Century Heating FW2800 Wood Stove (CB00021)

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The Century Heating FW2800 wood stove (model CB00021) is a compact, medium-size, non-catalytic stove built by SBI in Quebec, Canada, the company that also builds Drolet and Englander stoves. It heats 500 to 1,800 sq ft with a maximum heat output of 65,000 BTU/h, takes logs up to 18" and is rated for burn times up to 7 hours. It is EPA 2020 certified at 2.4 g/h, with an average overall efficiency of 68% (HHV) and an optimum overall efficiency of 76%. At 24 1/4" wide, 24 7/8" deep and 32 3/8" high, it comes on a pedestal with an ash lip, air intake damper and rear air deflector, and is certified for mobile home and alcove installation.

Who the FW2800 is for

The FW2800 is built for tighter spaces that still need real heat. It fits:

• Cottages, cabins and small to mid-size homes of about 500 to 1,800 sq ft.
• Living rooms and open-plan main floors where a big stove would overheat the room.
• Replacing an older medium stove on a smaller hearth: it is 24 1/4" wide.

Century's heating area is the space the stove can keep at a minimum comfortable temperature in a power outage. Insulation, layout and climate all move it. In a drafty older house or a cold northern climate, plan on the lower half of the range, or step up to the FW2900.

Firebox and loading

The firebox has an overall volume of 1.86 cu ft (1.44 cu ft EPA loading volume) and measures about 19 5/8" wide, 11 7/8" high and 13 1/2" deep inside. Logs load east-west, side to side, up to 18" long; Century recommends 16" splits. The door opening is 17 1/4" x 8", behind a single door with a cast iron frame and 15 3/4" x 10 1/8" ceramic glass. One air control under the ash shelf sets the burn rate. The body is 3/16" steel with a 1/4" steel top, refractory brick lining and a vermiculite baffle.

Burn time and heat output

Century rates the FW2800 at up to 65,000 BTU/h with a dense load of dry cordwood, and at 9,800 to 52,200 BTU/h overall heat output from low to high burn under EPA test conditions. That low end, under 10,000 BTU/h, is what makes a stove this size comfortable in shoulder seasons without opening windows.

The maximum burn time is up to 7 hours with a full load of dry hardwood (15% to 20% moisture) and the air turned down. Softwood, wet wood or partial loads give shorter burns.

FW2800 vs. Drolet Escape 1500 vs. Century FW2900

The FW2800 shares its performance figures with SBI's Drolet Escape 1500. If you need more firebox, the FW2900 is the next size up.

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The Drolet adds a limited lifetime warranty and a different look; the FW2800 is the straightforward version of the same heater. Compare the ship dates on each product page, and see our Century Heating vs. Drolet guide for more on the two brands.

Blower option

A blower isn't required; the FW2800 heats by radiation and natural convection and needs no electricity. To push more heat into the next room, add the 100 CFM variable-speed blower (AC02050) from the FW2800 parts list, plus the Quick Connect Thermodisc (AC02055) so it runs only when the stove is hot. The Ash Drawer Kit (AC01099) is also listed for this stove.

Venting and installation

The FW2800 has a 6" flue outlet and uses 6" connector pipe to a UL 103 HT (2,100°F) factory-built chimney or a lined masonry chimney, at least 12 ft tall. See our wood stove chimney and stovepipe guide and 6" stove pipe kits. In the USA, double-wall connector pipe cuts the rear clearance from 13" to 7 1/2", and the AC02762 wall heat shield with double-wall pipe brings it to 3" rear, 5" side and 3" corner; see the clearance table below. For a mobile home, the manual requires double-wall pipe, a fresh air intake such as the 5" kit for pedestal stoves (AC01336) connected at the back, and the base screwed to the floor.

Floor protection

Unless the stove sits on a non-combustible floor such as concrete, it needs a continuous non-combustible ember pad; no R-value is required. In the USA, the pad extends 16" in front of the door opening and 8" to each side of it. Shop our hearth pads; the 46 3/4" x 54" black steel hearth pad covers the footprint plus the required extensions.

Why buy the Century FW2800 from StoveSource

• No Sales Tax in any state.
• Free shipping on orders over $250 to the lower 48.
• Authorized dealer, with the full Century Heating manufacturer's warranty.
• Price match guarantee.
• Real help with sizing, clearances and venting: call 1-888-914-0022.