Hi all. Sorry if this is a bit long, but I have a few questions. Those here that know me know I have not burned wood in probably close to 25 years, I burn pellets, so have not kept up with wood stove stuff. Anyway, BIL and my sister have been using old,really old, inside wood furnaces for years, along with an old original St Croix Prescott pellet stove. Ya, very dangerous, all the furnaces were used, in various stages of decay, no duct work in house, just blowing hot air up, sometimes a deflector. So, a few years ago, I bought, fixed up and gave them Harman P68. Low and behold, it can heat the whole house, with help of one fan. Then they added a room on, so we "finally" rebuilt and upgraded the old St Croix, Like I have been trying to get him to do for 20 years or more, but that's a different story. Well, wood furnace developed more flaws, mostly cracks, and he cannot find another old piece of crap to cheaply buy. SO, he stumbled across a 2-4 year old Vista LE. The "rolling" flames and gasses are actually a joy to watch through the glass, the technology must be good. He says it puts out enough heat to heat the house, they were without power for 4 days, in colder weather, but not "smokin' hot", which I see as good, for it's btu rating. And, it doesn't take 1/8 a cord to get lit, like the old crap furnaces, He says it will hold coals all night, on warmer nights, not sure I believe that? But anyway-- Yes, it is a bit hard to start, but if follow directions, per the manual, and burn some paper to get draft started, not bad at all. As it is in the manual, and with that baffle system, seems fine to me?? However, his pipe comes off, goes up 4', then about 4' horizontal, to outside chimney. Just being logical, would he benefit by taking the 90's out, and going to 2 45's? It is in the "mudroom", so looks are of no concern. The little flip down ash dump lid/opening looks like more trouble than it's worth. I bet he finds this out. I'm betting he got this so cheap, doesn't look like it had a dozen fires in it, because of a poor install, or they didn't follow the instructions. He paid $400. Will it hold up? Any opinions of quality? It does not have the optional automatic blower, which, from the pictures, looks like it would greatly improve this stove, the design and size. Thinking about getting them one for a present, but they are very expensive,for what it is, so wanted opinions. Any thoughts on life expectancy of that baffle/box of holes that make it burn properly? Any thoughts of parts availability now that Piazzetta has bought the company? Anyway, sorry for rambling, any input is appreciated, thanks guys and gals!! Now back over to the pellet side-- Bob.
I don't believe a blower really helps extract more heat out of a stove unless it's an insert and too much of the stove is not exposed making transfer of heat easy. For the price of some blowers, a small fan in the room, strategically placed might work just as well. A 4 foot horizontal pipe can sometimes tend to become a condensing spot in the chimney and require cleaning more often than a more vertical run. Sometimes the whole pipe builds up some flaking and sometimes it builds up at the end of the 4 foot pipe if there is a huge temperature drop there. A horizontal run on its own isn't such a bad chimney choice, but can become a problem when/if compounded with poor burning practice(s).
Two 45s and less horizontal would draft better but if it works it works. Doesn't sound like there is a drafting problem. The PEs were great stoves, and if it is an "LE model" then it is only a few years old or less. That means the baffle assembly is stainless steel and not the sag prone mild steel from decades ago.
