodstove, and have not started it yet. I need to read and watch videos many times before I feel confident. I am SO glad you have no idea how many times I have watched your video to get my mind wrapped around having a woodstove. I didn't grow up with wood heat so I am very much a rookie at this!! I really like how you are so easy going about explaing it, but still express important tips/trick/ and hacks. I also like how you're using it exactly how I would. Ie: heat and cooking.
Glad it helped👍
Bought a Vermont castings encore, getting installed today. Thank you
Nice review, thanks. We purchased our VC Encore about 25 yrs ago; model 2550. It’s a catalytic model. Needs new gaskets, as it’s running a bit hot even when flue and primary air is off. There’s also a probe/thermostat on the back for secondary air. Need to check that for proper functioning. The catalytic element should burn the exhaust, once the element reaches 550 F, and the flue is closed to redirect exhaust thru the refractory chamber. The catalytic element on the newer Encore has much easier access for maintenance than the 2550.
Great video! We're looking into an Encore or a Defiant and have a 2200 sqft home to heat. Plan to put it in the basement, turn on furnace fans to bring warmth to the house in the winter.
Great video! Watch it before and after getting our VC Encore stove. After breaking it in for a few hours with a small fire here is our first good hot burn.
Best stove I've ever used. My house is very easy to heat so I build a small fire and this stove will keep the fire for hours. The top load feature works great, also this stove burns from the bottom because of the grate in the base , burning from the bottom of the wood allows 1 good sized flat sided stick dropped onto a good bed of coals and then closing the damper and air intake. Using this method with good seasoned oak will keep a from fire bedtime to morning.
I don't use the catalytic converter, it's optional and I just don't need that much heat so it's the old fashioned way for me.
I love the top load feature for sure
Can I take the converter out and run it without it? I keep getting puff backs and I swear it's coming from the converter.
@@lizwatson3876yes
I unlatch the ash pan but leave it in place (almost closed) to add air for getting the fire going. I don’t have much air from the full open air lever. Door windows are always dirty due to low air flow on full open. I have the Defiant. Yours has a good secondary air burn. Again mine has not much air when doors and ash pan are closed….
I highly suggest just using the ash pan as your starting boost. I’ve found on my intrepid ii that if I have the front doors open the air flow is a little slower. But man that rush from the bottom gets it going in a hurry!
NEVER use the ash pan open for starts or anytime. Just crack the front door, it's safer. You may walk away to go potty :) , forget, or..... No need.
Get yourself a covered ash bin, that way you can quickly shovel out the ash pan into it and don't have to run outside every time you empty the ash pan, letting in all the cold air. Also since the cover fits snugly on the ash bin, you don't have to worry about any hot coals that get put in the bin. Per the owner's manual your thermometer should go on top of the griddle and once the temperature goes over 500 degrees, then it's time to flip the damper lever to engage the catalytic converter.
Open the ash door get the catch pan then close the ash pan door. Then go dump the ashes when you come back NO raging FIRE.... a few ashes in a couple minutes won't hurt. Not telling you how to go about just a little advice I've been doing it that way since Vermont put a ash pan on the Dutchwest. Over 25 years...good luck
Yes unfortunately I found this out after I did this video and can’t figure out how to correct the video and edit it. I have been around wood stoves and fireplaces my entire life but this is the first with a ash pan. Like you say it make perfect sense now and works very well. I appreciate the feedback👍
That’s what I do also
I LOVE the top load and I would never go back to the front-load-only stove. I just use the front to build a fire if the coals are dead, but for basically the entire winter I can top load perpetually.
From the video it looks like your griddle doesn't have a gasket in the groove, has it always been that way? Does it work ok? Mine only tends to last a single season because it gets nicked by the logs that I put in through the top-load.
On my stove, I have to engage the cat or the stove will overfire if I don't remember to turn the thermostat down to 50% or less.
Also, on my stove I have the detachable handle on the cat control instead of on the front door. I think that might be wrong because my front handle is roasting pits into itself.
Good evening Sir, that is a very nice stove 👍😊 Great video Sir 😋😋😋👍 Cheers 🍻
I love my mahindra
@@annielariviere5393 Bonjour Miss Lariviere 🌞 Thank you for your nice words about your tractor ( mahindra ! ) Cheers 🍻👍
Thank you 👍
@@backinthewoods2022 😉👍🍻
@@backinthewoods2022 👍🍻
The internal parts of my 2005 Defiant disintegrated within a few years. It still works but I'm going to replace it with a Lopi.
Unscrew the black handle from th chrome piece, then screw the black handle to the front door. thanks for the video.
I think that detatchable handle wold really annoy me. I've never used a top loader either. Trying to select a make and model now for my 800sqft house in Canada. HearthstoneCraftsbury looks great, but this one is $1000. cheaper... The cooking plate looks good. I want that feature in my choice.
The detachable handle stop kids from opening it. I have the Dauntless. It works great. I have it in a 1240 ft house.
