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Satisfaction Ratings from 1 (best) to 5 (worst)
Satisfaction with unit=4-not really pleased
Satisfaction with dealer=2-generally happy
Satisfaction with manufacturer=4-not really pleased
Other Information about the Home and Stove
Room Size (Square feet): 280 | House Size: 1700
Bought in 2008 , Price Paid: $2000
Location : Randolph , ME , - Email of Reviewer: gmax1@myfairpoint.net
Purchased from: Fireplace Retail Store - Rocky\'s Stove Shop Augusta
Likes: Glass stays clean. Nice looking unit when installed with surround. Blower is quiet.
Dislikes: Effectve burn time of 5-6 hours depending on outside temp. Small fire box. Squarish fire box does not give as long and steady burn as a rectangular fire box with a side draft. This stove has no ash pan and its more of a pain and messier to remove ashes. I definitley like a having an ash pan and so does my wife.
Comments: When I initially bought from dealer I told him I needed a stove to heat approximately 1700 sq. ft. and wanted this stove to be the primary heat source. My house was built in 1950's so not as well insulated as newer homes plus it gets cold in Maine. I think the manufacturer pumped up the rating on this PE stove for burn times and heat output. This stove struggles to keep up when outside temps dip below 15 degrees. I have to load it at midnight and in the morning it's in the low 60's in my house. When it's below zero I have to use the furnace which I didn't want to do. Rocky's Stove Shop is working with me to move me to a different stove, but it would have been better to get an adequate stove initially. It was very hectic at stove shops in Maine in fall 2008 so maybe dealer was a little overwhelmed and didn't make the best choice on this.
This stove replaced a 1989 Large Dutchwest catalytic which provided a more even heat over a longer burn time down to about 5 below zero. I expected the more modern PE Pacific to be an improvement so I'm disappointed that it does't heat as well as the Dutchwest.
I'm burning maple, ash, yellow birch and some three year old red oak.
Communication with manufacturer was rather one-sided. I gave them a lot of information and got little in return via email. They do not want to take phone calls. Everything goes through the dealer so you better have a dealer you trust if you buy a Pacific Energy.
With the PE self installed unit I also upgrade my connections to a top to bottom 6" flexsteel liner wrapped with ceramic insulation inside of an 8x12 tile flue. Liner is capped at chimney top. I did not use a block off plate at bottom of chimney. I did suff ceramic insulation around pipe at bottom to seal it off. Chimney is 23' brick on outside East wall. Chimney extends 3' above roof peak. When I clean chimney I will also remove cap and stuff insulation around top of flexsteel liner.
Very little creosote build up.
* Dates that reviews were submitted were not recorded prior to Nov. 2004