Hotblast vs hitzer 55

Freetown fred, I wouldn’t mind if it was heating that area full time, in fact I thought about doing that and leaving it to naturally warm the area above, instead of connecting to a floor register. I just thought if I connect it and use a damper to select where the air is moving to, if it were really cold and windy and the hitzer wasn’t getting the job done I could eliminate heating the basement area to move that air directly to the living room above.

I'm thinkin you'll be surprised with the capabilities of the "55"--BUT, it's your house & you understand it better then any of us!!

rmishler, search the forum about the restricter (is that the right word?) plate that is inside the air intake of your new stove. Some take them out, some leave them in, but thats up to you. Try it as it came first.

The lever in front of the door, some leave it up, some down. Myself I'd want it down so the door inside the stove is closed but some here leave it open. You'll see what I mean after you get the stove as it may not make sense to you right now what I mean.

I kind of like the idea of manually shaking each grate separately. It gives just a little more control of the fire on each side, or during mild weather just shake one side to run cooler. Downside is you have to get on your knees to do it. Once you use it for a few months and figure your stove out it will all be very simple.

The ONLY thing I dont like about the 55 is theres no window. A small 2" one can be added but thats a whole different topic.

The 55 is all go, not show.

A BIG +1 on that--ya want warm or a conversation piece!!!

If in doubt about its size, then step up to the 82.

I like the looks of the 55 but the bigger one not so much. By window I meant just a small 2" one so you can see if you have burning coals before you open the door and just to see how the fire is doing. Not for aesthetics. But I do miss that big glass my first stove had too. In a basement that wouldnt matter at all.

Ahhhhh, ya mean like my 50-93!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

Hoytman wrote: ↑

Wed. May. 05, 2021 1:35 pm

If in doubt about its size, then step up to the 82.

That's a big step.

Rob R. wrote: ↑

Wed. May. 05, 2021 4:16 pm

That's a big step.

I mentioned that because I hadn’t read how big his place was. I probably missed it.

freetown fred wrote: ↑

Wed. May. 05, 2021 4:09 pm

Ahhhhh, ya mean like my 50-93!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

Yes, like that! No other ladies here but the dancing blue ones, lol

Hoytman wrote: ↑

Wed. May. 05, 2021 4:55 pm

I mentioned that because I hadn’t read how big his place was. I probably missed it.

I was just commenting on the difference in output between the 55 and the 82. In many cases either model can work, depending on how hard they are fired.

Overall it seems like more people struggle with running these at low output levels than not getting enough heat out of them. Something to keep in mind if there is another heat source that could assist a couple days per year.

Certainly!

Hoytman,
I can’t do the 82 because it requires a 7” flue and I have 6”. I did consider that. All the stoves I’ve had except wonderluxe had windows, I’ll miss it but that glass is expensive to replace so that will be a worry I won’t have.

You could easily get a reducer, but I would not recommend it--stick with "55"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Life's only as complicated as we make it!!