Pacific Energy Vista baffle question

[Bocefus78]

1st year burner....Insert (PE Vista) was installed on 12-7-10 and I burnt pretty much 24-7. As much as I could anyway for it being so small. Well, season is over for me and this weekend I took out the baffle to look up the liner. The baffle itself is rusty already. Is this normal? Not flaky rust but definetly rust red in color. It never went above 650. There was also some hard grey material sitting on top o f the baffle. It looked to be a type of cement or something. Is this just the excess from the installer sealing the connection to the liner?

The unit itself performed flawlessly. Any PE owners care to chime in on what their baffle looked like after year 1?

Thanks!

 

[certified106]

My guess is that what you are seeing is more oxidation than rust. After the first 750°stove top fire I had my baffle got the same reddish color that you are talking about and I'm not real concerned considering it's being subjected to 1200°+ temps. I'm sure someone with more PE experience than me will be along to explain what is going on. How have you liked your insert so far?

 

[Sisu]

It is the oxidation of the iron and is completely normal. As Certified stated, the baffle experiences high temperatures. Stainless steel oxidizes under high temps. My baffle also experiences extreme temperatures and sometimes will even glow a bit. After the first burn season, it looked rusty too.

Sagging/deformation of the bottom middle of the baffle also happens. They are warrantied for life, so nothing to worry about.

There should be a metal plate sandwiching a ceramic blanket on top of the baffle. The grey material on top of that could be any of the hard-pan minerals/ash left over from the burn. If you can, take some pictures.

 

[Bocefus78]

The 650# comes from the front of the unit since I cant get stove top temp. No IR thermo. Cheapo rutland magnetic stuck to the front.

Certified,

The unit works great. Its installed in a cheap builder box fireplace so it was the only unit that I could fit in it. I was originally worried about its small size being a newbie. My highest gas bill for the winter was $47. In the summer, the same bill (gas water heater) runs in the $20's so yea, I like it. Not to mention, it was 75 degrees in the house instead of 65.

Sisu,

pics attached. The powder was ash, like you stated, the hard big chunks had little spiral lines on it, definetly from the liner at some point.

 

[certified106]

I don't think you have anything to worry about, not sure what the other crap is but the baffle is the same reddish color as mine.

 

[Sisu]

It looks good and absolutely normal to me. I get whitish-grey deposits on top of the baffle and around the secondary burn outlets. They seem a bit harder vs regular ashes. My theory is that they are other minerals that are part of the wood chemical composition and are left over from the secondary burns of the gases and particulates.

 

[skinanbones]

Just to clarify the vista still uses mild steel for the construction of the baffle and it only carries i believe a 6 year warrenty, but i've never had to replace one yet so don't worry about it.

 

[Bocefus78]

Thanks all...inside of firebox also has minor rust....paint it or leave it?

 

[Sisu]

Thanks all...inside of firebox also has minor rust....paint it or leave it?

Leave it. The paint will just burn off.

 

[Hogwildz]

Just to clarify the vista still uses mild steel for the construction of the baffle and it only carries i believe a 6 year warrenty, but i've never had to replace one yet so don't worry about it.

Per PE, All wood burning products have the following warranty:
WOOD PRODUCTS

Pacific Energy extends the following warranty coverage to the original registered purchaser of the product:

Lifetime Coverage
Limited lifetime coverage is extended to the following components (parts only) porcelain finish, glass(glass for thermal breakage only, not impact) , gold plating, firebox and baffle.

5 Year Comprehensive
Pacific Energy will replace any part found to be defective (parts and labor) for five years from the date of purchase. This coverage includes electrical components (blowers, speed controls and thermal switches).

I thought Tom said all the baffles were S.S., not sure.

 

[Creature]

Bocefus78 (or anyone that can help):

Quick question. How did you get the baffle out? I have a T4, which is supposed to be the same fire box/baffle. It looks like there is a metal tab on each side that I need to remove in order to slide the baffle out. Is that the way you got yours out? I haven't tried yet, but I'd prefer to know how before I attempt it. Spring cleaning in the next couple/few weeks and need to come to grips with this. Tried searching the forum, and didn't get any useful results.

Thanks for any help.

 

[SKIN052]

Lots of info on here actually, plus pics. Someone will point you to them I am sure. For the Summit, pull the pin that is in the back off the stove (The pin is bent a little to avoid falling out. Then lift up the baffle, slide to the left or right and drop into the fire box. Careful as it is heavy, 2--25 lbs. very easy, i just did it a few days ago.

 

[Creature]

Thanks Skin, I'll give it a try soon.

 

[Dix]

Just remember, when you lift the baffle out, it's going to be a little bit heavier than you think it will be.

 

[certified106]

Just to clarify the vista still uses mild steel for the construction of the baffle and it only carries i believe a 6 year warrenty, but i've never had to replace one yet so don't worry about it.

Per PE, All wood burning products have the following warranty:
WOOD PRODUCTS

Pacific Energy extends the following warranty coverage to the original registered purchaser of the product:

Lifetime Coverage
Limited lifetime coverage is extended to the following components (parts only) porcelain finish, glass(glass for thermal breakage only, not impact) , gold plating, firebox and baffle.

5 Year Comprehensive
Pacific Energy will replace any part found to be defective (parts and labor) for five years from the date of purchase. This coverage includes electrical components (blowers, speed controls and thermal switches).

I thought Tom said all the baffles were S.S., not sure.

Mine was definitely S.S.

 

[begreen]

Still is

 

[Medman]

Hi all. I have recently replaced the mild steel rails and baffle in my super 27 with the SS kit. After searching here (thanks for the tips on the baffle gasket) I can't find the proper orientation for the insulation pieces that go behind the rails. Do they sit in on top of the rails vertically, or do they curve around to touch the baffle sides? I have them in vertically now.

 

[begreen]

I don't have a Vista, but if it is like the larger stoves I think it sits vertically, on top of the rail.

 

[Hogwildz]

The rail insulation sits between the side of the baffle and spans across to touch the side of the firebox. It should touch both, closing off the area between the two.

 

[Medman]

So the insulation should be horizontal, not vertical? Then there is no insulation behind the rails on the sides above the bricks, correct?
Sorry fo all the questions, but this is a new configuration for my stove.

 

[Sisu]

So the insulation should be horizontal, not vertical? Then there is no insulation behind the rails on the sides above the bricks, correct?
Sorry fo all the questions, but this is a new configuration for my stove.

The insulation should have a split along the length, allowing it to conform with the 90 degree bend in the rail. I did a poor rendition of how it should look, with the yellow being the insulation.

 

[Medman]

Thanks, I will check that out when I get home!