The Chimney Sweep Woodstoves, Gas Stoves, Fireplaces, Cookstoves and Barbecues
The Chimney Sweep Online Fireplace, Woodstove, Gas Stove and Barbecue Shop

WOOD STOVE COMPARISON PAGE

Sorted By: HEATING CAPACITY IN SQUARE FEET

Sweepy

To compute the maximum area each woodstove will heat, manufacturers use a model of a very well insulated house with 8' ceilings, thermopane or storm windows and an open floor plan in a climate similar to Seattle's, where January low temperatures average 41º F. Any deviations from this model (ie: colder climate, poor insulation, high ceilings, old windows, etc.) must be taken into consideration when choosing your stove.

To sort the table, click the column header (ie; Stove Dimensions, Shipping Weight, etc.)

Model
Viewing
Window
Stove
Dimensions
Shipping
Weight
Firebox
Size
Hardwood
Capacity
Max. Log
Length
Heating
Efficiency
EPA
Emissions
Maximum
Output
Avg Output
All-Night Burn
Heating
Capacity
Hearthstone
Equinox
Soapstone
10"t
18"w
180 sq.in.
29" T
33-2/3" W
25-1/2" D
774
lbs
4
cubic ft
80
lbs
25"
82%
3.1
grams/hr
120,000
btu
62,675
btu/hr
2200 - 3500
sq ft
Pacific
Summit
Plate Steel
9"t
17"w
153 sq.in.
31-1/2" T
25-1/2" W
23-1/2" D
475
lbs
3
cubic ft
60
lbs
20"
80.4%
3.9
grams/hr
99,000
btu
48,392
btu/hr
2000 - 3000
sq ft
Summit
Classic
Plate Steel
9"t
17"w
153 sq.in.
29-1/4" T
25-1/2" W
23-1/2" D
475
lbs
3
cubic ft
60
lbs
20"
80.4%
3.9
grams/hr
99,000
btu
48,392
btu/hr
2000 - 3000
sq ft
Pacific
Alderlea T6
Plate / Cast
10"t
18-1/2"w
185 sq.in.
29-1/8" T
29-1/4" W
25" D
585
lbs
3
cubic ft
60
lbs
20"
80.4%
3.9
grams/hr
99,000
btu
48,392
btu/hr
2000 - 3000
sq ft
Hearthstone
Mansfield
Soapstone
10-5/8"t
17"w
179 sq.in.
28" T
27" W
24" D
585
lbs
3.2
cubic ft
64
lbs
21"
77.4%
2.9
grams/hr
80,000
btu
48,211
btu/hr
1800 - 2500
sq ft
Hearthstone
Manchester
Cast/Soapstone
11-1/2"t
18"w
200 sq.in.
32-1/4" T
30-1/4" W
20" D
550
lbs
2.9
cubic ft
59
lbs
24"
81.8%
3.0
grams/hr
78,000
btu
47,654
btu/hr
1800 - 2400
sq ft
Hearthstone
Phoenix
Soapstone
9-1/2"t
15"w
143 sq.in.
27-1/2" T
28" W
20" D
450
lbs
2.2
cubic ft
44
lbs
21"
75%
2.4
grams/hr
60,000
btu
33,145
btu/hr
1200 - 2000
sq ft
Pacific
Fusion
Plate Steel
8-1/2"t
15"w
128 sq.in.
36-1/4" T
22-1/8" W
26-3/4" D
410
lbs
1.97
cubic ft
39.4
lbs
18"
82.6%
3.4
grams/hr
72,000
btu
32,688
btu/hr
1200 - 2000
sq ft
Pacific
Super 27
Plate Steel
8-1/2"t
15"w
128 sq.in.
29-1/8" T
24" W
25" D
390
lbs
1.97
cubic ft
39.4
lbs
18"
82.6%
3.4
grams/hr
72,000
btu
32,688
btu/hr
1200 - 2000
sq ft
