FPX/Avalon Large Flush Wood Hybrid, any input

That's a good looking insert with a big view of the fire. Yet another so called hybrid.

I just had one of these installed. I don't have experience with other inserts to compare this one to. We have a large house and the insert is in a 2 story family room. Yesterday it kept the 2 story family room to 70 degrees, while it was 32 outside. The heat was off throughout the house. Also, it takes at least a 24" log, probably an inch or two bigger. I wouldn't trust the 12 hour burn time, there might be a few coals at 12 hrs, not much more. I am thinking the fan should be blowing harder than it is, but maybe that's the largest output it gives?? It looks nice in our old ZC hole, and actually looks nicer than what we had there before.

We just had one installed, and we like the large firebox and viewing area. I'm still working out the best way to keep the glass from getting creasote build up, but it definitely puts out the heat. This was the largest one I could find that would fit inside my fireplace. As far as burning all night, I too was down to embers in the box, but with the fire brick holding some heat, it did pretty well. Need more cold weather to really assess the overnight burn.

cbarlage said:

We just had one installed, and we like the large firebox and viewing area. I'm still working out the best way to keep the glass from getting creasote build up, but it definitely puts out the heat. This was the largest one I could find that would fit inside my fireplace. As far as burning all night, I too was down to embers in the box, but with the fire brick holding some heat, it did pretty well. Need more cold weather to really assess the overnight burn.

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Is your wood seasoned? or are you burning on low at night?

cbarlage said:

We just had one installed, and we like the large firebox and viewing area. I'm still working out the best way to keep the glass from getting creasote build up, but it definitely puts out the heat. This was the largest one I could find that would fit inside my fireplace. As far as burning all night, I too was down to embers in the box, but with the fire brick holding some heat, it did pretty well. Need more cold weather to really assess the overnight burn.

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I have the pre-hybrid model (FPX33). I've found that my glass is much cleaner laying wood E/W since wood tends to gas out on both ends. I need to reload at higher temp compare with N/S to get the fire going but that's not an issue.

That's a good looking insert. Definitely interested in hearing about other experiences with this one.

jdp1152 said:

That's a good looking insert. Definitely interested in hearing about other experiences with this one.

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I agree, I didnt realize they converted over to a hybrid, too bad the new one is one inch too big for my fireplace.

weatherguy said:

Is your wood seasoned? or are you burning on low at night?

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My wood tests at 10-18% and I'm getting most of my smoke at startup, even with the damper and air flow wide open. Next time, I'll crack the door since it seems as if its not getting enough air. When burning at night (just one time so far) I had the air control in about 1 inch. So, 1 inch from full closed. I still had embers in the morning, but the fan had shut down since it was cool.

What's the ballpark price on this insert? I've done some googling, but haven't seen anything concrete.

weatherguy said:

I agree, I didnt realize they converted over to a hybrid, too bad the new one is one inch too big for my fireplace.

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We had our installed beginning of last month. Luckily our box was just an inch larger than it had to be. We love the look of the fireplace, that it doesn't stick out onto our shelf, (raised above the floor about 18"). It does throw a lot of heat, but I'm a little disappointed with it. I was hoping it would make our family room where it is "cozy", but it doesn't. I think the problem is we have a big story family room and the heat DEFINITELY rise. As you walk halfway up the steps the air temp increases by a couple of degrees. The heat rises and goes through the bedrooms upstairs doing a good job of keeping the temp's up up there w/o the heat going on. But our family room and kitchen are connected and it is a fairly large space. I guess I can't expect it to heat the whole thing.

Likely a fireplace that came out onto the shelf would heat better because of more radiant heat, but we are glad we have a flush model. Even though our stone shelf is a little over a foot wide, and we have over 3 feet of tile in front of that, there have been times when we open the doors and coals and hot ash spill over, over the shelf and onto the tile, because of ash building up or a log falling and burning against the window.

The fan is nice because it's adjustable. On high it's a little loud, but it's a smooth sound. But it's infinitely adjustable and can be as quiet as you want it and still pushed air out. I don't know how the amount of hot air it pushes compared to other models.

One nice thing is the firebox is huge! I have a lot of wood cut up from before, and this box takes at least a 24" log, probably a few inches longer. That means less chainsaw cuts for me and less carrying/stacking/moving small pieces of wood.

The glass is a pain. I just clean it yesterday morning and by the evening it was already black, and the fire was hot. My brother has the Osburne glass fronted fireplace and recommended the Sams Club oven cleaner, that works much better than the fireplace glass cleaner i had. I know oven/stove/broiler cleaner is not recommended, but I wonder why? Does it hurt the glass? After using a month it doesn't seem to be doing any harm, i open newspapers up below the opened door to catch the drips.

