Pacific Energy vs Quadra fire ?

[blk90s13]

I have to change all the plans I cant go with either stove because they both require a minimum of 84 inch ceiling height


our basement is 80 ceiling high only


I looked at a regency F3100 which seems to be the same size stove as the other two and within the same price range

any other advise ?

 

[tamarack]

We have the Quad 4300 flat top in our basement and we like it alot. Seems like a quality stove after 3 years of use.
Never seen a PE so I can't compare.

 

[Jags]

I have to change all the plans I cant go with either stove because they both require a minimum of 84 inch ceiling height

You may want to look into reducing clearances with a heat shield. I am not sure if either MFG allows for that for ceiling or not, but it might be worth investigating.

 

[10-cc]

I personally would go with a downdraft stove ( https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/wiki/Downdraft_Stove_Operation/). So, either of these two, and let me tell you that I have plenty experience with PE and Also VC. VC has it problems but there are some good quality downdraft stoves out there.

 

[thechimneysweep]

I have to change all the plans I cant go with either stove because they both require a minimum of 84 inch ceiling height
our basement is 80 ceiling high only

Concerning the Summit, the 84" ceiling height requirement only applies to alcove installations and mobile home installations. There is no minimum ceiling height requrement for installations in site-built houses, including basement installs. You can verify this on pages 5 and 7 of the Summit manual at (broken link removed to http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/pemanualsummit.pdf).

 

[blk90s13]

The clerk at the local PE dealer said it wont work ( I think because he wants me to buy the super 27 so bad ! )


I found out the 3100 Quadra will do the trick and its cheaper so that's more money for my pocket we may just stick with that I am leaning towards the Quadra fire since day one shopping for a stove anyway, it maybe a little smaller than the original 4300 we wanted to buy but its still close to my needs and the Quadra dealer is the best to deal with and closest to us.




the township wont allow any ceiling replacement if manufacture have a minimum floor to ceiling height for installation !

 

[Todd]

I think the Quad 3100 is the same size as the PE Super 27. I'd stick with your original choices and go a little larger.

 

[blk90s13]

I think the Quad 3100 is the same size as the PE Super 27. I'd stick with your original choices and go a little larger.

I think we are set with the 3100 its suppose to handle up to 3000 sqft + 10 hours burn time 16-18 logs which is my most popular firewood size so I have plenty of that


dealer is great to deal with ( parts problems etc later ) the manufacture offers $100 rebate now :D


and the styling is the most appealing to us !

 

[Hogwildz]

Going with a basement install of the smaller stove is going to go something like this.....
30+ degree outside temp: Install, fire it up, nice heat, the basement is nice and warm, not quite as much upstairs, but still doing the job.

Fast forward to January and February......
30/20 and below outside.....Basement is nice and warm the upstairs just in not getting warm enough...wish I would have went for the larger stove. Damn
Wish I had a dollar for each time I read when a person wishes they would have gone with the larger stove.

Said many times by all: Small stove at full capacity and not getting the job done vs. larger stove with smaller fires in the warmer temps, and enough capacity to put the extra heat out when those nights come that is needed. No brainer.
Heating a 2666SF open set up home here, and when its in the single digits and the wind is wailing, I am comfortable
. If I had gone with the smaller insert, I would be SOL.
Do your research completely before rushing into a poor decision leading to a poor purchase. The money you will never get back.
Good luck in whatever you decide!

 

[blk90s13]

Going with a basement install of the smaller stove is going to go something like this.....
30+ degree outside temp: Install, fire it up, nice heat, the basement is nice and warm, not quite as much upstairs, but still doing the job.

Fast forward to January and February......
30/20 and below outside.....Basement is nice and warm the upstairs just in not getting warm enough...wish I would have went for the larger stove. Damn
Wish I had a dollar for each time I read when a person wishes they would have gone with the larger stove.

Said many times by all: Small stove at full capacity and not getting the job done vs. larger stove with smaller fires in the warmer temps, and enough capacity to put the extra heat out when those nights come that is needed. No brainer.
Heating a 2666SF open set up home here, and when its in the single digits and the wind is wailing, I am comfortable
. If I had gone with the smaller insert, I would be SOL.
Do your research completely before rushing into a poor decision leading to a poor purchase. The money you will never get back.
Good luck in whatever you decide!

