Hearthstone and Pacific Energy Hinges...Baffles....Warranties

[dispatcher101]

Hello all,

Am looking at purchasing a stove. Friends have lopi's and love them, however I am not big on the brutal styling. I am considering the Hearthstone Shelburne or the Pacific Energy Alderlea T4. One thing I noticed was the smaller and flimsier looking hinges on both the Hearthstone and Pacific Energy stoves in comparison to that of Lopi Products.

Has anyone had any trouble or success with the Hearthstone or Pacific Energy stove hinges?

Also, I am a little sketchy on the stainless steel baffle system on the Pacific Energy stoves, I have heard rumors of sagging and cracking within a short period of time (unk if they got the stove to hot...possibly). Perhaps that is why it is removable...ie...easily replaceable??? If anyone has had any experience with these baffles please speak up.

Finally, Pacific Energy claims a lifetime warranty on the firebox and baffle. Has anyone dealt with them on these issues? It is nearly impossible to even find the word "warranty" on Hearthstone's website. Anyone know what they offer...or is there a reason that they don't discuss their warranty???


I appreciate any help or advice that can be offered

 

[CSCPeter]

Lopi's baffle tubes are now stainless steel as well, and when a company states a lifetime warranty, from my understanding, is that 7 years is all they are liable for, thus why Lopi says it up front with a 7 year real world warranty.

EDIT: I looked up some more on what the Federal Trade Comission says about lifetime warranties
"If an advertisement uses 'lifetime,' 'life' or similar representations to describe the duration of a warranty or guarantee, then the advertisement should disclose, with such clarity and prominence as will be noticed and understood by prospective purchasers, the life to which the representation refers."

 

[dispatcher101]

Disregard the above question about the PE warranty, I read through the discussion regarding the cracked welds on the PE insert models. Sounds like PE will stand by their warranty. You just have to know the right path to get results.

 

[thinkxingu]

Dispatcher,
Hearthstone's warranty is clearly stated at the end of each of their manuals, which you can download from the site (and I have posted below). Also, as far as the hinges, they do seem small but the door is real light on my Homestead compared to some others of comparable size--this is probably because there's so much glass.

S

LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
Hearthstone warrants the following parts of the Woodstove against the following occurrences that result from defects in material and workmanship:
All cast iron parts – against breakage, cracking or burn-through.
All stones – against cracking or breakage due to thermal stress, excluding surface and hairline cracks and scratches that do not affect the operation or safety of the Woodstove.
Primary and secondary air supply systems, including riser tubes, air wash system, secondary air manifold and stainless steel secondary air supply tubes – against breakage, cracking or burn-through.
Glass – against breakage due to thermal shock.

LIMITED FIVE-YEAR WARRANTY
Hearthstone warrants the following parts of the Woodstove against the following occurrences that result from defects in material and workmanship:
Refractory brick – against breakage and deterioration not resulting from physical damage or over-loading of the Woodstove.
Firebox baffle (the baffle above the secondary air tubes) – against breakage, cracking or burn-through.
Door handles and latch mechanisms – against breakage.
This warranty expires on the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Purchase Date.

LIMITED ONE-YEAR WARRANTY
Hearthstone warrants the following parts of the Woodstove against the following occurrences that result from defects in material and workmanship:
Enamel Finish – against peeling or fading, excluding chipping, mechanical abrasion, chemical abrasion or crazing.
Stove cement and all gaskets – against breakage or deterioration.
Accessories and electrical components such as blowers, switches and thermo discs, excluding venting components, hearth components, electrical components and other components or accessories used in conjunction with the installation of the Woodstove not manufactured or supplied by Hearthstone – against breakage or malfunction.

 

[Highbeam]

What does that hinge really need to carry? The doors aren't heavy. I think it's just easier to weld on a big herkin hinge when you're welding together a plate steel stove so they use big ones. I know I prefer thick steel when I'm welding something so that it won't warp or burn through.

I have had zero problems with the hinges or gaskets on my hearthstone after shoving 12 cords through this thing.

Skip the T4 and go to the T5 if you buy an alderlea. The T4 is too small for anything and the T5 has an excellent reputation for long burns.

If you're considering Hearthstones and PEs then you need to check out Tom's site. He's a member here and sells both of those brands.

http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/

 

[CSCPeter]

When you put a solid brass or pewter door shell on the hinges it needs to be quite heavy duty to handle the weight, the shell itself weighs about 17 lbs.

 

[BrotherBart]

Yeah I brought up the wimpy door hinges on the PE stoves after I saw a Summit in person and got roundly trounced.

I still think they are wimpy.

 

[begreen]

Kind of like 3/16 steel, it seems to depend on how it's engineered. Hinge failure has not been a major talking point here to my recollection.

 

[KeithO]

Hinge Problem with my T5 was with the fasteners coming loose. The lower hinge is partially obscured by the cast iron leg. These are typical new model issues that PE have probably fixed by now. I needed a damper for sure to tame my outrageous chimney and may even need a second by the time the real cold gets here. Unfortunately, many of these modern stoves are about as porous as a fireplace screen when you add up all the air inlets. Couple that with a strong drafting tall chimney and you will be in trouble if the draft is not managed. But my T5 is a mean heating machine, that is for sure. My baffle was fine, despite running (probe) flue temperatures close to 1000F daily with the strong draft problems. Since the damper addition, I have only seen it once so far this season and generally loafing along nicely at 400F.

 

[BrotherBart]

Kind of like 3/16 steel, it seems to depend on how it's engineered.

I know. I keep expecting to come downstairs some morning and see a puddle where the 30 was. But I bet those door hinges will be the last thing standing. :lol:

 

[dispatcher101]

Hey all,

Thanks for all the info. Sounds like hinges are the last of my worries. Am still struggling with sizing the stove correctly. Don't want to be roasted out of the house, but don't want to have to keep a smaller stove roaring constantly.

Pyro Extroadinair suggested "Skip the T4 and go to the T5 if you buy an alderlea. The T4 is too small for anything and the T5 has an excellent reputation for long burns."

I have heard varying suggestions from my local retailers on sizing, so wanted to get some other opinions. My house is a tri level 1500 sq feet, and the stove will be located on the middle level.

thanks

 

[begreen]

Good advice. We heard all sorts of worries about getting a stove too big including one from the local PE dealer. Tom Oyen was more pragmatic and convinced me that the bigger stove would not be a major issue. He was right. From the description, I think the T5 would be just right. Go for it. Be happy and be warm.