Also, can anyone tell me how to take the front place off this unit. I would like to see if there is any insulation or that special fire retardant stuff around the chimney so the radiant inside doesn't escape up the chimney. I don't think they did that during my installation.

The thing burns for about 6 hrs. Last night I put two moderate logs on at 11pm, and at 6:30am I just put a few smaller pieces on and it started right up. The fan runs through the night most nights, but sometimes it shuts off, I guess that is dependent on how hard the wood i put in is. Some of my wood is a little old and starting to rot.

One last thing. I'm a firebug and like running the fireplace. But luckily I live in the country and have an inexhaustible supply of hardwoods (cherry/maple) right on my property. I enjoy the exercise of the wood. But I am not sure if this whole thing is worth it if I had to buy my wood.

We had the box installed w/o a fax until our custom made front came in from mid-oct to early nov, we compared heating bills and out oil useage definitely was lower, but we'll have a better gauge when we get the next refill. But the oil burner keeps running, probably for the basement and the hot water. But I'd like to fine tune this set up as much as possible and get everything I can for my money and effort in keeping this fed. It's a hungry beast 24/7!

Be patient on the glass. I had a similar issue with my alterra the first month or so, but now I can keep it pretty clean. I don't know if it's just the ceramic glass breaking in or just learning the judge the airflow needs better....maybe both.

Flush inserts will never provide the heat of one of the protruding inserts, but that's a compromise I'm willing to make for aesthetics. I'm just happy to have positive heat gain instead negative. I'm really just looking for supplemental heat, ambiance, and something to keep the place reasonably warm during power outtages.

[quote=" I'm getting most of my smoke at startup, even with the damper and air flow wide open. Next time, I'll crack the door since it seems as if its not getting enough air..[/quote]
Whenever I open the door I open the damper and the air flow, then crack the door for a few seconds, and I also turn off the fan because that can blow some ash out. In the morning, depending on how good the coals are, it's a big help to keep the door cracked a few inches until the draft gets going. To start my fires I take a dixie cup, and put inside it a firestart with a paper towel around, then i just put a few drips of kerosene on it to get it started. And of course smaller wood or kindling until it gets going. I like how i can put big knotted stumps in there that are too big to bust up with my maul. There the best for the longest and hot burning.

The celing fan on high, helps bring down the heat from the two story ceiling, but it annoys m wife and she feels a slight draft.

Hot...I have the Lopi Declaration (last year's 2 door model). Travis Indust. makes Avalon, Lopi & Fireplace Xtroidinair. They put out a central model and make minor tweaks for each brand. My firebox is 2.9 cu. ft, just under the new 3 cu. ft. size. Same with advertised burn time. I'd be floored if you get 10-12 hr burn time. I don't even get 8 with mine. However, she does cook with the blowers on. Definitely enough heat for my drafty 1,700 sq. ft. single level open floor plan. Looks like the main difference is with the inclusion of a catalytic combustor and the GreenStart push button ignitor. Have fun with it.

The Avalon Large Flush Wood Hybrid-FyreTM insert features the World’s cleanest burning technology and a fire viewing area like never before. The fusion of advanced wood combustion and Catalytic technology have given us the ultra-green, Hybrid-Fyre. Primary combustion for this unit occurs in the firebox and secondary tubes help re-burn the gases before they leave the firebox. Those unburned gases are then passed through the catalytic combustor further reducing emissions and car- bon monoxide. Because of this hybrid technology, virtually no smoke exits the appliance. This super clean burning insert boasts emissions of only 0.58 grams an hour as well as virtually no carbon monoxide output throughout all burn cycles. The insert burns wood, the most inexpensive fuel as well as a renewable resource.

cbarlage said:

My wood tests at 10-18% and I'm getting most of my smoke at startup, even with the damper and air flow wide open. Next time, I'll crack the door since it seems as if its not getting enough air. When burning at night (just one time so far) I had the air control in about 1 inch. So, 1 inch from full closed. I still had embers in the morning, but the fan had shut down since it was cool.

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If you're doing a cool start with the door closed, you're definitely going to fog up the glass. You have to get the fire going hot enough to get the secondary burn or the box is going to fill up before you get any air wash.

Way less burntimes and much dirtier glass contradictory to what Lopi advertises has been my experiences. Others seem to fair better.

This green start deal as me intrigued.
I guess I'll google some!

Went and checked out this insert today. Shop about 5 miles from my house had one on display. Figured I'd go give a look in case there are still some funds left in the Mass Woodstove Exchange Program when Jan 17 rolls around. Great looking insert and really big firebox, though seems like it would be near impossible to keep wood from falling out compared to a free standing stove. Was hoping to find it a bit less expensive, but I guess with the exchage voucher, it's not too bad. The wife loves the way it looks, which is good. Will check out the Osburn Matrix this weekend.