@@americanharleyrider8 I ended up buying a Regency F1150. Had it installed last November. It's all right, I find the door very large and cumbersome to open in front of me. Thinking that top loading door would be pretty handy. The Regency also won't burn more than 2-3 hours. The air intake lever doesn't go down low enough. Another problem with it is the ceiling of it keeps falling out if I bump it with a log. Thinking I will go for a Vermont Castings one next time. Thanks for your input.
I bought a VC Dauntless three months ago and it’s a learning curve. Choice of fuel is critical. I’ve tried different species, because of what I had available. I’m putting up next season’s wood starting now. Hickory,white oak are my choice of what I have. The top load and grate bottom are great features. My home is 1400 sq ft and I heat entirely with the VC. I have electric heat if needed as a backup.
You can attach the handle with a screw and it stays on
@@marniewhitefeather2120 Thinking I'll get a Vermont Castings next time. I got a Regency and it's good, but smoke often comes out the front when loading and it can't do the overnight burn as advertised. I also find the large door cumbersome to swing out.
Vermont Castings makes some beautiful stoves but they are too finicky to operate and require too much future maintenance imo.
Great video. I’m up here in Alaska looking at one of these. Once up to temp I’m told the fire isn’t very big. My wife uses fire as TV. How low are the flames?
It’s the same as any stove I’ve had I haven’t noticed a difference
We have heated near 100% 24/7 with PAST VC old Defiant and Encore ( 2550 ) stoves...3 in both Mass and Maine over about 30 years. Those models when maintained and burnt well do the job.
We tried the new and improved Flexburn 2040. The first one would not work since the air control was inoperative and not repairable. The dealer brought out a second 2040.
This one had an uncontrolled burn, the first we ever had with previous VC stoves. Flaming logs had to be thrown in the snow. Fortunately the dealer refunded the price completely and took the SECOND Encore back. Ethics. The company was no help at all, refusing any comminication.
Be warned if you use the Flexburn for real heat ( we have no central heat here in Maine ); it is unsafe from REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE.
Yes, the VC stoves are pretty, but for safe, stable heat, not.
Nice review BTW if you only need entertainment fires, minisplits, or for central heat furnace thermostats set at 65 F.
We’ve heated our cabin with it for three years now and we moved to this cabin this fall so use it everyday almost it has worked well. I do not like the damper lever though feels very sloppy.
Right about the damper mechanism. Hangs up every time
Thank you!
My stove looks just like the one in the picture. Our damper has a lot of stuff stuck behind it and the damper won’t open. Any suggestions on how to get in there to get all the stuff out? Any help would be appreciated.
I have the same stove. I cannot understand how you got anything behind the dampener…you’d have to disconnect the flu and clean it out by hand or with a shop vac.
Unfortunately I wouldn’t be able to help Iam not knowledgeable on the construction of it
take it apart i guess work it loose slowly
Hey so I've got the identical stove and I've noticed that you don't have a gasket on ur griddle door on the top of ur stove...do you ever end up with smoke Leakes because of this ? I also love the top load option but curse the gasket because I catch it with splits often
It’s there it’s on the stove portion not the door
Have you had to change your combuster? If so how long did it last ?
I haven’t yet no
Thanks for the reply for whatever reason this stove has a bad reputation I don't understand it.. it is pretty complicated compared to a traditional woodstove but once you get your head around it it's likely the only brand you will want to have...the thing works extremely well
It also looks ( to me) like you could use a slight door adjustment ? Or , did you leave it cracked open to stoke the fire ?
Yes it’s cracked to get fire started
@@backinthewoods2022 I crack the ash pan to start the fire instead of the door.
Hey, that's a great looking fire! I just bought a VC Dauntless and thinking about putting in a catalytic combustor. How do you install the cat temp gauge? Is it like a stovetop magnet or is it an actual probe into the firebox? Thanks for any info you can give!
Mine is just a magnet seems to we working well though
I just installed a catalytic temp probe into my Defiant this season, there is a metal plug in the back of the stove that you can remove with a blade (screwdriver or whatever), and you insert the probe through the back shield, into the back of the stove, and it sticks right into the catalytic combustion chamber. The probe is about 4" long. Installation was easy, and if I knew where everything was, I wouldn't have removed the back shield (I didn't know what i was doing and wanted to be able to see better).
I also use a stovetop magnet, and they are very different. If you have the flue open, there is no heat going to the combustion chamber, so the stovetop will be 700º+ but the probe will read like 250º. Then when you close the flue to force the exhaust through the catalytic combustion chamber, the probe quickly rockets up to 600º+.
DM me if you want any other info, I am happy to share pics or experiences.
@@tmesian awesome, thanks for the info!
@@tmesian wish my new Defiant burned hotter. Flue open is hotter but on catalytic position, the tem goes down to just less than 350 deg, hardly hot enough to operate catalytic combustor. Heat from combustor is always minimum, and glass doors get black within minutes and don’t have any wash air.
