MF Fire Nova C Wood Stove – Satin Black Body & Door, EPA Certified, Heats up to 1,500 sq ft

The MF Fire Nova C is a compact, EPA-certified catalytic wood stove designed and built by MF Fire in Baltimore, Maryland. A 1.7 cu ft firebox behind 182 square inches of glass heats up to 1,500 sq ft, burns at a certified 1.9 grams per hour, and runs on a single air control — light it, set it, and let the catalytic combustor do the work. This listing is the Satin Black body with the matching Satin Black door.

Who the Nova C Is For

The Nova C suits small to mid-size homes, cabins, and well-insulated open floor plans up to about 1,500 sq ft. If you want a modern wood stove with big glass and clean-burning catalytic performance — but a footprint that fits a smaller room — this is the size to choose. Heating more than 1,500 sq ft, or burning 22-inch splits? Step up to the Nova 2X.

Key Features

• EPA 2020 certified at 1.9 g/hr – a catalytic combustor re-burns smoke before it leaves the stove, for cleaner glass, less creosote, and more heat from every log
• 71% HHV efficiency (EPA test) – independently verified at OMNI-Test Laboratories, so the rating on this page is the one on the EPA certificate
• One air control, no fiddling – MF Fire's design goal is "light it and enjoy": a single lever plus a catalyst bypass handle for startup and reloading
• Up to 15-hour no-match restart – MF Fire rates the Nova C to hold enough coals to relight from a fresh load up to 15 hours later, without a match
• 1.7 cu ft firebox, 18 in logs – genuine overnight capacity in a stove sized for smaller rooms
• 182 sq in of glass – a 14 in x 13 in viewing area keeps the fire the focal point of the room
• Top or rear 6 in venting – the flue collar converts, so it suits a new Class A chimney or an existing lined masonry flue
• UL 1482 safety listed – independently tested by OMNI-Test Laboratories

Why Choose MF Fire

MF Fire was founded in 2012 by two University of Maryland fire protection engineers who set out to build a cleaner wood stove from first principles. The company's designs took the Low Emissions Prize at the 2013 Wood Stove Decathlon and the Grand Prize at the 2014 Wood Stove Design Workshop, and MF Fire has since earned U.S. Department of Energy research grants for clean combustion work. The Nova series is that fire science turned into a stove you operate with one lever.

Specifications

Heating Performance, Honestly

MF Fire's 1,500 sq ft figure assumes a reasonably insulated, fairly open layout. Insulation, ceiling height, climate, chimney draft and firewood moisture all move the result, so treat square footage as a guide. What the catalytic design reliably delivers is long, low, clean burns: the combustor lets the Nova C smolder efficiently at outputs a non-catalytic stove can't sustain cleanly, which is where the up-to-15-hour restart rating comes from. Burn dry, seasoned cordwood in the 15–20% moisture range — a $20 moisture meter pays for itself the first winter.

Nova C vs Nova 2X at a Glance

Square footage, output and restart figures are MF Fire ratings; emissions and efficiency are from the EPA certification tests.

Looking at the bigger firebox? See the Nova 2X in Satin Black.

Installation

Plan on a 6-inch chimney system — UL 103 HT Class A from a single manufacturer, or an existing masonry chimney with a code-approved liner — running 15 to 33 feet from the stove top, plus a UL 1618 floor pad sized to your leg height. The clearance table in MF Fire's Nova C owner's manual is the authority for your configuration, and the optional Reduced Clearance Kit brings the back wall requirement down to 7.5 inches with double-wall pipe. We recommend a professional, NFI-certified installer — wood stove installs live or die on clearances and draft, and a pro sign-off also keeps your insurer happy. The Nova C is not approved for mobile homes.

Compatible Accessories

• Base options: Nova Series leg kits, the Nova C Tower base with built-in wood storage, or the Nova Series Bench
• Fireplace conversion: Nova C Insert Surround Kit turns the same firebox into a fireplace insert
• Heat circulation: Room blower fan for freestanding installs
• Finishing touches: cast iron ash lip (adjustable 4–6 in), Reduced Clearance Kit, and a make-up air kit for tightly sealed homes

Warranty & Support

MF Fire backs the Nova C with a Limited Lifetime warranty on the firebox and door-frame welds — "lifetime" is defined in the warranty as up to 7 years — with up to 5 years of covered labor on select components and shorter terms on wear parts. Paint, gaskets, glass and firebricks are excluded, and coverage applies to the original owner at the registered address, so register your stove with MF Fire after installation. OffGrid Horizon is a family-owned, authorized MF Fire dealer: you get the full manufacturer warranty, and our team at (302) 496-3554 handles questions before and after the sale.

Shipping & Delivery

The Nova C ships crated by freight carrier with curbside delivery. Before you sign the delivery receipt, inspect the crate and note any damage on the paperwork, then call us — we open the claim with the manufacturer for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the firebox come with legs or a base?

Not by default — but you can add a 3, 6 or 9 inch leg kit right on this page with the Leg Kit selector above, and the price updates automatically. Prefer a different look? The Tower base with wood storage, the 48-inch Bench, and the insert surround are listed separately, and we're happy to match one for you at (302) 496-3554.

Is this a catalytic stove, and what does that mean for me?

Yes. A catalytic combustor re-burns smoke at low temperatures, which is what makes the long, clean, low burns possible. You engage it with a bypass handle once the stove is up to temperature. The combustor is a maintained part — inspect it seasonally and expect to replace it eventually, like brake pads on a car.

What wood should I burn?

Seasoned cordwood split and dried to 15–20% moisture content, per MF Fire. Wet wood wastes heat, dirties glass, and builds creosote in the chimney.

Can it vent out the back instead of the top?

Yes. The 6 inch flue collar converts between top and rear exit, which makes the Nova C an easy retrofit onto an existing lined masonry chimney as well as a new Class A run.

What clearances and hearth do I need?

36 inches of front clearance, a UL 1618 floor pad (the type depends on your leg height), and rear/side clearances from the manual's table for your exact configuration. The Reduced Clearance Kit cuts the back-wall requirement to 7.5 inches with double-wall connector pipe.

Can I install it in a mobile home?

No. MF Fire does not approve the Nova C for mobile home installation.

Does it qualify for the federal wood stove tax credit?

No. The federal 25C credit for high-efficiency biomass stoves ended for installations after December 31, 2025, so stoves installed in 2026 do not qualify. We'd rather tell you that plainly than let you find out at tax time.

What maintenance does it need?

Empty ash into a lidded steel container, clean the glass with a non-ammonia cleaner when cool, check door gaskets seasonally, inspect the catalytic combustor, and have the chimney inspected and swept regularly during the heating season.

How do I know it will actually heat my space?

Call us at (302) 496-3554 with your square footage, layout, insulation and climate, and we'll tell you honestly whether the Nova C fits — or whether the Nova 2X, or no wood stove at all, is the right answer.

Find the right stove for your space — and if you're weighing the Nova C against the Nova 2X, we'll walk you through it.