How is the Defiant Encore working for you?

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VCBurner

VCBurner

Minister of Fire
Jan 2, 2010
1,509
Templeton, MA
Hi everyone, I was just wondering, what you think of the VC Defiant Encore? I was looking at two different models #0028 and #2140. I haven't been able to find an owners manual with specs such as BTU output, burn time and efficiency rating. I have found some specs by researching online. Are there any owners willing to share info on this unit? I found that it can put out as much as 47,000BTU and can heat up to 1,900sq. ft. Does this sound right? What is the size of the fire box? This is a beautiful stove. Does it work as well as it looks?
 
The cat Encores (0028,2140,2190 and 2550) work well. I ran a 0028 for 20 years and am currently using a 2550 to heat my home ( approx 1500 sq ft). They are beautiful stoves with features I like such as top loading and a swing out ash pan. The drawback is they are a bit over-engineered and can be expensive to repair.

Here are some specs:

ENCORE
Log Length: up to 20”
Burn Time: up to 10 hours
Heating Capacity: up to 1,900 sq. ft.
Maximum Heat Output: 47,000 BTUs/hr.
Efficiency Rating: 76.7%
EPA Emissions Rating: 1.6 grams/hr.
Weight: 350 lbs.
Flue Collar: 8” oval, reversible
(optional round 6” cast
iron collar**)
Firebox Size: 2.3 ft.3
 
i have been heating with the encore cat version for nine years and have been very happy with it.It is a nice looking stove and i can get long burn times out of it,this is the first year i have had to replace my catalyst so after 8 heating seasons that is pretty good.
 
Wife and I both love it. This is the fourth winter using it 24 X 7. Heats a 1800 sq ft house with minor use of the oil heat to warm upstairs in the mornings, while keeping the main house warm. I thought it was chilly the other day, the temperature had dropped down to 73F.

Stove does take some work. Needs to be cleaned every season - remove the cat and vacuum all the places ash hides. We are planning to rebuild it this coming summer because of a broken tab on the damper/bypass door. Also takes work to getting going. I figure at least an hour to warm up a cold stove and get it burning correctly. Once you figure out the air settings it is easy to use, but you do have to stay with it until the bypass door is closed - it can get hot very fast . I like the top loading and ash door.

We looked at getting a soapstone stove over the summer - with the discounts and tax credits it would have been the time to do it. Wife and I both came back to we really like the stove we have. If we needed to replace it, we would try to get another one.
 
redhat said:
The cat Encores (0028,2140,2190 and 2550) work well. I ran a 0028 for 20 years and am currently using a 2550 to heat my home ( approx 1500 sq ft). They are beautiful stoves with features I like such as top loading and a swing out ash pan. The drawback is they are a bit over-engineered and can be expensive to repair.

Here are some specs:

ENCORE
Log Length: up to 20”
Burn Time: up to 10 hours
Heating Capacity: up to 1,900 sq. ft.
Maximum Heat Output: 47,000 BTUs/hr.
Efficiency Rating: 76.7%
EPA Emissions Rating: 1.6 grams/hr.
Weight: 350 lbs.
Flue Collar: 8” oval, reversible
(optional round 6” cast
iron collar**)
Firebox Size: 2.3 ft.3
Click to expand...
Thank you red, happy New Year! I needed to hear from someone who owned one. I have only heard good things about this stove and will be on the lookout for a rebuilt one now. Thank you for the specs also. Take care and stay warm!!
 
hvac200 said:
i have been heating with the encore cat version for nine years and have been very happy with it.It is a nice looking stove and i can get long burn times out of it,this is the first year i have had to replace my catalyst so after 8 heating seasons that is pretty good.
Click to expand...
Thank you Hvac, I'll add this to all the other good things I've heard about this stove! Happy new year and stay warm.
 
JimJ said:
Wife and I both love it. This is the fourth winter using it 24 X 7. Heats a 1800 sq ft house with minor use of the oil heat to warm upstairs in the mornings, while keeping the main house warm. I thought it was chilly the other day, the temperature had dropped down to 73F.

Stove does take some work. Needs to be cleaned every season - remove the cat and vacuum all the places ash hides. We are planning to rebuild it this coming summer because of a broken tab on the damper/bypass door. Also takes work to getting going. I figure at least an hour to warm up a cold stove and get it burning correctly. Once you figure out the air settings it is easy to use, but you do have to stay with it until the bypass door is closed - it can get hot very fast . I like the top loading and ash door.

We looked at getting a soapstone stove over the summer - with the discounts and tax credits it would have been the time to do it. Wife and I both came back to we really like the stove we have. If we needed to replace it, we would try to get another one.
Click to expand...
Thanks Jim. Nice to hear that! It means a lot that you wouldn't want to buy a newer stove. I think we would be just as happy if we bought one. Happy new year and stay warm!!
 
I am a newbie to the wood stove world. Lucked out and found an old VC 0028 last year that had never been fired. I just started burning this year and have been very pleased. I am heating 1200 sq. ft.

House is well insulated and winters on the milder side here. Found out right quick I cant keep the stove going continual (runs us out). I have read these stoves have a tendency to back puff.

I have a 17' stack straight up and have had no problems. Did happen to me once when I shut the air down all the way rather than in stages. From what I have read others have not been

so lucky. There are some excellent threads on here if you do a search. Try VC OO28 .There are also some guys who know a lot about these stoves and are always happy to help. I learned everything i

know from these forums. Invaluable reference. Might want to take a look at VC parts prices. If you had to do much replacement this would be a major issue. I have read more than once about people

burning the old VC stoves for many years trouble free. Love mine so far.
 
