Rika Stoves

Austrian-made. Great stoves, built like tanks, all ball bearing motors, but they are pricey from new. Do a search on the forum for Rika and/or Austroflamm Integra (most popular model).

What year was it made?

fantastic products awesome service records. The company used to be AustroFlamm, was sold to Rika, the Integra is virtually unchanged since the AustroFlamm days. This model was the hallmark of AustroFlamm. It's not uncommon for me to find one made from 1992-93 that is still running perfectly with ALL of the original equipment.

$1500 is not a bad price if the unit is in perfect running condition. All of the components for the stove run from micro processors. The most common problem for these stoves has to do with replacing the air flow sensor and or the low limit switch. It's also not uncommon for the unit to get all plugged up with creosote if the unit was not properly cleaned or maintained over time.

NEVER buy a pellet stove that you cannot watch burn! You want to see it start up and run through start up mode. You'll know when its out of start up as the room blower fan will come on. The fire should be brisk and the falme should stand up straight. If there is any curve to the flame then you know that the unit is plugged up.

Also, the raker rods for the heat exchangers should move easily up and down all of the way. If they do not, the unit has most likely not been taken care of.

I'd reccomend the Integra series for the Rika.. the visio and premio not so much...

AlanDean777 said:

They say it was only used a couple of months, so I assume it is a 2010. Since assume starts with ASS, I sent an email asking. Thanks for the response.

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First, make sure what model it is....Rika makes more than 1 model, IIRC. If the owner can document that it's a 2010 Integra stove, and you see it burning and everything seems to work, I think $1500 is a STEAL!

as already mentioned, see if you can watch it burning.
The price is a steal for that stove. if properly maintained
it will last for years. I love mine

I too have one and after getting use to its personality i love it. not too loud and puts out a bunch of heat and 99lb hopper. i am running 24/7. i would check out the date because it doesnt seem right. it should be on the left side of stove, pellethead.com has them new for 2500 shipped looks like a deal

i would check out the date because it doesnt seem right. it should be on the left side of stove, pellethead.com has them new for 2500 shipped looks like a deal

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check on your software version (easily done with the menu buttons)
that should give you a rough idea of production date.
Even though one could upgrade the board and than the date is almost meaningless.

I too purchased a Rika and do enjoy it. However, I find myself cleaning it out everyday. Especially the burn pot. Without a doubt clinkers are to be found. I've only used two brands of pellets so far: Lignets and Power Pellets. My stove was made at the end of 2006 but came with a upgraded board. How does one check their software version? Other than one day a company producing the finest pellet, are there any tricks to reducing clinkers? I think I have a tight seal, but other than the pellets themselves, what else can cause these large clinkers?

Thanks for a great place to learn.

Don't know how other ones get along with their stove, but I have the clinkers too.
It does not bother me or the pellet stove. When the Wood Pellets burn, there is always a leftover
so called clinker. That's just the nature of having the Pellets burn in the Pot.
Some Pellets have a better burn rate than other ones. I had now twice a batch where the clinker was minimal
but lots of ash content. It was just horrible.
The new batch (different company) has little ash but a little bit more of the clinker in the burn pot.
One can change the set up, like using FU1 the default setting or FU2 for alternative fuel quality.
There one can tinker more around with auger feed rate, air flow values and other settings.
One could get nuts with all the possibilities.
I found that the global settings fitted me very well and any changes to the default settings
are not justified, as the Pellets vary in quality too much.
These default settings are there for a reason.
That means what fits one kind of Pellets will not work with the other setting, so the default is still the best from my experience.