Soapstone Hybrid stove for a fireplace installation.

So, a good friend and widow that is remodeling a house and wants to install a wood stove in a fireplace alcove. She has been using a Hearthstone heritage (not in the same location) approximately 5 years old so I don't know the burn system on it. And she doesn't think it has a very long burn time.
I would like to see her use the Progress Hybrid, but she doesn't know if the side door will work. Is there another hybrid soapstone out there with a front door that is any good?
I looked at the new Hearthstone Heritage stoves and they have a hybrid technology now but I don't know if her stove has it. What are the thoughts on the new Hearthstone hybrid technology?
She loves soapstone and money is not a big obstacle so what's out there?

I will meet up with her and try to get dimensions later.

Thanks.
Dwight

 

The 5 year old hearthstone heritage uses tubes on top in smoke path for reburn. They are fragile meaning if you hit them with brush cleaning chimney roughly they will break. Friend has one and it like most soapstone is pretty

 

Additional info: It will be used for recreational use primarily, (so looks and a clean glass are a plus) but it needs to perform well with power outages both short and long term.

 

Thanks for that info, It explains why she is not getting very long burn times.

 

Dennis are any of Woodstock soapstone a front load?

 

Putting a Soapstone freestander in a masonry fireplace will definitely reduce/goober the useable heat output. Mostly if the stove isn't designed for a blower. Something to consider. Actual inserts would be worth researching. My opinion only

 

What does the best dealer recommend? Having a good servicing dealer nearby is a big plus! Hybrid stoves only add about 5% more efficiency. Hardly noticeable in real world situations. The Heritage sounds just fine as is.

 

Not my experience my wood consumption dropped by 40%

 

Clean glass and long burn times do not go hand in hand...a long slow burn (cat stove) will muck up the window quickly...it may self clean with the next hot fire, but will more or less be black most of the time...no fire to see when running low and slow anyways. (only the cat glowing...IF you can see it at all)
A tube type stove will tend to have clean glass and a good view of the fire most of the time, if run properly.
If she is just using it for ambiance and or to supplement, I wouldn't think real long burn times would matter much.
And there are tube stoves out there that do better with "long burns" than others...and going tube stove gives a better selection of insert type stoves...and there are some really nice looking stuff too, even without going to soapstone.

 

The fireview is side load also, I will check and see if it works in front of fireplace opening.

It's going well with us, busy as heck.

 

Compared to a fireplace ? What are you comparing to?

 

I dunno, I don't have one, just going by what I have read about them...and some from people here that I know are on the 3 year plan.
So my guess would be that it is POSSIBLE to run low and slow and not have to clean the glass regularly, but I'd bet good money that is not the typical results across all users/all brands and models.
And again, no flames to see after the initial firing of the load anyways...unless running harder, and then that is not "low n slow"/long burn times.

 

NC-13 type woodstove and than a Woodstock Ideal steel. Last year with NC 13 was 12+ cord (albeit not properly seasoned) house was cold. Burning 12 cord a year could never get far enough ahead..

IS never has never had more than 5 cord a year put through it. House is warm. 40% is conservative!
Both stoves were bought new and used in same chimney. I have naturally strong draft.

 

brenndatomu I get a little black maybe an inch or 2 on bottom of glass. Much more white fly ash than black. Not convinced it is not an occasional wetter piece in a stack. I also generally burn hotter than most. Running at 600* is normal in winter

 

What is your reload interval at that setting? (if the house temp warrants loading ASAP)

 

What exactly is a"NC-13 type woodstove" ? Was it operating properly or leaking ? 5 cord is less than half! Sounds a bit dubious. Did you previously burn wet wood?