Review of HearthStone --- Tribute -- Freestanding Stove burning Wood only

Review of HearthStone --- Tribute -- Freestanding Stove burning Wood only
Installation Type: Wood/Coal - into masonry chimney
Date Reviewed: 2012-01-31 22:41:40

Satisfaction Ratings from 5 stars (best) to 1 star (worst)
Satisfaction with unit = ✰✰✰
Satisfaction with dealer = ✰✰✰
Satisfaction with manufacturer = ✰

Other Information about the Home and Stove
Room Size (Sq ft): | House Size (Sq feet): 1000
Bought in 2005 , Price Paid: 1349
Location : Brimson, MN 55602, USA
Purchased from: Fireplace Retail Store - Energy Plus

Likes: Stove is compact, heats up quickly, burns clean and holds heat for a long time. We have backup LP heat but the woodstove provides most of our living area heat with morning and evening burns.

Dislikes: VERY BAD handle/latch design. We have replaced worn-out latches at least annually; now it appears that, rather than coming up with improvements that would fix the wear problem, Hearthstone will simply start charging $50 for the parts it was previously replacing under warranty. They have us over a barrel and we are not happy customers.

Comments: I would recommend AGAINST buying this model unless they have addressed their latch problem. If they simply replaced the (screwed-on) latch plate (as well as the latch) with a hardened steel equivalent it would really help the wear problem. But apparently no one has thought of this? Perhaps the stove is not really designed for heavy use?

* Dates that reviews were submitted were not recorded prior to Nov. 2004