Vermont Castings DutchWest 2478

February 2009. Vermont Castings is one of the EPA-certified woodstove brands that earns the most recommendations in reviews. The DutchWest Everburner stoves are noncatalytic models that rival catalytic woodstoves for low emissions. The Everburner system carries a lifetime warranty, but owners say it's a bit tricky to learn to use correctly. This middle size, the DutchWest 2478, is rated for 800 to 1,400 square feet with a maximum output of 35,000 BTU. It's suitable even for people who work away from home, since it can hold a fire as long as 10 hours. It comes ready to burn outside air to minimize indoor pollution. The warranty is for three years on the cast iron, one year for other parts except for the Everburner system. If you need to heat a larger space, consider the Hearthstone Heritage (*est. $2,825), which carries a lifetime warranty.

We found objective information about the Vermont Castings noncatalytic DutchWest stoves at Hearth and Home, comparing its EPA-tested emissions with those of other stoves. For coverage of more factors, the owner-written reviews and forum discussions at Hearth.com and the Gordosoft Corporation provide plenty of detail. Buyer's guides at Dulley.com and OldHouseWeb.com are highly credible, but discuss the Vermont Castings DutchWest stoves without any evidence of actual use. The buyer's guide at FineHomebuilding.com is more up to date, but doesn't recommend specific brands. Nor does the interesting article at GreenYour.com, which covers the ecological aspects of heating with wood.