Ready to Pull The Trigger

I'm ready to pull the trigger on either a Fireplace Xtrordinair 44 or the Lennox Montecito Estate (aka BIS Tradition). I need pros and cons from you guys who may be running these. I am leaning towards the Xtrordinair because of the larger firebox, but also heard it eats wood, the air cooled chimney is problematic. The Lennox is nice but has a smaller firebox ( more loading,less burn time?), and the more expensive solid chimney. We plan on runnning it 24/7, like a wood stove with the blowers and a small section of duct into the basement, since we have a pretty much open floor plan, with a boiler in the basement running on very low to heat a radiant system and supplement when not home. Suggestions please!

Wood Heat Stoves said:

fpx chimneys are chit snap lock air cooled double wall, i had one fall apart on me while sweeping. it wasn't snaplocked correctly! i wouldn't go with the fpx on that alone..
bis uses secure vent, expensive, maybe- but you get what you pay for!
dont the lennox brand fireplaces have a cheaper aircooled chimney option anymore?
i'll bet the bis unit is cheaper than the fpx, no?

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The Lennox is like $1500 cheaper, but the FPX takes a 32 vs. 30" log, 4.3 vs. 4 cu ft box, 12 hr. vs. 8 hr. burn time, 72 vs. 63% efficiency. I also considered the Quadrafire ( price comparably to the Lennox), they claim 77% efficiency and a 16 hr. burn time, but only takes a 24" log. I was looking for long burn times and efficiency with good heat output. I don't mind spending more to get that, but is some of this bull, thats why I'm lookingfor real world results.

Does anyone know if you can run solid chimney on the FPX 44??

I went with the Bis Tradition (Lennox Montecito Estate same unit) and when it arrived it actually said Lennox right on it. It's a nice unit, we have'nt really had a chance to test, just some small fires, but it looks like a quality unit, everything is heavy steel, dual fans, blow like hell. We did'nt run the duct in the basement as i did'nt realize the duct comes out the side so I needed more width, and did'nt feel like reframing or taking from my woodbox width ( I have a woodbox with outside door so as to load wood without a mess coming thru the house.), so I left it and just let it blow air direct since I have a pretty open floor plan and I have radiant in my basement slab, which I will run low just to keep it toasty downn there. I bought the unit from New Energy Distributing in Iowa, free shipping to my door and I saved $2000 from local dealers prices, check out their website and see the BIS Tradition, make sure its the big one, their is a smaller model also called the tradtion also but has a few letters after the name. Speak to Doug he will hook you up. I decided against the Xtrordinnair because of the air coole pipe, too many stories aginst it and in the end this unit costs less and holds a log only 2" smaller.