Input Requested on Valor Inserts and Maxitrol Valve/Control System

[Oldbat]

I am seriously considering a Valor Portrait Windsor gas insert. On another thread, I was advised against the gas control system (Maxitrol) for the insert and told that the remote was user-unfriendly and prone to problems. Can anyone speak to their experience with Valor gas inserts and remote controls?

Thanks in advance, Karen

 

[Tech Guru]

I've worked on several of these, and never had an issue with the remote. The fact is any remote for any fireplace is going have a learning curve associated with it. The RT(F)M philosophy has never failed me with regards to any product. Valor made their foothold in the market due to good design, solid workmanship and arguably this control system. Their units tend to work well as convection heaters, so no fan is really necessary. This control system lends itself to working well on a simple 4 pack of AA batteries - whereas most others can only rely on batteries for temporary back up usage during power outages.