Vermont Castings Encore Two in One Reviews for 2011

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BrowningBAR said:
nekit said:
I've been burn the Encore 2 in 1 for almost a year now. I'm very happy with it. It replace a 0028 cat Encore that I had used for about 5 years, but was much older than that.

The new 2 in 1 has a much better refectory box, cast stone like material. Switching between cat and just 2nd air burn takes only about 30 seconds to remove the cat. Also very easy to inspect and clean cat. Build quality is quite nice.

I have had it back puff on me once, my old Encore did this too. Have a good healthy burn going and shut the air down too much to go to bed. Started back puffing after about 1/2 hour.

The glass seems to get smokey a little more than my old Encore. I usually clean it every or every other day. Cleans really easy if you do it when it's warm, not hot, with Windex.

I burn without the cat when it's 30 degrees and warmer. Burn easier and put out less heat.

I can't seem to get the advertised burn times, but that seems to be the case with most wood stoves. Seem to get about 7-8 hours of burn with the cat. I could probably get more if I loaded it all the way up, but that would warm my house too much. I usually have 3 splits med/lrg in when I go to bed at 10 and it's burned up by 5 or 6 am. Burning Black Oak mostly.
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Are burn times any different with the new Encore or about the same?
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My non scientific answer is they seem to be about the same burn times.
 
I purchased the Encore 2in1 on 9/30/11 afterr owning the Encore 0028 since 1986. I did need to replace the refractory system in old stove and choise to go new insted of payinf $600. After 3 months of Minnesta winter I miss my old stove. The 2/1 can not keep a fire as long and the glass is always dirty, even w very dry white oak. I can see that air comes into the firebox from the secondary intake and has poor primary air flow, resulting in dirty glass and more wood burning faster. My old stove was not perfect, but i do regret not replacing the refractory system myself and getting anouther 20 yrs of good service.
 
Nice reviews and great to hear things are improving at VC. The one thing I don't get about the 2 in 1 is when you would ever not want to use the catalyst?

In non cat mode the efficiency and - in theory - heat output is lower and all the flame show is still happening out of view so there doesn't seem to be any benefit.
 
I would return the new encore 2/1 if icould, my 3 months of use is v disappointing compared to my 25 yr old Encore model 0028. I'm now using an estimated 40% more wood, always has dirty glass, (why pay top buck and never enjoy viewing a burning fire) and a very poor air feed system that creates large swings in temperture from 500 deg to 800 deg. I also has had. numerous times that the stove has back puffed smoke in the bouse. (Must. be v carefull to not have more than 3 small logs in the firebox at once)
DON'T BUY IT
 
I am still using my 1988 0028 Encore and just keep the repairs up on it. I follow the threads on the new ones just to see if worth upgrading some day
 
I replaced my encore non cat (5 years old) with a free 0028. I much much prefer the 0028!
Glass always stays clean, it puts out less heat but it also uses much less wood!
 
Another year down on burning the 2-in-1, what do you guys think of the new design? Are you guys still liking this stove? Any problems or issues?
 
goldmace said:
I would return the new encore 2/1 if icould, my 3 months of use is v disappointing compared to my 25 yr old Encore model 0028. I'm now using an estimated 40% more wood, always has dirty glass, (why pay top buck and never enjoy viewing a burning fire) and a very poor air feed system that creates large swings in temperture from 500 deg to 800 deg. I also has had. numerous times that the stove has back puffed smoke in the bouse. (Must. be v carefull to not have more than 3 small logs in the firebox at once)
DON'T BUY IT
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This might be marginal draft. I'm wondering if the new 2 n 1 needs a bit more flue than your old 0028? If so, that can be improved. Can you describe the flue system in detail from stove to flue cap?
 
I have had similar issues with my 2n1. I believe I need a taller chimney (only have 15.5 ft). I agree with goldmace about the temperature swings - you have to watch this stove like a hawk. I am going to get a digital display thermometer with alarm so I don't have to get up every 10 minutes to check the temp. I would not buy this stove again.
 
jharkin said:
Nice reviews and great to hear things are improving at VC. The one thing I don't get about the 2 in 1 is when you would ever not want to use the catalyst?

In non cat mode the efficiency and - in theory - heat output is lower and all the flame show is still happening out of view so there doesn't seem to be any benefit.
Click to expand...

When the cat goes bad, you can save a few buck and not replace immediately. Mines gone bad and now I'm burning non-cat
 
Blast from the past.... How did you cat fail in only a couple years? That should be under warranty Is think.
 
chipped/cracked in many places (it's very brittle) and doesn't light off at the low temp like it used to. Guy at the store said they would just claim overfire and deny the warranty claim.
 
bobabuoy said:
chipped/cracked in many places (it's very brittle) and doesn't light off at the low temp like it used to. Guy at the store said they would just claim overfire and deny the warranty claim.
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How can they prove it? Id still call and try, b/c that's total BS to go bad so fast. Worse that happens is you waste an hour on the phone.
 
bobabuoy said:
chipped/cracked in many places (it's very brittle) and doesn't light off at the low temp like it used to. Guy at the store said they would just claim overfire and deny the warranty claim.
Click to expand...
Don't take the word of the guy at the stove.
 
I took my cracked cat in to my stove guy. They called VC right there. VC told them to take a couple photos just in case, but they didn't even want the cat back to look at it. I took the cat home after they took photos. VC never wanted the photos. They just replaced it. Took about 2 weeks.
 
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