Quadrafire alternative?? they are backordered for a year!!!

Try a Regency. Mine will be installed 9/18 and my installer has not had delivery problems.


http://www.regency-fire.com/Wood/Stoves/F3100/

Hi Cindy. First, I don't think you will find many zero clearance fireplaces that you can run with the doors open. I think the Quad is one of the few that makes a screen. The good news is, most all of them can be burnt without power, you just won't have the fan. Effeciency is gained through the ZC fireplace by using all outside air for combustion and the fact that you can control that air. If you were without power, you would not want to burn with the doors open, as the fire will burn extremely hot and fast and suck the warm air out of your house to feed the fire.

But I digress. I assume you cannot get your hands on the Heat n Glo NorthStar or the Heatilator Constitution either? They are made by the same manufacturer, but it may be worth checking around.

Otherwise, I think it is quite likely you are going to have to do some re-framing. I don't think you will find another ZC that needs the exact opening of the Quad. Here are some to check out anyway (these are similar looking to the Quad with arched doors and such):

BIS Tradition
Fireplace Xtrordinair FPX 44 Elite (sorry, I think this one is cat - but it would give you a good shot at heating 2200 sq ft)
Napoleon NZ6000 High Country

There are also some nice fireplaces that are more of a box but may end up working:

Kozy Heat (I have the Z42CD with custom screens)
Magnum

There are others, but hopefully this helps.

Regency does make a ZC fireplace as well, but if memory serves it is quite small. I don't think it would give you much of a shot of heating 2200 sq. ft.

I could be wrong, but I think the Heatilator is basically the same thing as the Quad. I think it has a slightly smaller firebox, but otherwise is the same. If you liked the Quad, you should be happy with the Heatilator or Heat n Glo.

$6K seems high, but supply and demand is a real beast these days. Just remember, I have a 1700 sq foot house and would spend about $2,500 a year on propane. I spend $7,500 to have mine installed because I had to have the old one removed, everything re-framed, etc. I still think it is worth it. Plus $6K is only about $36/month on a 30 year mortgage

Regency has a zero clearance wood fireplace, the R90 and EX90 (same unit - different front face). It has a similar look to the Quad with a nice arched front and an optional screen for the door if you want to burn it with the door open. Though The_Dude is right - you'll get better efficiency with the door closed. The brochure says it will heat 1000 to 2200 sq. ft. - a lot depends on room layout and how air circulates in your home.

http://www.regency-fire.com/Wood/Fireplace/R90/index.php
brochure: http://www.regency-fire.com/Brochure/2008-Wood-brochure.pdf

I just removed my Quad 7100fp. Putting in a freestanding stove instead. Its for sale but I am in Iowa..... Rats!

I would like to see you get your Quadrafire also. If you are able to purchase it used, I know you can get it freight shipped. Here is one option, I am sure there are others.

http://www.uship.com/shipstuff.aspx

It's a great fireplace. Actually it is hard to describe isn't it. Not really a stove, but calling it a fireplace doesn't do it justice because of the efficiency. It is in great shape and I have two heat zones with it. I was planing to put it in the for sale section one of these days. figure someone might want it. They are really expensive units but figured someone might jump at a reduced price I belive I bought mine in '04 and is in great shape. PM me if you really would be interested.

Shipping maybe reduced/somewhat reasonable if you are able to get the fireplace to a freight terminal, and pick it up at a freight terminal.

aussieblake

Depending on Tim's use, I think it is reasonable to think it would last for quite a while. I did hear that Quad's had issues with their baffles a few years back, but I think they have a kit through the dealer's to replace them. You would probably be money ahead. I am hoping to get at least 15 years out of my new zero clearance, so if it is 4 years old, I would hope you could get a good decade out of her. Good luck, I hope it works out for both of you. I feel like this thread turned into the missed connections section of Craigslist!

Tim IA said:

It's a great fireplace. Actually it is hard to describe isn't it. Not really a stove, but calling it a fireplace doesn't do it justice because of the efficiency. It is in great shape and I have two heat zones with it. I was planing to put it in the for sale section one of these days. figure someone might want it. They are really expensive units but figured someone might jump at a reduced price I belive I bought mine in '04 and is in great shape. PM me if you really would be interested.

Click to expand...

I didn't see an answer to the original question on why you are ripping out. I'm interested as to why you would go to so much trouble to remove it after only 4 years.

Yes, I did not say why I removed the Quad. Hi, my name is Tim and I have caught a bad case of the wood stove disease. Like others on this forum, I love heating with wood and because of that, I am always checking up on other products. I basically always wanted a free standing stove, but ended up with a Quad 2100i in my prior house, then installed the Quad 7100fp in my current home. So we are gutting the family room now and finally going with the free standing stove. Purchased the Woodstock Fireview to check out the soapstone factor. It is sitting in the room in its crate right now.

As far as the issues with the cracked steal at the back of the stove that some other members have brough up, I don't see any wear there whatsoever on mine. I do make sure my insulation blanket is all the way to the back after cleaning the flue (not sure that matters but apparently it does) so maybe that is why.

I think I have another day to finish the drywall on the current project and then I can figure out my new hearth. Going with a corner install using the dry stack cultured stone on a raised hearth. I've been taking pictures as I go and might start posting them in the next few weeks as I get closer to finishing.

If the used Quad doesn't work out I'd still take a look at the BIS Tradition (Lennox sells the same unit under a different name...made by BIS-Security Chimney...which is owned by Lennox). I installed a BIS Tradition CE last winter and it uses real firebrick...not sure what model you had or how old it was.

My CE has been a good unit so far. Lots of heat & looks nice.

just a passing thought...you mentioned you don't have enough room for a free-standing stove....what size room / space are you putting a stove into?

I also considered the Quad 7100, but it pumped out too much heat for me. The Traditon CE is rated at 50K BTU & for my 1700 sqft home (cape cod, 1.5 stories, vaulted ceiling....) and it has been a perfect size...easily heats the whole house until it gets down below zero...then it'll maintain about 65F.

Too much heat can be an issue too...particularly in your warmer climate.

Cindy,

I don't want to steer you away from the Quad if that is what you really want, but if money is really a motivating factor, that I think you should consider other options. Your current rough opening for the Quad should be very close to many ZC fireplaces. Drywall and construction lumber is quite cheap right now, so I would not rule out doing a little reframing if necessary. The Quad rough opening should be 42"w x 45 7/8"h x 24"d. The cost of the Quad, fireplace only, is around $4,750.

The opening for a Kozy Heat Z42 is 42 1/2" W x 38 1/4"h x 26 1/4"d. The cost of the fireplace only is around $2,500. Plus it uses 6" pipe, so there is likely to be savings there. I would think your $6,000 install could come down quite a bit. More than enough to cover a little reframing. In my mind you would likely be money ahead.

I don't know how much the Xtrordinair fpx 36 costs, but it has very similar framing requirements to the Quad as well. 43"h x 45 1/2"w x 26"d.

See the link for some pics of my Kozy Heat Z42CD (cast doors) install. Still some touch up to do on the mortar, but you get the idea.

https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/21272/

5 years ago I put in a Kozy Z42 for just under $3000. The 6" chimney saves a lot of $. I have around a 25' chimney. Great stove (zc fireplace), couldn't be happier.

Cindy a 2200ft house in SC can easily be heated by two portable electric heaters. If you want the 7100 just use some other source for the 2.5 months of non-summer weather this year and have it installed when they get one in. Heck you may be so happy without the 7100 that you'll go out and buy a snowmobile!