Oldlogdog said:
I am a newbie to the wood stove world. Lucked out and found an old VC 0028 last year that had never been fired. I just started burning this year and have been very pleased. I am heating 1200 sq. ft.

House is well insulated and winters on the milder side here. Found out right quick I cant keep the stove going continual (runs us out). I have read these stoves have a tendency to back puff.

I have a 17' stack straight up and have had no problems. Did happen to me once when I shut the air down all the way rather than in stages. From what I have read others have not been

so lucky. There are some excellent threads on here if you do a search. Try VC OO28 .There are also some guys who know a lot about these stoves and are always happy to help. I learned everything i

know from these forums. Invaluable reference. Might want to take a look at VC parts prices. If you had to do much replacement this would be a major issue. I have read more than once about people

burning the old VC stoves for many years trouble free. Love mine so far.
Click to expand...

The model#0028 was produced from July 1986 to april of 1990, according to http://www.fergusonfireplace.com/ferfirdefiantmenu.html
So to find a 19-23 year old stove that was never used is extremely lucky! You are probably more likely to get struck by lightning than to find another one like that :bug: . Glad to hear that it's working out for you! Thanks for the response. Keep burning!!
 
Here's another not so rosy perspective: https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/47134/

How could a number of experienced woodburners warp inner cast iron parts of their expensive VC stoves?

Another thread suggested this hypothesis: the secondary air probe failed (or its air inlet was blocked open by chunk of stove cement - the stuff was falling in and around my stove throughout its first winter), resulting in too much air supply to the cat which burned way too hot - warping adjacent cast iron parts. (throat hood / upperfireback). This overfired cat temps would not be reflected in griddle top temperature - the method the manual suggests to monitor stove operation.

Would a stack temp probe have caught this cat overfire....if it, in fact, happened? Other more experienced members here might have more to say on this stack temp probe idea....I'm not quite clear on the cost/ benefits.
 
cmcramer said:
Here's another not so rosy perspective: https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/47134/

How could a number of experienced woodburners warp inner cast iron parts of their expensive VC stoves?

Another thread suggested this hypothesis: the secondary air probe failed (or its air inlet was blocked open by chunk of stove cement - the stuff was falling in and around my stove throughout its first winter), resulting in too much air supply to the cat which burned way too hot - warping adjacent cast iron parts. (throat hood / upperfireback). This overfired cat temps would not be reflected in griddle top temperature - the method the manual suggests to monitor stove operation.

Would a stack temp probe have caught this cat overfire....if it, in fact, happened? Other more experienced members here might have more to say on this stack temp probe idea....I'm not quite clear on the cost/ benefits.
Click to expand...

Yes, good idea. I don't have a VC, but I use 2 thermometers one for stove top and an internal probe 20" up on the stove pipe. You can really tell a difference in temps between bypass mode and cat mode, so if there were a problem with the bypass or some kind of overfire you would notice it in the stove pipe first with a probe thermometer.
 
I have an VC Encore and it has been a great workhorse. It is not in the best location in my house for even heat distribution but I have a 1600 sqft ranch and my highest gas / electric bill was $80. That was combined. That stove worked for it though and I place fans around the house to circulate the heat.

The cat has been replaced once and several of the gaskets in a 10 year time frame. The top load is great, the ash pan holds plenty of ash and I take off the doors and put in the screen about 3-6 hours a week and enjoy the open fire. I dont have cable TV and I would rather watch the fire than TV anyway.

I have the warming shelves on mine and actually use them. I reheat food, hang wet gloves on the mitten warmers and keep my coffee warm with the stove.

Here is the downside about the stove. I have two dealers within 1 hour of me and both of them have a personality of a rock. I have no reason to go to the dealer, I just like to look and the newer stoves and check out new designs. The other downside is a person can get paranoid about owning a VC. I have had great luck and so have my dad, brother inlaw and wood cutting buddy.

With all that being said, I really like the looks of Jotul and soapstove stoves. When I have been to various dealers I really like the light show that the secondaries put on. I would not go and buy a new stove for my house just because. But, when I sell this house and if the stove stays with the house I will look at Jotul or Hearthstone.

Best of luck with your search for the best stove that works for you.
 
flhpi said:
I have an VC Encore and it has been a great workhorse. It is not in the best location in my house for even heat distribution but I have a 1600 sqft ranch and my highest gas / electric bill was $80. That was combined. That stove worked for it though and I place fans around the house to circulate the heat.

The cat has been replaced once and several of the gaskets in a 10 year time frame. The top load is great, the ash pan holds plenty of ash and I take off the doors and put in the screen about 3-6 hours a week and enjoy the open fire. I dont have cable TV and I would rather watch the fire than TV anyway.

I have the warming shelves on mine and actually use them. I reheat food, hang wet gloves on the mitten warmers and keep my coffee warm with the stove.

Here is the downside about the stove. I have two dealers within 1 hour of me and both of them have a personality of a rock. I have no reason to go to the dealer, I just like to look and the newer stoves and check out new designs. The other downside is a person can get paranoid about owning a VC. I have had great luck and so have my dad, brother inlaw and wood cutting buddy.

With all that being said, I really like the looks of Jotul and soapstove stoves. When I have been to various dealers I really like the light show that the secondaries put on. I would not go and buy a new stove for my house just because. But, when I sell this house and if the stove stays with the house I will look at Jotul or Hearthstone.

Best of luck with your search for the best stove that works for you.
Click to expand...

"They are beautyfull stoves, but you're right about being paranoid as a VC owner. It seems that people have really mixed feeling about them!"
 
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