Owners of an Enviro M55, what's been your experience?

Ozymandias · Mar 2, 2015

For those of you that have owned an M55 for more than a year, what has been your experience so far? I was hoping that I could say that I am a proud owner of an Enviro M55, but it hasn't been a pleasant experience. I am hoping that perhaps I can idenitfy similarities between my set-up and those which have had similar experiences so that I can get this resolved (if in fact it is a set-up issue).

My stove is still under warranty. It is a fireplace insert with an OAK. It is also in a fireplace that is in the center of the house. When it was running, I would clean it once a week and cleaned out the exhaust pipe about twice a season. The last two seasons, I ran Green Supreme during the shoulder seasons and Oki Platinums during the coldest months.

Shortly after installation, it started making noise during ignition. Apparently there is oil in the air pump which is used during ignition process. This oil had leaked out causing the pump to make a rattling sound. This was replaced by the dealer under warranty.

A couple of months later my wife and I noticed the stove getting louder. It got to the point where you could hear the stove when you were on the second floor behind a closed door. Once again, the dealer was called, the convection blower bearings were found to be the issue and the part was replaced.

Fast forward to this heating season and the loud fan sound it back. Rather than risk a slow fan from causing the stove to overheat, it is off.

This is difficult to accept. I didn't purchase this stove with the intention that major components would have to be replaced on an annual basis. If I'm doing something wrong with regard to it proper operation, I'm all ears.

Anyone in a similar boat?

Thanks.

Don2222 · Mar 2, 2015

You are lucky the hopper lid switch has not failed yet and that inexpensive mini hi limit switch does not keep tripping.

Ozymandias · Mar 2, 2015

Don2222, something to look forward to I guess.

Ozymandias · Mar 3, 2015

It's been smooth sailing for all M55 owners? I hoping to come across somebody that has had similar issues and has found a way to resolve them which doesn't require annual replacement of the convection blower.

Bill L · Mar 3, 2015

I've just rolled two years on my insert, and other than the hopper lid switch issue, which was really just an aggravation solved with two washers, it has run great. I run it full time with a thermostat, burning around four tons a season, and it has been pretty much flawless. With the ultra low ash Vermonts and the agitator rod, I go several weeks without doing anything other than fill the hopper. Sorry to hear you have had problems, there was another thread with someone that got a lemon.

Ozymandias · Mar 3, 2015

Thanks, Bill. Glad to hear that it has been working well for you. I typically burn super premium pellets as well and the stove has been set with a magnehelic. I don't think I could ever go weeks without having to clean the stove. Could I ask you where you typically see soot on the glass and at the end of two weeks, approximately what percentage of the glass does it cover? Do you have an OAK? Also, when you have it run on a consistent basis, what level do you have it running at?

From what I have read it seems as though you either have no issues with the stove or constant issues. Perhaps I do have a lemon, perhaps Enviro has poor quality control. It's a tough $5000 pill to swallow. I'm hoping that Enviro can shed some light on this and help to make it right.

Bill L · Mar 3, 2015

I really think it is the Vermonts that stretch the cleaning, I had to burn Energex last season, which are labelled premium, and had to clean every week. The glass gets soot/ash from the lower right corner up over the top edge, maybe 20%, but I think this is pretty typical. I don't have an OAK, I leave the ash door open and it drafts from the clean out in the basement, figure it is better than the living room air. I typically run it on hi/lo with heat level 4. I had to run it in 5 a lot last year with the vortex, but this year has been a lot better.

I'd be upset too if I had that many issues, I hope you get some warranty coverage on the fans

Ozymandias · Mar 3, 2015

Thanks again, Bill. Good info. It still is under warranty so I should be able to get a new fan covered. My concern is what happens when the warranty runs out. We're at a rate of about $900/year for parts only, no labor. This will be the second fan. I'd love to identify the root cause. I feel bad for the dealer as well who has been to my house many more times than should be required. It's also disappointing that Sherwood Industries immediately deflects responses to the distributor.

With the four tons you burned last year, how many times did you run the length of the exhaust line with a brush?

Bill L · Mar 4, 2015

I cleaned it once after the season last year, and will clean it again after this season. It is a 4 inch flex liner straight up.

Aquion · Mar 4, 2015

I'm on my third season of heating with the M55. It's been pretty much smooth sailing. I clean it out once a week or so and have a thorough cleaning done in the spring. I just had to check if the fan was running, so noise is not a problem. Sometimes a pellet gets stuck under the lid and makes a rattling noise, but that is easily fixed. This year unburnt pellets started to drop into the ash pan. I cleaned out the exhaust (luckily I had bought the rail kit), adjusted the damper, and it has been running fine ever since. I burn whatever I can get cheap. Stove Chow is working well for me this year. It's been a cold winter, so my 3 tons are almost gone. I'm going pellet hunting on Saturday.

NYBurner · Mar 5, 2015

This is our first year with the enviro m55 and its been fairly good. The convection blower is is starting to whine slightly so Ill be contacting my dealer for a replacement shortly. Otherwise this thing burs hotter than any other stove we have seen….output air temp is literally scalding hot if we run it at heat 5 with feed trims at 1.

