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[Watt2323]

I am looking at buying a new OWB this summer. I am considering several different stoves. I have narrowed my search to Portage and Main, Hawken Energy, Central Boiler, Crown Royal & Ridgewood stoves. I am not sure which fire box is best though. What experiences have you had with these stoves and what fire box is best. I guess I should note I am heating an 1900 sq ft main level with a basement the same size, a 900 sq ft garage, a 1200 sq ft pole barn and the hot water. Thanks in advance.

[AirForcePOL]

Welcome to the site, Watt! I feel that a round firebox is the best design.  And preferably made of stainless.  I would recommend looking through each manufactures section on this site.  There are many different options when considering a owb.

[slimjim]

Welcome aboard! I think that firebox design is important but not the only thing that you should be evaluating before making a decision on which unit to settle on. Here are few that if I were a newbie looking for a boiler, I would also be looking at in no particular order as some of them may not be an issue with you personally.

• Dealer and manufacturer support
• Will the manufacturer still be around after Dec 31 2015 and the new implementation of laws from U.S. EPA
• How well does the manufacturer handle problems in the field
• Warranty in writing before the check clears
• Efficiency of the unit
• Ease of operation of the unit
• Parts availability
• Quality of the build
• Bang for the buck
• Quality of products used in manufacturing

I sincerely wish you the best in your choice and Thank you for your interest in heating with Wood

[userdk]

There are a couple of benefits to a round fire box.
1. Some styles of furnaces struggle with corrosion at the ash line. The round box design(if it has some kind of ash drawer, pan, auger, or the likes under it) eliminates this because the moisture gets away out the bottom.
2. The wood, (or coal) does not bridge up in the corners because there are no corners.

[AirForcePOL]

Good advice guys!

Watts, I think for starters you should narrow down what features you are looking for in a furnace or what you feel will be the best fit for your needs.  The furnaces you listed all have their own differences. 

For example:  Do you want a round or other shaped firebox (something you have already determined was a factor), forced air or natural draft, ashpan or no ashpan, mild steel or stainless steel construction and a big one that Slimjim pointed out was support from the manufacturer and will they even be around after 31 December to provide support and/or honor warranty issues if that need ever arrises.

How much area will you be heating and where are you from if you don't mind me asking?

You have come to the right place to gather all of the information you could ever want.  Good luck with your search!

[Watt2323]

Thanks everyone; I am heating an 1900 sq ft main level with a basement the same size, a 900 sq ft garage, a 1200 sq ft pole barn and the hot water. I live in west central Indiana. I am looking at not only the fire box but the insulation (I prefer spray foam I love it in my house), ease of fixing it when it goes bad. I like the fact that a lot of them I can run to Menards and buy a part and customer support, lord knows I will need that ha

[jamesbodeis]

Ridgewood has made some design changes in the last year. Looks like they have added an ash pan, larger door options, and fans. I got a 7500 model last year and so far am very happy with it. Lots of heatmaster stoves as well as central boiler in my area that folks are real happy with also.

[Schavis]

with heating season just starting hopefully you have made the right choice for your furnace... we had a Hawken... now we have a Portage and Main... Much Happier now with the P&M  Best of luck to you if you bought the other.

[loneryder]

I can tell you from experience that Central Boiler has no customer service in reality. They don't even support their dealers. Their 25 yr written warranty means nothing. My 5036 had a leak from the factory that was under the foam.  At the start of it's 2nd winter it started leaking externally.  It had corroded the steel all the way through the back of the boiler. CB wanted to pick up the boiler whenever their truck got to my area, take it back to the factory and charge me for labor and return freight.  They would have supplied a piece of steel.  I would have gone the winter without the boiler in addition to tearing down a shed I had built over it. My dealer arranged for a welder to come out and repair it.  I ordered some spray foam(expensive) and re-foamed it and the dealer helped me put it back together.  They didn't give the dealer anything. To me that's not really a warranty, they just supply materials.

[fryedaddy]

I'd run back through Slim's list above before worrying about firebox shape.

Every company will have claims based on their design, get past the claims and speak with dealers/customers.

If the company is reputable they will have worked the design issues/flaws out round vs/ square and
stainless vs. carbon steel.

The company that manufactures my stove uses square boxes with longevity of 30+ years.

I would however look at the newer designs. The older designs are very simple and should last
a long time. The newer designs should last a long time as well with added benefits of efficiency!!