ginnys_2010, Just a thought about why local retailers are telling you bad things about Capital. If I'm not mistaken, Capital was doing it's own distribution in SoCal which alienates local distributors and therefore the dealers they have exclusive contracts with. Your head would spin at how fast that tune will change if Capital signs on with a local distributor. I've taken the top off of my Culinarian for cleaning and the bottom panel off for our floor installation and I do not believe that this range would require any special training to service. I'm positive any competent appliance service company would be able to rebuild the range if necessary. That combined with the fact that they have always returned calls to their support number and emails gives me comfort that any issues can be resolved. Being so close to the factory, they might even send out one of their in house techs. As to SS... I've had SS appliances in a restaurant kitchen and there was certainly no "baby-ing" going on. Yes, it does get scratches and some stains but for the most part, it's pretty durable and easy to clean. Enamel and painted surfaces can chip which can then lead to corrosion. Good SS can be easily buffed to remove scratches and stains. I used a green scouring pad (*not* the ones made for non-stick) and buffed out the inevitable scratches of construction after our remodel was done. Just rub gently along the grain of the SS steel and the scratches disappear like magic. In the restaurant, we used a very fine grit (like a 00 or 000) sanding block to buff large areas. Remember SS was used on commercial appliances first because it was easy to care for and repair. Beware however, not all things sold as SS is bare SS. Many refrigerators and dishwashers for instance use a coated SS (sometimes sold as "SS finish" or "Titanium finish") to resist smudges and finger prints. These should *never* be buffed as I described above. Good Luck.

I would avoid any catalytic models and go for an airtight stove with a secondary burn chamber. It's also important to consider whether you want a sheet metal, cast iron, or soapstone stove, as each material has its trade-offs in terms of cost, weight, heat retention, etc. Proper installation & maintenance are essential with all of them. As for the wood, the species is less important than the condition. It needs to be properly seasoned so it is not green, and not rotten. That said, different species do have different properties in the way they split and the way they burn. Elm is notoriously hard to split. Dry softwoods (evergreens, poplar) tend to burn up fast so they make good kindling if cut into small sticks. Dry hardwoods are better for a long-lasting fire that needs less tending, but some species (like red oak) are harder to get started without a lot of kindling. Then there are site-specific factors. Where we live, certain species are more prone to insect damage and rot, so you may not want them in your pile. When one "expert" tells you a species is the best wood going, and another says avoid it like the plague, they may really be commenting on the condition of certain loads of wood delivered to their homes. To me, part of the appeal of wood burning is learning all this lore over time. You can take satisfaction in the experience you develop. The chores involved help you stay fit, too. But if a little smoke smell bothers you, you might not be a good candidate for a wood stove. Jiggling a thermostat is cleaner and easier.

Nope. Just make sure the installer is certified. It's pointless telling the city or insurance company. There goes your energy saving out the window. When you buy a home, insurance companys NEVER asks if there is an insert. Just make sure you get a big enough insert for your home. P.S - down the road an inspector can still come out and see if it was installed correctly. Also - Wood stoves need permits but inserts not because an insert is just that, an insert. Chimney already in place so its not like you're building one.

The company has a web-site. Here it is: http://local.yahoo.com/info-17881642-smitty-s-chimney-sweepstoves-springfield There is a place on the site where you can post your review of the company----there is already a review there by another unfortunate customer (Read it for yourselves) I would add your experiences there but give him a chance to "Do the right thing" first. My wife's twin sister's husband is diabetic and has lost part of his foot, and is also in dialysis--soooo--- I know how important it is to keep them warm (their house is always too warm for me) and we are in Calif. I would also call your local news as well as your local TV station and explain you plight (Problem)---maybe one of them get off their duff and help???? Do you have natural gas there? Anyway, We loading up the Cannons!!!! Good luck to ya!!! Gary Here is a link that might be useful: Chimney Sweep