Miracle Heat vs. Magic Heat Reclaimer

Modern wood stoves are ultra-efficient, especially compared to decades-old models. But whether you have a new, top-of-the-line stove or a 40-year-old workhorse unit, you know that not all of the heat from the stove makes it to the living space. Rather, a good deal of it is lost up the flue.

That’s why many wood stove owners opt to purchase a heat reclaimer — a device installed in a section of the flue pipe that helps recapture heat that would otherwise be lost up the chimney.

When it comes to stove pipe heat reclaimers, there are really only two options on the market today:

1. The Magic Heat heat reclaimer from HY-C
2. The Miracle Heat heat reclaimer from US Stove

But which one should you get? What size flue pipe is each heat reclaimer designed for? And how much heat can they actually help you save, anyway?

That’s exactly what we’re going to cover here.

In this guide, we’re going to compare the Magic Heat heat reclaimer to the Miracle Heat heat reclaimer. We’ll compare cost, potential heat savings, important specifications, and more information about both models.

By the time you’re finished here, you’ll know which heat reclaimer is the right one to use with your wood stove.

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Miracle Heat vs. Magic Heat Reclaimer: Specifications

When comparing heat reclaimers, one of the most fundamental questions to ask about them is, “How much heat can they save?” In this category, Magic Heat edges out Miracle Heat:

• Magic Heat is capable of reclaiming up to 30% of lost heat
• Miracle Heat is capable of reclaiming up to 10% of lost heat

But what does this mean in practice?

Well, let’s say you burn a fuel load with 100,000 BTUs worth of heat energy. Now, imagine that 80,000 BTUs are delivered into your home as heat, while 20,000 BTUs are lost up the flue pipe.

Of those 20,000 lost BTUs, Miracle heat is capable of returning 2,000 BTUs (10%) back into the home. Magic Heat, on the other hand, is capable of returning 6,000 BTUs (30%) back into the home.

Part of this is because each heat reclaimer utilizes a different number of heat transfer tubes. These are the tubes within the heat reclaimer that are heated by escaping flue gasses. Magic Heat utilizes 10 heat transfer tubes while Miracle Heat has just 4 heat transfer tubes.

Another reason Magic Heat delivers more heat than Miracle Heat is the power difference between the fans on the back of each reclaimer. These fans blow the hot air inside the heat transfer tubes back into the room. Magic Heat’s fan is rated for 225 CFM (cubic feet per minute) while Miracle Heat’s fan is rated for 100 CFM.

It’s also worth noting that Magic Heat is UL-approved by Underwriters Laboratories — a testament to its safety, quality, and reliability. Miracle Heat is not UL-approved.

Miracle Heat vs. Magic Heat Reclaimer: Installation

Installing a heat reclaimer is a pretty involved task that requires a fair bit of DIY competency. You have to cut out a section of your stove pipe and install the heat reclaimer in its place, a task that calls for specialized tools and very precise measuring and planning.

In order for the installation to work in the first place, though, the heat reclaimer needs to be able to fit properly into your stove pipe. That means the connection points on the reclaimer itself need to be the right size.

Magic Heat comes in two sizes to accommodate installations on 6-inch and 8-inch stove pipes, making it versatile and compatible with a large array of appliances.

Miracle Heat, on the other hand, is available only in a 6-inch style, limiting its use to 6-inch stove pipes only.

Crimp: Up or Down?

Pipes of similar sizes don’t fit well into each other. But when you’re installing a heat reclaimer, that’s exactly what needs to happen to ensure a tight, leak-free chimney system. As a result, pipe connections on heat reclaimers are crimped (i.e., folded incrementally to allow for a proper fit on a similarly sized pipe).

When installing Magic Heat, the crimped end of the reclaimer must face downward. This type of installation allows liquid creosote to flow downward and back into the firebox without leaking out of the chimney pipe.

The Miracle Heat owner’s manual notes that Miracle Heat “may be installed with the crimp end either up or down, depending on your needs.” We would advise against this installation method, though, as a safety concern.

Miracle Heat vs. Magic Heat Reclaimer: Cleaning and Maintenance

One of the most important things to do to ensure your heating appliance, chimney, and heat reclaimer continue to operate and function properly is to keep the heat reclaimer clean.

If creosote forms inside your heat reclaimer, it can cause a few problems. Creosote blocks the chimney, inhibiting a proper draw. This will lower the flue temperature and decrease the efficiency of both your heating appliance and your heat reclaimer.

To account for this problem, Magic Heat comes with an internal soot scraper — a metal plate inside the appliance that glides along the heat transfer tubes.

The soot scraper knocks down any ash, soot, or creosote that may have built up on the heat transfer tubes. This helps to keep the flue clear, ensuring a proper draw and flue temperature to keep your system working efficiently and effectively.

Miracle Heat does not have a similar internal cleaning device. The only way to clean creosote, ash, or soot from inside the unit is to remove it from your stove pipe for periodic cleaning.

Miracle Heat vs. Magic Heat Reclaimer: Price

At the time of writing, you can pick up a Magic Heat for around $350. Miracle Heat, on the other hand, costs around $240. This $110 difference is a big discrepancy, and it exists for a few reasons.

For one, as we’ve seen, Magic Heat’s performance standards exceed Miracle Heat’s performance standards. Magic Heat reclaims up to 30% of heat to Miracle Heat’s 10%. Magic Heat has a 225 CFM blower; Miracle Heat has a 100 CFM blower. Magic Heat has an internal cleaning mechanism, while Miracle Heat lacks one.

One of the biggest factors that drives the price difference, though, is the country in which each appliance is manufactured. Magic Heat is made in the USA by a team of skilled fabricators. Miracle Heat, on the other hand, is manufactured in China using cheaper labor and components.

Should You Get a Magic Heat or a Miracle Heat?

This has been a close look at the differences between the Miracle Heat and Magic Heat heat reclaimers. If you’re still wondering which one is right for you, here are a few tips to help you decide.

If your wood or coal heating appliance uses an 8-inch flue, Magic Heat is your only heat reclaimer option (as Miracle Heat is only available with a 6-inch flue pipe connection).

From there, though, the question is essentially one of cost savings vs. quality.

Miracle Heat costs much less than Magic Heat. But in terms of operating efficiency, the amount of reclaimed heat, build quality, and the ability to clean the appliance easily, Magic Heat wins in every category except for price.

If you want to save a few bucks upfront, Miracle Heat is the clear choice. But if you want a long-lasting appliance that’s made in the USA, will save much more heat over time, and allows quick, easy cleaning and maintenance, Magic Heat is the heat reclaimer for you.