@@mountainfunguy5657 Don't know what to say, maybe your wood is not dry enough? I easily clear 600º on the stovetop with the flue/bypass closed. I typically need to turn the right-hand thermostat down because I like to keep it right around 500º or so. I burn seasoned hardwoods (mostly maple, beech, and ash with some occasional birch mixed in).
I don't care much if I get some creosote on the glass, it will burn off when I do a hot fire, or I can hit it with some charcoal and water if it bugs me. But I can't really avoid it if I load the firebox and damp everything down for a slow ovenight burn. But for me the dirty glass is an acceptable side effect of being able to just flip the thermostat forward in the morning and have a roaring fire in a few minutes with the dried/charred wood in the firebox.
But if I leave the flue/damper open, it overfires every time. It gets _really_ hot, like 1000º+ (unless I turn the thermostat down to halfway or less, but even then it gets too hot IMO).
Thank you so much. I just purchased the Encore in March, (had an old Dutchwest) a bit different. I am thinking of asking Ace to install the temp gauge since it came with the cat combustion. At least I hope it is there lol.
Appreciated the tips and the actual video of the entire operation. BTW, I know the manual says to get 18 inch wood pieces to top load, my wood supplier says they can do 18-20, do you think a 20 can fit there or should I buy a little chain saw to cut it all down to size (what a chore).
Thanks again
I think a 20” would have to be on an angle and you would not be able to load it up after that I would keep them smaller
@@backinthewoods2022 Thank you. Keeping my fingers crossed that they do 18 inches, another wood supplier said they couldn't guarantee the size. Goodness I suppose front loading it is, I like to warm up the house in the evenings, that's all. Cheers and again thanks for responding
@@laura2842 most front loaders only accept 18” also.
@@backinthewoods2022 I pray most of the pieces will be 18 inches otherwise I will have to saw them off this year and find another supplier next year . Thanks for your response
Clean that thing!
Bought an Encore model, had almost a year. Vermont Casting is NOT the quality it used to be since the company was bought out. Literally falling apart. 100% NO support if you try to contact the company, not even an email contact. Insulation, glass on door fall off as they are poorly attached. The bypass lever on the right side does not work properly. Almost all the nuts, bolts, screws were loose when I received it. Buyer beware, they are just throwing theses stoves together as fast and cheap and expensive as possible.
I just went to my dealer and they ordered me a part for free under warranty. Easy at least for me through dealer.
I am watching this video because I want to see if there is any mention of the catalyst access cover falling off, I have only been using my stove for two winters and the access cover will not stay in place, very annoying when you consider that I paid more for a wood stove in hopes of getting a well made, long lasting product.
Mine haven’t after three winters although the damper lever is real sloppy now
@@backinthewoods2022 on the access cover falling off (that's a pain) the bottom ledge can get worn down - or replacement covers are slightly smaller . Try adding a little furnace cement on the ledge let it dry. Then reinstall cover this helps hold it up higher so the top can't fall out.
Can you get the stove to burn through the night without waking up.
I would say 6 hours tops
I haven’t had a stove yet that will get much past that though the manufacture ratings are always a joke
Where did you get those glove driers from?
They were an option when I bought the stove
@@backinthewoods2022 I just purchased this stove in Canada, I didn’t see this option, I’ll have to check this out for sure!
@@nicolebourque1544 The dryers work with the side warming tray which has the holes for them. the stove itself does not have the holes. BTW, Duncan Syme who founded Vermont Castings said, "if you didn't have a wood stove, where would you dry your mittens?"
Mine (4) came with the warming trays
Are those little fans on the top of the stove battery operated? Also do they move the air around fairly well?
They work from the heat off the fire no batteries. The help move a little air around but nothing crazy. They are also kind of expensive but have lasted 5 years so far and don’t take power which is perfect for us.
If it says 1975 does it mean the yr or the name
Iam not sure sorry I can’t help
It's easier and safer to have another ash pan
Close the ash door after removing the pan. Problem solved.
I figured this out after I made this video and yea I am an idiot for it
Never had a stove with a ash pan until now not sure how to edit the video either I have tried
Thank you👍
Don’t empty the ash until the fire is out
That’s not an option when you heat your house with wood in a northern state. The fire goes around the clock. I did however discover that when I lift the tray out I’m able to close the door which seals it back up when I go to dump the ashes. I was not aware at the time I made this video that the stove was designed that way which makes sense now. This is my first stove with an ash pan.
Cracking the ash door open a bit will make starting a fire much easier but leaving it open with a hot fire will really supercharge it, you're right ,better be careful.
No
I remove ashes when mine’s hot but I do close that ash door. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a spare ash pan to replace while hot ashes are being taken out? Hot ashes, hot ash pan, definitely need good glove to dump when removing handle lid outside. Can’t dump it without taking the handle lid off
Burn Wooding Stove
Get another ash pan