new stove ecoteck or regency

What model Regency?

IMHO any pellet stove controlled by a stat can and will do setback. Programmable stats are readily available. Cheap too(on sale less than $20.00)! I have had a programmable stat on my stove for many seasons.

FYI only: Regency stoves are made by Sherwood Industries. Sherwood has been producing the Enviro stoves. Enviro has been around for years. The GF55 is the same unit inside as the Meridian.

Contact member smwilliamson, He has a francesca. Ecoteck sure has the most feature's of any stove I have seen. Cool looking too! I couldn't imaging calling my stove from my cell. Great if you have a schedule change and are going to get home early. House will be warm when you get there.

May I ask what the going prices are for each unit? I am frugal and like the best bag for the buck. Ecoteck seems to have more than enough bells and whistles. Just wondering if it inflates the overall cost.

What was the BTU output on the stove your replacing and Does it heat the house 100%? I honestly would go with more horsepower if you truely want an oil free heat source. Also best to over rate the units size to some. Its not the best to be on the full out settings with a pellet stove. Try to rate your needed BTU's to be 65 to 80% of units capacty. A lighter work load makes them last longer and they are easier on the interals IMHO.

By the way welcome to our group. Just realised your new to us here and I should have welcomed you proper!

Assuming all ratings are gross BTU outputs. Below are rough corrected numbers after efficiency rating is deducted.

GF55 45K = 37,350 net BTU's

Ecoteck Monica 35K = 29,750 net BTU's

Ecoteck Francesca 31K = 2,6350 net BTU's

80% would be more a more realistic number for the US Stove 5039. Something like 41,600 would be more like it. I would stay close as possible to that number and go higher if the stove saw any length of time on the max setting. Don't go too low or you may need to use alternate heat source in cold spells.

I couldn't find much on the Ecoteck web site. Whether or not their units are net output, IDK? If they are, then the Monica is very close to the GF55 as far as output.

$3400 for the GF5 (no install) seems pricey.

I just ordered mine last week for $2600 (insert model, but same price IIRC). It doesn't include liner or install, but I ordered my 4" liner + tee kit + cap online for $299.

I put $1000 down and will pick it up on Wed.

I don't quite have an opinion on it yet as I'll be installing it this weekend (fingers crossed).

BUT (!), I did do a lot of reading and had ultimately settled on the Enviro EF3 stove. I like that it's A) made in North America (Canada), B) it's been around and seems to have a solid user base that speak highly of Enviro stoves, and C) they have a really good service manual online that will detail just about any electrical/install question I may have.

When I was in the store, the salesman commented that the Regency's were the same unit by the exact same manufacturer as the Enviro's because Regency wanted to claim they also sold pellet stoves. I went out and inspected a unit they had uncrated as it was getting ready to be installed in a customer's home. I was impressed by the aesthetics of the stove as well as the build.

I signed the deal and put my deposit down, and it wasn't until I got home that the GF55 is actually a duplicate of the Meridian (which is an upgrade to the EF3, thermostat connections etc), and might be why your price is a bit higher than what I'll be paying.

I think it'll be a solid stove and I'm definitely excited to put it in and use it this winter.

Edit: Mine will be ~$2760 out the door after tax, but no overlay.

Edit2: It looks like the forums don't like spaces in links, so just google "C-12145 Instruction PELLET Service Manual" for the technical manual.

I have the GFI55, going on my second year. So far, so good, put's out great heat, low maintenance (vacuum out once or twice a week). Hopper is decent size although the fill door is a little narrow. Yearly cleaning is easy, although sliding out of fireplace would be much easier on a rail system like harmon uses.
Overall the stove heats my 1700 sq/ft nicely. Been burning some Maine's Choice with good results, Okie's burn fantastic. T-stat feature is really nice, airwash system does descent job. Overall I'm pleased with this unit and I also have the copper overlay door which really adds to the look of unit.
Good Luck with your choice, I can't comment on the Eco unit but know they are quite advanced from the norm....

Hello

I just picked up the Regency's fraternal twin brother, the Enviro Meridian FS. Just a different style grill in front of the heat exchanger but everything else is the exact same except the color. It is not Diamond Black like the Regency, the Meridian is Perl Gray. Anything else you guys can tell me about it?

The Regency and Ecotec have lots of Bells and Whistles. So I can only speak of the Classic Bay.

If your looking for a On/Off unit that will run on a Stat (programmable, set-back, etc) but not have Lots of bells and whistles. The Classic Bay is a Monster.

Up until this last season I used the Classic Bay exclusively to heat 2,200 sq. I did so on its Lowest heating level. Unless it gets below 10°-15°, then Med is needed.

Although I just bought another stove to replace the Quad. It wasn't because it didnt heat well. I wanted more user input and also more options. Im a tinkerer at heart and like to adjust and mess with everything.

For that size area? Any of those 3 should work. The Quad is almost 48,000 (input) BTU's. After comparing with a few different Freestanding designs, its heat output is Phenomenal compared to others.

myers7457 said:

I am looking to buy a new pellet stove for 1200 sq ft ranch house to heat main floor only. I have been looking at ecoteck francesca and also regency. I also was looking at the quadrafire classic bay. Both dealers seem like they will provide good service. I have some questions about the ecoteck. This dealer has just started selling them. How much tinkering will need to be done with this. I am an hvac tech so I am not the average homeowner. I have a manual light stove trying to get something automatic that doesnt waste so many pellets. The ecoteck sounds good effiicient can setback temp which is what we want. they did state that they want to come out and set it up so i think they realie its not plug in and run. I just dont want to be the firsy guy on the block to buy one and regret it. thanks

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I have a Francesca. Here is my honest review. The bad. Control board is difficult to understand, even for me. The set back temps and such are not intuitive at all. All of the readings are European, including the clock. Construction could be better for the price. It is noisy, the auger buzzes and I cannot get it to be quiet. it doesn't hold 40lbs of pellets and the pellet bin is not sealed off from the top of the stove so if you over fill the hopper, you'll smell burning pellets on top of the heat exchanger. If you use cheaper pellets, the stove will require almost daily cleaning since the fire box is soooooo small. The good. Very efficient. Great radiant and convection heat. hmmmmm. more bad than good I'm afraid.

IMHO, get a Harman Accentra freestanding

or Enviro Mini-A if you want a small stove.

However, if you truly want a European styled stove that really does live up to its name. check out the MCZ Ego or Star from Wittus Fire by Design