Hitzer 503- what do you think?

[martel]

My local stove dealer has me just about talked into the Hitzer 503 Insert. 65,000 BTU's. I made it very clear to him that I wanted to burn wood- he made it very clear to me that he had to tell me that the 503 was a coal stove (i.e. yes, its a coal stove, but it will certainly burn efficiently and cleanly wood as well).

I wondered if he was pulling my leg, but this was the least expensive stove that I was interested in so it seems he was not just trying to make a big sale.

Anyway: anyone have experience with the Hitzer's or this model in particular. The stove I looked at in the store was they're working model, that is they heated they're entire store with it and it was pretty impressive.

Also: about this, "i have to tell you its a coal stove" business- I would like to here a bit from the pros- mostly is it irresponsible ecologically to burn wood in a coal stove? i understand that it is due to EPA regulation that they have to advertise that way> (by the way they had the bad boy in their shop filled with wood).

thanks

 

[Corie]

es, its a coal stove, but it will certainly burn efficiently and cleanly wood as well


Also: about this, “i have to tell you its a coal stove” business- I would like to here a bit from the pros- mostly is it irresponsible ecologically to burn wood in a coal stove? i understand that it is due to EPA regulation that they have to advertise that way

Coal stove only. No secondary combustion chamber and certainly no cat combustor. Grates that are meant for burning coal and not wood. Burning wood in that stove is the equivalent to burning wood in a stove made pre EPA phase I. It is nothing but a box with air controls and a flue collar and it will not burn wood with the efficiency and cleanliness of a modern EPA phase II certified stove.


If you want to burn wood, buy a phase II wood stove. If you want to burn coal, buy a coal stove.

 

[martel]

hmm, a shame. the salesman had gotten me pretty excited about the possibility and heating capcity of the Hitzer. I think I may be turning my sites on the quadra-fire 3100i (and maybe away from this retailer altogether). I am feeling like this decision is very difficult. The attractive thing about the Hitzer was the low price (1500) but I guess that would make sense if it simply a big fire box without the latest technology. It looks like I may be able to get the quadrafire installed with liner at about$3500.

Other inserts that anyone may suggest would be great.

 

[Corie]

For 500 dollars in price difference, I wouldn't even consider the Hitzer. If you were primarily a coal burner and liked to burn wood once in a while, then it's not a big deal. But to buy a stove that was specifically designed for burning coal and then burning wood all the time just doesn't make sense.

I hope I didn't come off as rude in the first post. But what the manufacturers and dealers are leading customers to believe just isn't fair. Unfortunately you have to do your own research as this point.

As far as the Quad goes, I like the simplicity of the Quad design and the quality with which they appear to be built, but i don't have any personal experience with one. Hopefully someone who does will chime in.

 

[wg_bent]

hmm, a shame. the salesman had gotten me pretty excited about the possibility and heating capcity of the Hitzer. I think I may be turning my sites on the quadra-fire 3100i (and maybe away from this retailer altogether). I am feeling like this decision is very difficult. The attractive thing about the Hitzer was the low price (1500) but I guess that would make sense if it simply a big fire box without the latest technology. It looks like I may be able to get the quadrafire installed with liner at about$3500.

Other inserts that anyone may suggest would be great.

Lopi Revere, Osburn 2200i, (the quad of course) and Look at Pacific Energy. Around these parts, it seem folks really like the PE stoves, and there seems to be evidence they can heat for days on 3 splits.

 

[martel]

corie- nah, you didn't seem rude at all. this is why this forum is sooo good. i feel every store I have gone to has given me questionable information- so, thanks. I will look at PE as well. I am doing some serious research about doing the liner myself as well. The sweep that came said it would be a hard install because in the masonry fireplace the flue begins on the right side and then goes over and up the center... i certainly want to save some big cash, but don't want to get in over my head. sweep said we were looking at a seven inch flue.

I am a bit handy and not at all afraid of heights (spent several years building and running ropes courses).

 

[davemich]

I have the Hitzer 503 insert and love it. I burn only coal and thats really what it was designed to be used for. Heats my 1800 SF Cape Cod very nicely. I burn about 40-50 lbs a day. I need to shake the grates only once a day so it makes for a hassle free source of BTU bustin heat!

 

[Corie]

pictures dave, pictures

 

[davemich]

Corie, see my avatar or whatever it is called...my pic that shows up in my posts. Thats my insert...

 

[Corie]

oh I figured that. I was hoping for something on a larger scale.

 

[davemich]

Here's a pic...

 

[denised9]

Warren-
you mentioned the Hitzer price was $1500. Where? I am looking around and was quoted $2452. We want to burn coal.

 

[budman]

oh I figured that. I was hoping for something on a larger scale.

Hey Corie, I was in your old neck of the woods today on a bike ride.Yup Medford PA was a great
ride and a great day for it.You riding anymore in VA or just building stoves. ;-P Woops i mean
designing stoves. :red:

 

[Rich L]

My local stove dealer has me just about talked into the Hitzer 503 Insert. 65,000 BTU's. I made it very clear to him that I wanted to burn wood- he made it very clear to me that he had to tell me that the 503 was a coal stove (i.e. yes, its a coal stove, but it will certainly burn efficiently and cleanly wood as well).Hi martel,check out the Baker stoves of York,PA..They make some coal/wood burning stoves.

I wondered if he was pulling my leg, but this was the least expensive stove that I was interested in so it seems he was not just trying to make a big sale.

Anyway: anyone have experience with the Hitzer's or this model in particular. The stove I looked at in the store was they're working model, that is they heated they're entire store with it and it was pretty impressive.

Also: about this, "i have to tell you its a coal stove" business- I would like to here a bit from the pros- mostly is it irresponsible ecologically to burn wood in a coal stove? i understand that it is due to EPA regulation that they have to advertise that way> (by the way they had the bad boy in their shop filled with wood).

thanks

 

[Rich L]

My local stove dealer has me just about talked into the Hitzer 503 Insert. 65,000 BTU's. I made it very clear to him that I wanted to burn wood- he made it very clear to me that he had to tell me that the 503 was a coal stove (i.e. yes, its a coal stove, but it will certainly burn efficiently and cleanly wood as well).Hi martel,check out the Baker stoves of York,PA..They make some coal/wood burning stoves.

I wondered if he was pulling my leg, but this was the least expensive stove that I was interested in so it seems he was not just trying to make a big sale.

Anyway: anyone have experience with the Hitzer's or this model in particular. The stove I looked at in the store was they're working model, that is they heated they're entire store with it and it was pretty impressive.

Also: about this, "i have to tell you its a coal stove" business- I would like to here a bit from the pros- mostly is it irresponsible ecologically to burn wood in a coal stove? i understand that it is due to EPA regulation that they have to advertise that way> (by the way they had the bad boy in their shop filled with wood).Hi martel,check out the Baker stoves of York,PA..they make stoves that burn wood and coal.

thanks

 

[wg_bent]

Warren-
you mentioned the Hitzer price was $1500. Where? I am looking around and was quoted $2452. We want to burn coal.

Actually I didn't say it was 1500, someone I responded to did. The lowest price coal stove I found when I looked about 4 years ago now was the Harman Mark series. The Mark 1 was about 1500 (not installed). You'd need a liner or stainless chimney also which is about the same cost as the stove at least. So 2500 installed??? For a HItzer 503? I'd go for that big time. From all the reading I've done the HItzer looks to be a nice stove.

If possible I"d encourage you to burn wood. Sometimes that isn't possible I know, but if it is, the costs and the environmental impacts will be better.

 

[wg_bent]

Ahh... yes, an insert. The Harman Mark series are not inserts.. Sorry about that.