Redbarn · Mar 5, 2015

Bill L said:
I've just rolled two years on my insert, and other than the hopper lid switch issue, which was really just an aggravation solved with two washers, it has run great. I run it full time with a thermostat, burning around four tons a season, and it has been pretty much flawless. With the ultra low ash Vermonts and the agitator rod, I go several weeks without doing anything other than fill the hopper. Sorry to hear you have had problems, there was another thread with someone that got a lemon.

M55 fireplace insert, no OAK.
My experience is just like Bills. 3rd winter, no issues.
Burn 4 tons of Turmans only a season. Run it on a thermostatt.
Clean it once a month whether it needs it or not.
Our installers (they were great !) do an annual clean in May.

Not much help or consolation to the OP other than to emphasize that the M55 is a great stove.

Longislandenergyhedge · Mar 11, 2016

I bought my stove in January. Was running great until fan began making an echo/high pitch fluttering noise. I clean it once a day with a big clean once a week, not sure what is wrong. Any insight?

3650 · Mar 11, 2016

I have an Enviro omega and I'm not too impressed but it has some big shoes to fill. I stuck it where my Cumberland was. Pros: Love the hopper size and the firepot with the agitator. I rarely have to clean it. Cons: It chews through pellets like theres no tomorrow and it puts out less heat then my Cumberland......so .....im lazy and I guess ill leave it there. I'm looking at coal for next winter, plus I bought a Woodstock Fireview wood stove. I'll have plenty of heating options next winter. If I run everything at once I could probably roast cows whole in my dining room...lol.

Don2222 · Mar 12, 2016

3650 said:
I have an Enviro omega and I'm not too impressed but it has some big shoes to fill. I stuck it where my Cumberland was. Pros: Love the hopper size and the firepot with the agitator. I rarely have to clean it. Cons: It chews through pellets like theres no tomorrow and it puts out less heat then my Cumberland......so .....im lazy and I guess ill leave it there. I'm looking at coal for next winter, plus I bought a Woodstock Fireview wood stove. I'll have plenty of heating options next winter. If I run everything at once I could probably roast cows whole in my dining room...lol.

That's cool but you may want to think about a Harman p series stove. It is the only pellet stove on the market that also radiates heat! With the built in T-stat it does not chew thru pellets. The PC 45 has an agitator but not in production anymore so you have to find a used one. I now have 3 Harmys and a Quad for blasting out the heat. The Woodstock fireview is certainly something to enjoy! Good luck that is a fun stove!

Longislandenergyhedge · Mar 12, 2016

Getting the fan looked at this week to see what's up.

Don2222 · Mar 12, 2016

Longislandenergyhedge said:
Getting the fan looked at this week to see what's up.

Very good. Also ask what the difference is between the new upgraded convection blower with the black end like you have and the old one in the older M55 stoves?

vinny11950 · Mar 13, 2016

OP, sorry you are having trouble with your stove. Two fans going bad is bad luck. Sometimes if happens that way. I had to replace my pressure switch twice because it kept breaking. I guess I just got two bad ones.

Make sure the dealer is putting in a new, updated convection fan straight out of the box, with the big capacitor. You don't want used parts.

Also check things on your end:

Is your stove on a surge protector?

Have you checked the electricity on the outlet that supplies the stove (my house runs a few volts high at 124 or 125, power company says its fine, but what do I know)? Bad electricity can kill some motors.

You probably just got bad parts back to back, it happens, but you want to rule out outside influences.

Overall, two motors and a pump doesn't sound that bad. I think it gets much more frustrating putting in the warranty claim, and then waiting for dealer and Enviro to act. This takes time and makes the problem bigger than it needs to be. I think pellet stoves are great machines, but they require mechanical maintenance from time to time, which means getting dirty once in a while.

Good luck.

VistaVF55fan · Mar 21, 2016

I am new here and the owner of a Vistaflame VF55 FS. Virtually the same as M55 but comes with the brick looking firebox liner, the cast one is optional. I did buy a cast one the 2nd year as the original brick one broke apart. I did have to replace the firebox baffle as well.
Mine came with the quiet 'low' output convection fan and I did upgrade to the turbo fan the 2nd year as well. For me the improvement in output was worth the money. BUT, yes, I too had to replace the outer bearing due to squealling (left side as looking at it). I managed to find a matching bearing at a local hardware store and changed it myself. So far it is going on its 2nd year with NO squealling. I did put a little high temp rtv between the fan and the mounting surface to squash any occasional rattling that was occuring
So aside from the common bearing issue, I have been very pleased with the unit. I am going on my 4th season and have put near 38 tons of pellets through it so far. I have burned Barefoot, Drycreek, Lignetics, and on occasion, various Tractor Supply 'stuff'. This season has been primarily Lignetics and I have been having good luck with them this year (not the first time I used them a few years back). My 2nd agitator is due for replacement soon due to simply eroding away. Gerald.

Owners of an Enviro M55, what's been your experience?

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