Pacific
Super Step Top
Plate Steel
8-1/2"t
15"w
128 sq.in.
33" T
24" W
25" D
390
lbs
1.97
cubic ft
39.4
lbs
18"
82.6%
3.4
grams/hr
72,000
btu
32,688
btu/hr
1200 - 2000
sq ft
Pacific
Spectrum
Plate Steel
8-1/2"t
15"w
128 sq.in.
29-1/8" T
24" W
25" D
390
lbs
1.97
cubic ft
39.4
lbs
18"
82.6%
3.4
grams/hr
72,000
btu
32,688
btu/hr
1200 - 2000
sq ft
Pacific
Alderlea T5
Plate / Cast
9-1/4"t
16"w
148 sq.in.
29-11/16" T
25" W
25" D
515
lbs
1.97
cubic ft
39.4
lbs
18"
82.6%
3.4
grams/hr
72,000
btu
32,688
btu/hr
1200 - 2000
sq ft
Pacific
Classic
Plate Steel
8-1/2"t
15"w
128 sq.in.
29-1/8" T
24" W
25" D
390
lbs
1.97
cubic ft
39.4
lbs
18"
82.6%
3.4
grams/hr
72,000
btu
32,688
btu/hr
1200 - 2000
sq ft
Hearthstone
Heritage
Soapstone
10-1/4"t
17"w
174 sq.in.
27" T
27-1/2" W
19" D
500
lbs
2.3
cubic ft
46
lbs
21"
81%
2.7
grams/hr
55,000
btu
37,424
btu/hr
1300 - 1900
sq ft
Hearthstone
Homestead
Soapstone
10-5/8"t
17"w
172 sq.in.
27-1/2" T
27" W
19" D
440
lbs
2
cubic ft
40
lbs
21"
83.5%
1.9
grams/hr
50,000
btu
33,547
btu/hr
1200 - 1800
sq ft
Hearthstone
Shelburne
Cast Iron
10-1/2"t
16-3/4"w
176 sq.in.
29" T
26" W
21" D
425
lbs
2
cubic ft
40
lbs
20"
80%
2.1
grams/hr
50,000
btu
32,141
btu/hr
1200 - 1800
sq ft
Pacific
Alderlea T4
Plate / Cast
9-1/4"t
15"w
139 sq.in.
28" T
26" W
17-1/2" D
450
lbs
1.41
cubic ft
28.2
lbs
18"
80.7%
2.9
grams/hr
56,000
btu
22,858
btu/hr
600 - 1400
sq ft
Pacific
Vista
Plate Steel
8"t
13-1/4"w
106 sq.in.
27-3/4" T
24" W
17-1/2" D
300
lbs
1.41
cubic ft
28.2
lbs
18"
80.7%
2.9
grams/hr
56,000
btu
22,858
btu/hr
600 - 1400
sq ft
Pacific
Vista Classic
Plate Steel
8"t
13-1/4"w
106 sq.in.
27-3/4" T
24-7/8" W
17-1/2" D
300
lbs
1.41
cubic ft
28.2
lbs
18"
80.7%
2.9
grams/hr
56,000
btu
22,858
btu/hr
600 - 1400
sq ft
Hearthstone
Craftsbury
Cast Iron
9"t
13-1/4"w
120 sq.in.
26-1/8" T
22-3/8" W
17-3/8" D
300
lbs
1.5
cubic ft
30
lbs
17"
81%
3.0
grams/hr
40,000
btu
24,407
btu/hr
400 - 1200
sq ft
Hearthstone
Tula
Plate Steel
15"t
12"w
180 sq.in.
41-3/4" T
19-7/8" W
17-3/8" D
325
lbs
1.15
cubic ft
23
lbs
17"
88%
2.5
grams/hr
30,000
btu
20,329
btu/hr
400 - 1200
sq ft
Hearthstone
Tribute
Soapstone
8-1/2"t
12"w
102 sq.in.
25-1/2" T
22" W
18" D
338
lbs
1.2
cubic ft
24
lbs
16"
83%
3.0
grams/hr
36,000
btu
20.008
btu/hr
400 - 1200
sq ft
Hearthstone
Bari
Plate / Soapstone
15"t
12"w
180 sq.in.
44" T
19-1/2"
Diameter
560
lbs
1.25
cubic ft
25
lbs
17"
80%
3.57
grams/hr
35,000
btu
20,088
btu/hr
400 - 1200
sq ft

To visit any stove's page, click its name in the chart above.

