Enviro Maxx/Maxx M and Vista Flame

[JohnD]

Can someone tell me if the Enviro Maxx and Maxx M are the same stove as the Vista Flame VF170? Same manufacturer? I'm confused, and looking to buy a stove with high hopper capacity for my basement. What do these stoves cost, and anyone have a review of them?I have a quad cb1200 in living room but want the bigger hopper.

 

[stovelark]

HI John The VF170 and the Maxx-1 are the same stove, both by Enviro (Sherwood Industries). The Maxx-M is their multi fuel unit. Both are big heaters, if noise is not a concern. Both are kinda noisy, with their big convection blower. Hope this helps.

 

[JohnD]

HI John The VF170 and the Maxx-1 are the same stove, both by Enviro (Sherwood Industries). The Maxx-M is their multi fuel unit. Both are big heaters, if noise is not a concern. Both are kinda noisy, with their big convection blower. Hope this helps.

Thanks... Definitely helps. Do you know approximate cost of either stove? My guess would be low $2000's...

 

[JohnD]

Sorry....also, any reviews?

 

[Don2222]

Hello

More like $3300.00 brand new.

 

[JohnD]

Hello

More like $3300.00 brand new.

For which one? All three?

 

[stovelark]

Hi John, Yeah like Don said, around 3300 for the maxx-1 and vf170 could be a little less. The maxx-m (multi-fuel option) would list at about 3749. Enviro has a season sale on now, their website has info, now the maxx is about 250 dollars off MSRP.

 

[JohnD]

Hi John, Yeah like Don said, around 3300 for the maxx-1 and vf170 could be a little less. The maxx-m (multi-fuel option) would list at about 3749. Enviro has a season sale on now, their website has info, now the maxx is about 250 dollars off MSRP.

Thanks again fellas! Much appreciated...

 

[jxnsdad]

Or 2200 for the vf170 here since you are in NH: (broken link removed to http://nh.craigslist.org/hsd/4416462687.html)

 

[JohnD]

Or 2200 for the vf170 here since you are in NH: (broken link removed to http://nh.craigslist.org/hsd/4416462687.html)

Is the VF 170 the cheap version of the Maxx? Kind of like the Cab 50 is the cheap Quadrafire CB 1200....

 

[JohnD]

Anybody have an opinion as to which is better....Heatilator Cab 50 or the Vista Flame VF 170?

 

[jxnsdad]

my understanding is the guts are all the same its just the housing that is different. vs the quad/eco which have differences in the heat exchangers etc.

 

[stovelark]

After selling both I'd definitely say the VF170 (Enviro product) is a better heater than the eco choice cab50. Having said that they are apples and oranges too considering the price of each. Both are good heaters, but the VF will heat more. I do like the eco choices too, they are a good value. They do share some of quad parts, but generally speaking, the quad units are superior performers.

 

[JohnD]

After selling both I'd definitely say the VF170 (Enviro product) is a better heater than the eco choice cab50. Having said that they are apples and oranges too considering the price of each. Both are good heaters, but the VF will heat more. I do like the eco choices too, they are a good value. They do share some of quad parts, but generally speaking, the quad units are superior performers.

I am in the market for a new stove for the basement....I need a stove with a large hopper capacity and fully automatic...Are they both fully auto? and, what are the prices of these units....I am interested in buying asap!! Why do you like the VF compared to Cab???

 

[stovelark]

Hello John Think you would like both stoves however- the VF has a better heat exchanger system (convection tubes) while the Cab50 has just a heat exchanger baffle. Both stoves are kinda noisy, but the VF has the bigger (and I think better) convection blower. I do think the price point is definitely for the cab50 MSRP is about 1750, while the VF is around 3000. I like the VF better than the Heatilator mainly because VF is made by Enviro, (Sherwood Industries) and they are one of the better MFRs. Their warrant is 2 years electrical, 1 year for the Ecochoice. The bottom line is probably their cost, the VF costs more, but does more. The CAB50 is a good value, but not quite the heater. Hope this helps. PS sorry, yes both can be fully automatic, the CAB50 operates via tstat, either the tstat calling for heat and it runs, or does not call for heat and it shuts down. The VF can be ran in manual mode, or in auto mode.

 

[JohnD]

Hello John Think you would like both stoves however- the VF has a better heat exchanger system (convection tubes) while the Cab50 has just a heat exchanger baffle. Both stoves are kinda noisy, but the VF has the bigger (and I think better) convection blower. I do think the price point is definitely for the cab50 MSRP is about 1750, while the VF is around 3000. I like the VF better than the Heatilator mainly because VF is made by Enviro, (Sherwood Industries) and they are one of the better MFRs. Their warrant is 2 years electrical, 1 year for the Ecochoice. The bottom line is probably their cost, the VF costs more, but does more. The CAB50 is a good value, but not quite the heater. Hope this helps. PS sorry, yes both can be fully automatic, the CAB50 operates via tstat, either the tstat calling for heat and it runs, or does not call for heat and it shuts down. The VF can be ran in manual mode, or in auto mode.

Thanks again.... Sorry to be a pain but do you own or know anyone who owns either of these stoves? I am interested in the opinion of someone who runs these stoves... Again thank you.

 

[stovelark]

John- I'm giving you my opinion as a person who has serviced, sold, operated probably 100 of these units- I am very familiar with both operationally and service-wise. I am telling you, you will be happier with the VF, due to its superior heat exschanger/convection blower systems, but the CAB50 represents a good heating value. I personally operate and maintain every pellet stove in the store I work at, we have 10-12 operating units, one of them being the maxx. You decide.

