Harman XXV-noisey distribution fan?

[masterswimmer]

I've read numerous reviews on the Harman XXV. Most reviews are either very positive or very negative. The one major complaint has been the fan distribution motor squealing. I called the dealerthat I'm prepared to go with and asked them about this situation. They said they were unaware of it and they called Harman to inquire. Harman 'fessed up' and explained that the initial production run had this problem. They also said they've fixed it. My question to the XXV owners here, is this accurate? How do you like the performance? Is the stove worth the expenditure?

Thanks for all your feedback.

 

[HarryBack]

Not an owner here, but a dealer. We went round and round about the buzzing XXV's here last year. Yea, there were problems with some of the early XXV's last year (tho to this day I never had one in any I sold....)...the distribution fan buzzing...basically a loose shroud. As for 2006, I havent had issues yet on the newer XXV's and weve sold quite a bit of them. That isnt to say some of the units dont have issues or arent noisy, but Ive heard very little here about that, and nothing from my customers.

 

[masterswimmer]

HB, thanks for the insight. It sounds very similar to the local dealer I've been talking to. I know you don't own the XXV, but you've sold them. Do you have any customer complaints/accolades you'd care to share? Thanks again.

 

[masterswimmer]

Nobody else has any feedback?

 

[MountainStoveGuy]

If no one esle has any thing to say, i can assure you that Harry is a very trusted source of information. And one of the top, if not the top harman pellet stove poster here on hearth.com. Harry knows harman.

 

[begreen]

Nobody else has any feedback?

Have you gone through the reviews posted on the hearth.com reviews section and other sites?

Here are a couple recent ones:
https://www.hearth.com/ratesingles/rate1880.html
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/firepl/msg111441198552.html?13

 

[mdphilps]

I'm a XXV owner and havn't had any issues with the dist fan.

To me it sounds like, well...a fan! No fan is going to be totally silent.

No other issues to report.

So far I give the XXV a five out of five stars!

 

[masterswimmer]

MSG, thanks for the support of Harry. I'm just learning everyones background here. Thanks Harry.

BeGreen, I read the Harman reviews on this site. The link to the gardenweb reviews was sensational. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

mdp, Nice to hear another review from a user.

Great info folks. I think the decision has been made. It looks like the XXV is it

 

[moog5]

I've read numerous reviews on the Harman XXV. Most reviews are either very positive or very negative. The one major complaint has been the fan distribution motor squealing. I called the dealerthat I'm prepared to go with and asked them about this situation. They said they were unaware of it and they called Harman to inquire. Harman 'fessed up' and explained that the initial production run had this problem. They also said they've fixed it. My question to the XXV owners here, is this accurate? How do you like the performance? Is the stove worth the expenditure?

Thanks for all your feedback.

I would say it is accurate. I got to know the problem first hand. I was one of the few with the problem, and definitely the most vocal. I had the buzzing issue for 4 months, and 6 repair attempts, before one finally worked. During those 4 months, it wasn't worth the price, but since it now operates as well as I hoped it would before I bought it, I am 100% satisfied with the stove. It's efficient, convenieint, the glass stays pretty clean, and in my opinion is the best looking of all the pellet stoves. I really think think the noisy distribution blower is a dead issue (Harman finally figured out where noise was coming from, and secured to two pieces of metal that were vibrating against eachother).

 

[MountainStoveGuy]

MSG, thanks for the support of Harry. I'm just learning everyones background here. Thanks Harry.

BeGreen, I read the Harman reviews on this site. The link to the gardenweb reviews was sensational. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

mdp, Nice to hear another review from a user.

Great info folks. I think the decision has been made. It looks like the XXV is it

Ohh i understand. You dont know who is who. Thats why i thought it would be good to mention that you were getting the scoop from one of the most knowledgable people on this board. The nice thing about this site, dealers dont have any reason to BS you. They have about 1/10th of 1% of making a sale to you. As matter of fact we send alot of dealers business without them ever knowing where it came from. You will get the skinny here on just about any subject, and its usually 100% accurate.

 

[HarryBack]

Thanks MSG for the kind words :red: .....BUT, I have to admit, every day I learn things, some about Harman, some here, and boy, Ive got a whole lot more to learn! This is quite a good resource for stove questions and HVAC in general. Where else can you get code info from a guy like Elk, learn about LPC's and SPC's and kalkvasser from MSG, get concise insturctions on how to build your own blockoff plate, what hardwoods are best, learn more than you ever wanted to know about defunct stoves from Craigs library of archaic literature and errata, and at the same time get the latest ultraliberal spin on what the evil Republicans are doing today? :lol:

As a dealer, it behooves me to come here and read about the latest issues with stoves, brands, and even Harman issues...that way, I can use it in my everyday life, sometimes learning about problems that might not have arisen in my area yet, etc. As far as I know, I havent directly profited from the site yet, monetarily. As for the readers on the site, its very similar to the professionals here. They come here to get better-informed. A well-informed customer is much betetr than an ill-informed one.

 

[masterswimmer]

Harry, don't be so modest.......You da man! BTW m' man, it's LPS and SPS (Large Polyp Stony corals and Small Polyp Stony corals )

Thanks for all the great info.

swimmer

 

[HarryBack]

thanks, swimmer! I been outta da hobby now for a good 6 years now....4 kids curtailed my "reef" money....somewhere in a deep dark recess of my backyard is alot of not-alive-anymore rock! I rather enjoyed cultivating caulerpa algaes and leather corals....kinda felt bad keeping stony corals with the issues regarding the reefs at the time....did manage to get some Tridacna clams tho...

 

[masterswimmer]

thanks, swimmer! I been outta da hobby now for a good 6 years now....4 kids curtailed my "reef" money....somewhere in a deep dark recess of my backyard is alot of not-alive-anymore rock! I rather enjoyed cultivating caulerpa algaes and leather corals....kinda felt bad keeping stony corals with the issues regarding the reefs at the time....did manage to get some Tridacna clams tho...

HB, seems your knowledge runs deep. The hobby will benefit WHEN you return. No need to be concerned about reef damage anymore. So many stony corals are now aquacultured (in hobbyists tanks) or maricultured (in ocean 'farms'). Reef damage is more from natural and man induced trauma than harvesting.

swimmer

 

[hemingray]

Nobody else has any feedback?

Beginning a 2nd season with my XXV, no issues at all. I just cleaned the blowers and didn't introduce any noise by taking the cover off, etc.

Dave

 

[masterswimmer]

Nobody else has any feedback?

Beginning a 2nd season with my XXV, no issues at all. I just cleaned the blowers and didn't introduce any noise by taking the cover off, etc.

Dave

Hey Dave, welcome to the hearth and TY for the reassurance.

Russ