Everything Drolet Tundra - Heatmax...

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On another note, does anyone know what happened to the individual that said SBI was requiring him to get an onsite welder? I wonder how everything played out for him and his situation. I don't remember hearing the end result.
He wasn't smart enough to refuse the repair. I was uncomfortable with the method they said they would go about repairing it and told them I was upset they used their client base to test out the first line of Tundra's and find the failures. I said they should have done that ahead of time and I would feel better with a replacement unit with the updated corrections. I was pretty aware of the issues being across the board however and told them I knew about it. They had no reservations about replacing the unit. Refuse the service get it replaced. They will do it if you demand it and the warranty is valid. They had me keep the old stove but I am suppose to remove the serial number plate and mail it back to them so the stove can't be warrantied again.
 
They had me keep the old stove but I am suppose to remove the serial number plate and mail it back to them so the stove can't be warrantied again.
You can bet your boots that they have that number in their system and wouldn't warranty agian anyways...they want the tag back so that they are off they hook if someone continues to use it and something bad happens...or some hack gets hold of it and adds air deflectors, extra ducts, temp controllers, speed controls, plenum, turbulators, etc. etc. etc. [Hearth.com] Everything Drolet Tundra - Heatmax...
 
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On another note, does anyone know what happened to the individual that said SBI was requiring him to get an onsite welder? I wonder how everything played out for him and his situation. I don't remember hearing the end result.
He wasn't smart enough to refuse the repair. I was uncomfortable with the method they said they would go about repairing it and told them I was upset they used their client base to test out the first line of Tundra's and find the failures. I said they should have done that ahead of time and I would feel better with a replacement unit with the updated corrections. I was pretty aware of the issues being across the board however and told them I knew about it. They had no reservations about replacing the unit. Refuse the service get it replaced. They will do it if you demand it and the warranty is valid. They had me keep the old stove but I am suppose to remove the serial number plate and mail it back to them so the stove can't be warrantied again.
You can bet your boots that they have that number in their system and wouldn't warranty agian anyways...they want the tag back so that they are off they hook if someone continues to use it and something bad happens...or some hack gets hold of it and adds air deflectors, extra ducts, temp controllers, speed controls, plenum, turbulators, etc. etc. etc. Link Removed
yeah I meant liable for any damage the malfunctioning furnace may cause. Yes basically what you said. Correct they won't warranty that serial number again.
 
I have yet to take it off and mail it to them. Wonder what happens if I don't? lol. bill me for the replacement stove? lmao. Can't get blood from a turnip! Spent all my money on the stove and chimney already ha! jokes on SBI! :)
 
Ok Brenn just found the build date. I must gave been looking at the design date of the model before. build date on this unit is 22/12/2015. SBI is French so I assume they meant 12/22/2015 in US lingo.
 
build date on this unit is 22/12/2015
Hot off the presses! Where did it ship from? Direct from SBI Canada or their US warehouse?
 
Hot off the presses! Where did it ship from? Direct from SBI Canada or their US warehouse?
Directly from SBI in CA. They want'ed to be sure I got the right model. Told them old units still on the shelves so they said we'll ship you one direct to be sure. It does keep making noises similar to cracking sounds but I am finding nothing. looking at every weld inside and out corners, panel, HE and and panels.. nothing.. the sounds are slightly muffled but other day one was a sharp crack. I believe it is the metal parts moving they have allowed to move now where they were welded before. Several things they did not weld this time around not just the HE Door. Also some parts inside they allowed to float like the air shield. I think the HE makes noise as it moves and things rub stick and relieve. I really don't think anything has failed but I'll keep looking just to be sure. Another change they made is at the corners were the damper door cut out comes through the fire box they have drilled round holes at the corners instead of solid cut 90 deg corner. this strengthens the corners quit a bit. I get they did that in a few areas.
 
I think it will be the best furnace you can get dollar for dollar now that issues sound like they have been resolved. Also SBI has great customer service so you can rest assured that you will be taken care of in the future.

We heard this exact statement last year. Hopefully this new designed one actually fixes the problems. Its been years of problems and headaches for the good folks just trying to heat their house economically.
 
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Digger79, glad you received a replacement. Did they have you fill out a form? Asking size of house,numbers of windows, chimney set-up, on and on. The end result for me was I am trying to heat to large a house so they recommend against replacement and suggest I go bigger on the furnace. Wondering what they told you ?
Also I have serial number 1993 which is "old stock" so I would think any unit the gentleman above should accept from TSC should be well into the 2000's if it is in fact the newest model they send him.
 
Do you guys have a hard time burning round locust pieces ? I would say they are around 4 - 5" around. Been burning a bunch of locust due the cold snap we have been having and I am having a heck of a time keeping it going. The wood has been cut and stacked for at least 3 years. It isn't hissing, so I don't think it is too wet. No MM to verify moisture.
 
Do you guys have a hard time burning round locust pieces ? I would say they are around 4 - 5" around. Been burning a bunch of locust due the cold snap we have been having and I am having a heck of a time keeping it going. The wood has been cut and stacked for at least 3 years. It isn't hissing, so I don't think it is too wet. No MM to verify moisture.
I just cut up a locust tree that was standing dead for probably 10 years. It was bone dry and rock hard. Last night that was my load, with one round at 8 or 10" in diameter, and another at 6". The rest were split on the larger size. All locust, and it carried the house at 71-72 for almost 10 hours last night. When I woke up, there were enough coals to reload. Harder wood like that requires more air. With the heat load on the house last night, the damper was open quite a bit. Locust doesn't offgas as quickly as other woods, slow and hot.
 