 

[JohnD]

John- I'm giving you my opinion as a person who has serviced, sold, operated probably 100 of these units- I am very familiar with both operationally and service-wise. I am telling you, you will be happier with the VF, due to its superior heat exschanger/convection blower systems, but the CAB50 represents a good heating value. I personally operate and maintain every pellet stove in the store I work at, we have 10-12 operating units, one of them being the maxx. You decide.

Thanks...I found a great deal on the VF 170... Probably purchase this weekend.

 

[jvanase]

I have a VF170 in my basement. I will echo the same thing others have said here. It is kind of noisy, but it pumps out a LOT of heat. To go with that it also eats a lot of fuel. I used almost 8 tons this winter.

Also, nice that the hopper is huge. I can load it up and head out of town for 2 days at a time without issue. It'll be empty when I get back, but the house won't have cooled off enough for the furnace to kick on yet. I just filled up the oil tank this week, burned 207 gallons in 2 years now, for probably 95% hot water and just a little bit a heat.

I have had issues with the auger motor. Replaced it 3 times in 2 years. :-\

For what it's worth I paid $1800 for it 2 years ago.

Good luck!
Cheers,
Jon

 

[Don2222]

I have a VF170 in my basement. I will echo the same thing others have said here. It is kind of noisy, but it pumps out a LOT of heat. To go with that it also eats a lot of fuel. I used almost 8 tons this winter.

Also, nice that the hopper is huge. I can load it up and head out of town for 2 days at a time without issue. It'll be empty when I get back, but the house won't have cooled off enough for the furnace to kick on yet. I just filled up the oil tank this week, burned 207 gallons in 2 years now, for probably 95% hot water and just a little bit a heat.

I have had issues with the auger motor. Replaced it 3 times in 2 years. :-\

For what it's worth I paid $1800 for it 2 years ago.

Good luck!
Cheers,
Jon

Hello Jon
Interesting about the auger motor. Do you think if you changed the Brass Bearing that should be oiled every year to a permanent lubed Nylatron bearing, the auger motor would last longer?
See my pics of the Enviro EF-3 where I went from Brass to Nylatron.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/only-one-way-to-get-this-enviro-auger-motor-out.128191/
Whitfields have Mylatron bearings and I have seen one motor last 15 years! Could that be their secret?

 

[jvanase]

Oh, interesting. I have no idea! So far they have all been replaced under warranty so I just keep doing that. However, warranty runs out in a few months.

I was thinking of trying one of these next time:
(broken link removed to http://www.gleasonavery.com/catalog/pellet-corn-stove-motors.html)

~$90 compared to $280 for the "real" replacement part, and I bet it's better quality.

As for oiling the bearings.... that's not in the maintenance manual.

 

[Don2222]

Oh, interesting. I have no idea! So far they have all been replaced under warranty so I just keep doing that. However, warranty runs out in a few months.

I was thinking of trying one of these next time:
(broken link removed to http://www.gleasonavery.com/catalog/pellet-corn-stove-motors.html)

~$90 compared to $280 for the "real" replacement part, and I bet it's better quality.

As for oiling the bearings.... that's not in the maintenance manual.

oh yes the Gleason Avery are very good motors!

The manual also does not tell you how the brass bearing can get a gummy buildup, but when I look at the inside of many, I can see why the motors wear out so easily!
Check this pic out! They do not care about selling a $10 bearing, much rather sell a $200 motor right?

If you can fit the Nylatron endplate on your Sherwood Ind stove by drilling holes like I did, then you would set for many, many years to come! See pics here > > https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/hopping-up-a-hudson-river.128391/

 

[jvanase]

So how do you go about changing the bearings?

The stove is shutdown for the summer, (and still needs to be cleaned) so now would be a good time to take the motor off.

I'm a software engineer so go easy on me with mechanical terms! haha

 

[Don2222]

So how do you go about changing the bearings?

The stove is shutdown for the summer, (and still needs to be cleaned) so now would be a good time to take the motor off.

I'm a software engineer so go easy on me with mechanical terms! haha

I used to be an automated test software engineer and a Lotus Notes Application Design Engineer. LOL What tyoe of Software do you Develop?

Anyway, On the Enviro, after getting the Auger motor off, the rest is easy. First bail out all the pellets to avoid the Avalanche when you remove the auger! LOL

Then just remove the 4 bolts holding the auger backing plate onto the hopper. Then cut around the edge of the backing plate with a knife if there is Silicone and then pry the plate off with a screw driver.
Pull out the auger, plate and bearing. The bearing is a press fit so you can pop it out. If the shape is good and no gouges, then a good cleaning and oiling maybe all it needs. I use a brass brush from Harbor freight for my drill/driver to clean it up nice and then some 3-1 oil to oil it up. Actually soaking it in the oil overnight is better. Then reassemble, but check for "Auger Pox" on your auger that shreds pellets! That is sharp bits of slag splattered when the spiral fins are welded to the shaft. I have found quite a few Enviro Augers, even a brand new one from Canada with Auger Pox! That is why some machines go thru motors and others do not! Get a grinding stone and grind down the POX and clean any black carbon off the auger with a wire brush on your drill driver and coat with "Dry Moly" spray. Then you will be burning HIGH and long last your auger motor!

See yellow arrows in pic below of my Brand Spanking New Enviro Auger with "Auger Pox"