I would love to have the 4300 but if it will not pass township inspection its no good for me !
the PE is a no no specially after seeing how my local dealer handles business.


That all said and done find me a BIG stove that is ok to install in a 80 inch height ceiling, most manufactures have a 84 minimum requirement for installation

1000 basement + 1300 main floor adds up to 2300 the stoves claims its for 3000 so I am good we also have a vent less gas fireplace on main floor that we will keep kicking at a lower setting to keep things toasty up stairs

 

[Hogwildz]

Going with a basement install of the smaller stove is going to go something like this.....
30+ degree outside temp: Install, fire it up, nice heat, the basement is nice and warm, not quite as much upstairs, but still doing the job.

Fast forward to January and February......
30/20 and below outside.....Basement is nice and warm the upstairs just in not getting warm enough...wish I would have went for the larger stove. Damn
Wish I had a dollar for each time I read when a person wishes they would have gone with the larger stove.

Said many times by all: Small stove at full capacity and not getting the job done vs. larger stove with smaller fires in the warmer temps, and enough capacity to put the extra heat out when those nights come that is needed. No brainer.
Heating a 2666SF open set up home here, and when its in the single digits and the wind is wailing, I am comfortable
. If I had gone with the smaller insert, I would be SOL.
Do your research completely before rushing into a poor decision leading to a poor purchase. The money you will never get back.
Good luck in whatever you decide!

I would love to have the 4300 but if it will not pass township inspection its no good for me !
the PE is a no no specially after seeing how my local dealer handles business.


That all said and done find me a BIG stove that is ok to install in a 80 inch height ceiling, most manufactures have a 84 minimum requirement for installation

1000 basement + 1300 main floor adds up to 2300 the stoves claims its for 3000 so I am good we also have a vent less gas fireplace on main floor that we will keep kicking at a lower setting to keep things toasty up stairs

Please be careful of the ventless. Try to keep a window cracked when you use it.
As far as the ceiling height restrictions, did you read the manual real good for the 4300? I have not had a chance, but as Tom pointed out, the ceiling height clearances for the PE is for alcove installs. If that is the case with the 4300 also, you may be good to go, unless it is going in an alcove?

 

[Hogwildz]

Looking at the manual for the 4300 flat top, think that was the one you were talking about. The stove top to ceiling clearance (G) is 53.5".
You don't have that height?

 

[blk90s13]

Well the manual states stove is 31 inchs off the ground and it requires a 53.5 from top of stove to ceiling

(broken link removed to http://www.quadrafire.com/en/Products/4300-Millennium-Wood-Stove.aspx?page=Specifications#)


Then township will only go with manufacture's installation manual for clearances to combustibles.


I also spoke to the fire inspector and suggested if a cement board was installed on the ceiling ( cut a section of ceiling Sheetrock out and replace it with cement board ) but that won't work either.

 

[Todd]

Sorry but I wouldn't believe Quads stated 3000 sq ft number, they are way over exaggerating it which is what many manufactures do to sell their stoves. You could look at a similar sized fire box that holds the same amount of wood and the sq ft number will be much less. For example the Woodstock Fireview has a max BTU output of 55,000 and they state it can heat up to 1600 sq ft, while the Quad 3100 max BTU is 51,100 and claims to heat 3000 sq ft. The Fireview throws more BTU's but can't heat as much sq ft as the Quad? Don't think so, it's just marketing bs. Like Hog I wish I also had a dollar for everyone here that wished they bought a larger stove, but it's your call and if you don't mind burning the gas fireplace in the colder weather you will probably be fine. Good luck.

 

[blk90s13]

Looking at the manual for the 4300 flat top, think that was the one you were talking about. The stove top to ceiling clearance (G) is 53.5".
You don't have that height?

nope my floor to ceiling is 80 inchs exact

 

[precaud]

nope my floor to ceiling is 80 inchs exact

Just to put that into context, the vertical opening of a standard door in the US is 80 inches.

I have a Quad 2100, same dimensions as the 3100 you're considering, except the 3100 firebox is one brick wider (4.5 inches). The 2100 heats my approx. 9,000 cu. ft. fairly well. The 3100 does not put out twice the heat of my 2100. So I'm going to agree with those that are saying you should probably go with the larger stove.

There are stoves that have convective jacketing on the top, perhaps that would solve your clearance problem.