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Digger79, glad you received a replacement. Did they have you fill out a form? Asking size of house,numbers of windows, chimney set-up, on and on. The end result for me was I am trying to heat to large a house so they recommend against replacement and suggest I go bigger on the furnace. Wondering what they told you ?
Also I have serial number 1993 which is "old stock" so I would think any unit the gentleman above should accept from TSC should be well into the 2000's if it is in fact the newest model they send him.
yes I filled out a furnace inspection report. my house is 1200 sq ft. I let them have it about how I knew of these things cracking on people across the board and told them they should have corrected the problem first not with a later model. They offered first to repair I expressed concern and they offered up the replacement. Def was a good idea. I feel sorry for anyone who took the repair. You can't fix bad the design flaws truly without rebuilding the unit.
 
yes I filled out a furnace inspection report. my house is 1200 sq ft. I let them have it about how I knew of these things cracking on people across the board and told them they should have corrected the problem first not with a later model. They offered first to repair I expressed concern and they offered up the replacement. Def was a good idea. I feel sorry for anyone who took the repair. You can't fix bad the design flaws truly without rebuilding the unit.
I also told them it was heating the house fine. which it was. it was just cracking apart every where. lol. The rate these things at 1500-2500 sqft but that is also being called and add on furnace. I dunno if there intention is for them to heat 2500 stand alone. A company can word things many ways to make them sound better. anything over 2000 sqft standalone would need to be a damn good setup and very very well insulated. The rating is probably 1500 stand alone and up to 2500 as and add on but they just say 1500-2500. sounds better.
 
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I just cut up a locust tree that was standing dead for probably 10 years. It was bone dry and rock hard. Last night that was my load, with one round at 8 or 10" in diameter, and another at 6". The rest were split on the larger size. All locust, and it carried the house at 71-72 for almost 10 hours last night. When I woke up, there were enough coals to reload. Harder wood like that requires more air. With the heat load on the house last night, the damper was open quite a bit. Locust doesn't offgas as quickly as other woods, slow and hot.
I have a hard time burning round logs period.. 10" diameter log?!?! in a stove?? must be a monster. Tundra's won't take large round logs very well. coal up. loose stacked splits seems the best. when you pack it tight you wind up with coal that never burns insulated in ash.
 
It's a Caddy furnace. One of the largest rounds I've ever burned in it. I expected the same thing with a pile of coals, but was reduced to a fine ash when I woke up. Same firebox as the Tundra.
 
It's a Caddy furnace. One of the largest rounds I've ever burned in it. I expected the same thing with a pile of coals, but was reduced to a fine ash when I woke up. Same firebox as the Tundra.
lol i'll be damned I gotta try it but some after noon when I'm piddling round in the garage by the stove not over night.
 
It's a Caddy furnace. One of the largest rounds I've ever burned in it. I expected the same thing with a pile of coals, but was reduced to a fine ash when I woke up. Same firebox as the Tundra.
What was it? Honey Locust? I would think a chunk of like Ash would do well like that but I'd think the dense woods, long burners or coal maker like locust, oak, hickory.. would coal. My Ash gets burnt to a fine whisp of ash but the hickory and oak makes nice coals.
 
I split everything, but I knew there was going to be a high heat load. I figured what the hell, and it worked well. I wouldn't do it on a 30 degree day.
 
What was it? Honey Locust? I would think a chunk of like Ash would do well like that but I'd think the dense woods, long burners or coal maker like locust, oak, hickory.. would coal. My Ash gets burnt to a fine whisp of ash but the hickory and oak makes nice coals.
Black locust. When I load for the night, I usually burn some locust but alot of Ash. If I'm working, I don't fill the furnace overnight, or there will be too many coals for the morning. When it's the weekend, I fill the furnace so I get my sleep. I loaded at 10pm last night, and woke at 7:30am to a 72 degree house with enough coals to load and walk away. It was 0° last night. Honestly, it's the first time I've gone that long in those temps, but I've been slowly tightening the house up, and I had primo wood.
 
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One thing I have figured out on my Tundra is the only way to get a quick temp rise in the house is to load with a bunch of small splits. The hottest duct temps that I have seen was a load with a bunch of Honey Locust braches on top
 
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I split everything, but I knew there was going to be a high heat load. I figured what the hell, and it worked well. I wouldn't do it on a 30 degree day.
gotcha. makes sense yeah.
 
One thing I have figured out on my Tundra is the only way to get a quick temp rise in the house is to load with a bunch of small splits. The hottest duct temps that I have seen was a load with a bunch of Honey Locust braches on top
Here's how I see it. If I wake up, or check the furnace and there's only a few coals left and the furnace is running, any wood I add can only produce more heat. This morning at 0°, it took about 1/2 hour to start raising the temperature in the house, with 5 large splits. But within that half hour there was enough heat to maintain the current temperature of the home.
 
One thing I have figured out on my Tundra is the only way to get a quick temp rise in the house is to load with a bunch of small splits. The hottest duct temps that I have seen was a load with a bunch of Honey Locust braches on top
yup which is why my top down starts get heat fast!
 
All EPA units do better with smaller splits, leave the larger ones for shoulder season. Seems backwards but it is science.
 
leave the larger ones for shoulder season. Seems backwards but it is science.
Hmm...never thought of it that way before...does seem backwards, but I see what you are saying.
These are not our fathers wood burners!