Note: Woodstove maximum heating capacity ratings don't tell the whole story.

Wood stove manufacturers need to publish heating capacity numbers so potential buyers can compare their various models to each other and the competition. They know that their potential customers are going to want to heat their homes in the coldest weather, which in North America occurs in January. When they consult the National Average Weather Chart to see how cold that is, here’s what they find out:


The average January temperature in Seattle, WA is 41°

The average January temperature in Fargo, ND is 7°

Obviously, their stove models aren’t going to heat the same size homes in both locations. So, how do manufacturers describe the heating capacity of their stoves to potential buyers?

Unless they want to publish a 50-page brochure, there's only one possible way. Reference the maximum size well-insulated, single-story house with 8-foot ceilings a given stove will heat in Seattle, and qualify that number with the phrase UP TO, trusting the shopper to interpret the adjustments necessary for their climate zone and for the particular house to be heated. This interpretation is vital when shopping for a stove.

Other factors that should be considered when choosing a wood stove:

Woodstove heat output can be controlled by regulating the air intake, but only within a limited range (that's why there's a minimum square footage limit as well as a maximum limit for each stove in the Heating Capacity column above). Unless you have a wide-open floor plan, consider how uncomfortably hot it might be to share your 400 sq. ft. living room with a woodstove rated to heat the entire 3,000 sq. ft. house.

If you have a two-story house, consider locating the woodstove in the lower story, as the rising heated air will help heat the upper floor. If the stove is going upstairs, you can pretty much subtract the square footage of the downstairs from your heating area before choosing the size of your woodstove: it is awfully hard to direct the heat from a woodstove downward.

If your house is divided up into many small rooms separated by long hallways and you have a forced-air heating system, you might try running the furnace blower (with the furnace burners turned off) to help circulate the heat from your woodstove throughout the house. A ceiling fan in the room with the stove can also be extremely helpful. If you don't have a way to circulate the heat, consider adding a blower to your woodstove: all of our woodstoves have optional blowers that can be added later if you find you need one. Tip: woodstove blowers are also handy when you want to bring a cold house up to temperature in a hurry.

There appears to be a contradiction in the chart: the Hearthstone Heritage, Homestead and Shelburne models have a higher average btu/hr output than the Pacific Energy Super 27, Spectrum, Fusion, Alderlea T5 and Classic models, yet the Pacific Energy models are rated to heat a larger area. This is due to the two different ways the heat is delivered. The Hearthstone models are primarily radiant heaters, meaning the heat enters the room directly through the body surfaces of the stove. The Pacific Energy models are primarily convection heaters, meaning they're of double-wall construction and deliver most of the heat in the form of heated air. Since heated air is easier to move around the house than radiant energy, a larger area can be heated with fewer btu's/hr using a convection heater. To read more about this, click here.

Woodstove performance will be affected by the species of wood that is burned. For purposes of this chart, we took an average of the top 28 species from our firewood comparison chart.

 To exit the comparison chart, close this window.

  

Wood Stoves     back to our home page

The Chimney Sweep, Inc.
913 Harris Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225-7032
1(888)-354-6722 toll-free in U.S. & Canada
1(360)-676-9080 FAX
http://www.chimneysweeponline.com

To send us E-Mail, Click Standard E-Mail Window or contact us (our reply form)
Copyright © 1996 - 2013 The Chimney Sweep, Inc.