Wood Cookstove water resevoir - worth it or not?

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We are looking at buying a cookstove and are having trouble deciding. We seem to be focusing on a Heartland Sweetheart. Does anyone have one of these? Do you recomend getting a water resevoir or are they not worth the extra money? Also, how well does the Sweetheart bake (bread, cakes, meats etc.)? How do well do they hold a fire over night? How hot do they get the kitchen? Any suggestions for a better stove? How about the Enterprise Savoy or King? Just remember, we plan to really USE ours and not just have it for looks. Thanks.

-- David Oelker (daoelker@ticona.com), January 29, 2001

Answers

All I can say about the water reservoir is that if you have hot running water in your kitchen you probably don't need it -- until the power goes out. If you only had cold running water, or no running water at all, then it would be almost indispensible.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), January 29, 2001.

As Kathleen said, if you power is out it would be invaluable. I bought mine with one. We still have installed it as we are still in the process of remodeling. I looked at Sweethearts, but ended up getting mine from an Amish Hardware store that orders them out of Canada. I really like the looks of mine and the vent is through the cooktop which means it can sit closer to the wall. I lost a little cook top space, but given that it is much bigger than my propane stove, it was worth it. I don't have that big of kitchen and even though we are remodeling, I am gaining only 5 more feet on the kitchen, so floor space is at a premium.

-- beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), January 29, 2001.

We stopped using our reservoir years ago. Too much lime in our water kept causing a build up that was difficult to clean. Just easier for us to heat water directly on the stove. Not familiar with your brand, we have a Kenmore!

-- Nancy Bakke-McGonigle Mn. Sunset (dmcgonig@smig.net), January 29, 2001.

If you are going to be using your stove a lot a resevoir is just about worth the added cost for the humidity it adds to the house. I have a Homecomfort with a resevoir and my next will certainly have one. Good luck. Tim in SC

-- Tim Price (thprice60@hotmail.com), January 29, 2001.

For the money there are better stoves imo. We had a Sweet Heart, it might hold a fire over night, depends on the weather. windy or not, the wood you burn etc. I have had a number of wood cook stoves, old Kalamazoo's & Andes, but the best stove and the nearest to being air tight was the Stanley, "Waterford/Stanley", made in Ireland. I have had stove with resevoirs and without, in copper and galvinized, they are handy, hot water for washing dishes at the very least. When I have had a stove without one, I would keep a laundry boiler or canner on top for hot water, or just a couple of large tea kettles. What I don't like about the Sweet H, is there is too much sheet metal in them, not enough cast iron, you can not really shut them down tight either.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), January 30, 2001.


I have an old enterprise, I like the new ones with the through the top venting. Anyway, my stove has the water resevoir, I don't use it, It's awkward. Instead we have water jacket for the firebox, and hook into the existing plumbing. It saves hauling water, I have to do enough of that outside!

-- Terri in NS (terri@tallships.ca), February 01, 2001.

When you decide...

find the book "Woodstove cookery" by Jane Coopre. I just got 2 days ago but I love it.

Since my since my stove is 65 years old and came from a neighbors shed it, iy did NOT come with instuctions! The first part of the book tells all about general stove working, cleanings, tricks for keeping creosote and lime levals at a minimum, wood types, basic techniques,and getting used to your stoves uniqueness, etc. She also throws in quotes from old brochures etc. from 18??s that are fun to read.

The other half is recipes for use with the "big Box".

-- Novina in ND (lamb@stellarnet.com), February 05, 2001.


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