Noisy? Pacific Energy "Pacific" insert vs. Regency i2400 insert

[medora66]

Thanks to y'all, we've done a lot of research here and went to a dealer today Ready To Buy. We had it narrowed down to a Jotul Kennebec, a Pacific Energy Pacific, or a Regency i2400. The Regency was lowest on our list, mainly because people here are so darned enthusiastic about their PEs and Jotuls -- and because a local installer highly recommended the PE. My husband nixed the Jotul due the two-door design. We both greatly preferred the aesthetics of the PE, and it is $550 cheaper than the Regency.

But -- it seems loud. Really loud. We aren't big TV watchers -- so we'd be near the insert in a quiet room, and we're a little afraid the PE may drive us nuts.

Truthfully -- and Regency lovers, please take no offense -- I think the i2400 is ugly. I don't like the way the grate looks. But it seemed considerably quieter.

If we are noise-averse -- how much should we weigh the "showroom blower test?" Will the sound of the fire mask it at all? How often do you crank the blower? Should quiet trump beauty?

Thanks -- we're truly flummoxed.

 

[Dix]

It took me 2-3 weeks to get used to the fan in the Pacific.

I've been playing with it since early September.

After the intial "oh wow, noise", I've shut it out. But I do still hear it when it kicks in or shuts down. I've come home after 10 hours, and I walk in the door, and it's been 40 outside, and the house is toasty 80 .

Pretty easy restart, too.

I'm happy.

My 2 cents.

 

[Hanko]

well I would tell that stove to be more quiet. Ya thats what I would do, tell it a thing or two

 

[Hogwildz]

The PE stoves have an adjustable fan control, you can turn it down some and it will be less noisy if it bothers you.
Its also both auto or manual, another plus.

 

[nwctjeff]

The fan can be noisy on the higher settings, but it is a noise we have grown used to very quickly. As Hogwildz said, turning the fan speed down some greatly reduces the noise. The fan can also be turned completely off if need be, although doing that makes the insert put much less heat into the house. I do not get any "noise from the fire" to "mask" the blower noise with my Pacific insert. My insert is within 5' of the tv and we still are able to sit, watch tv, talk, etc without the fan being a hinderance in our opinion.

 

[kniffin50]

I think my Regencey insert is quiet with the fan on and the most beautiful thing you could lay your eyes on.
Rusty

 

[JAmuso]

Ditto with my I2400. Quiet enough, burns great, looks great.

 

[Northeaster1]

Maybe someone can add to this, or correct me if I am wrong, but - We have a new Pacific insert. Have only used it for a couple of days. The manual blower switch turns on/off. However, in the OFF mode, it is automatic, meaning that it turns on when the stove gets up to temp. In the ON mode, the fan runs regardless of stove temp. I do not believe that you can turn the fan off, when the stove is up to temp, unless you unplug fan, or have it plugged into a switched outlet, or swithed powerbar.

We tried the fan in-store, and didn't find it loud. At home, it is louder than I remember in the store, but I think we will get used to it.

Can anyone comment on turning the fan off (for an hour or so) on an insert that is up to temp - say 600 degrees? I would think that since it cannot radiate much heat into the room, due to the fact that it is recessed into the fireplace, and is surrounded by the sheet metal (used to convection process with the blower), it may not be good to run it for long without the blower on!! Are they likely to overheat without the blower. I had ours up around 700 degrees, after adding some big sticks for a long burn, and would think that it may have climbed higher without the fan running to move the heat into the room / away from the stove.

 

[yukiginger]

Chillpill, I have a Quadrafire insert as my main heating source, and it's in the family room, where the main TV is, just off the kitchen. Because I try to heat my entire house (2,600 sq. ft.) with the unit, I need to run the blower on medium to high at times for maximum air flow. I must say that I find the fan noise annoying and it makes it pretty much impossible to watch television in that room. At this point in the season, however, I have not had to run the fan on high, so noise has not been much of a problem.

I also worry that my blower will eventually fail. I am already on my second one and I'm just four years in. For many reasons if I had to do it over again I would have rebuilt my hearth and gone with a freestanding stove. Now, I don't know if this is an option for you, but it should be considered. Also, during a power outage a freestanding unit is going to do much better than an insert for this reason. I really wish I got more effective heat without a blower, and a stove versus an insert is one move toward this goal.

MarkG

 

[Cearbhaill]

Maybe someone can add to this, or correct me if I am wrong, but - We have a new Pacific insert. Have only used it for a couple of days. The manual blower switch turns on/off. However, in the OFF mode, it is automatic, meaning that it turns on when the stove gets up to temp. In the ON mode, the fan runs regardless of stove temp. I do not believe that you can turn the fan off, when the stove is up to temp, unless you unplug fan, or have it plugged into a switched outlet, or swithed powerbar.

Doesn't the blower speed dial (not the on/off toggle switch) turn the blower off if you turn it all the way counterclockwise and past the "click"?
I would almost swear mine does- it is too warm for me to be burning right now so I can't check, but try it. I really think I am remembering correctly and it turns it off.

My Pacific insert is within five feet of the television, and I sit within two feet of it. I normally keep the blower on a low speed and it does not impact us in any way. If I am running the blower on full high speed I do have to turn up the television, but again my ear is likely three feet from the blower.

My blower runs all the time I am burning 24/7- if it does shut off that's my signal to get some more wood in there pronto, so it being noticeable in that way is a good thing IMO.
Other than that it quickly faded into ambient sound and we no longer notice it at all.

I find this insert to be very easy to operate, and it provides enough heat for my entire home.

 

[Jake Weaver]

Yes, if the dial is turned counter clockwise to the click it turns the blower off completely. As said before, the blower speed is adjustable. We have ours in our family room with the tv and the kids' toys/play area and don't mind it. The blower can also be set for intermittent so it kicks on and off and is not running constantly. Typically the blower is set for medium and is basically not obtrusive to us. That being said, we do have the noise of two kids and two dogs :cheese:

 

[medora66]

Thanks, all, for your answers so far. Keep in mind that in our case, we usually DON'T watch television in this room -- it's a quiet space for reading, etc, and we do tend to be more noise-sensitive than most people. So I guess I'm concerned that if we get the PE and keep the blower on low, we're not going to get good heat circulation. We do have ceiling fans but I'm guessing that the blower is there for a reason, and if you want it to heat a larger space you better be prepared to use it?

I wish we had the option to redo the space for a freestanding stove, but -- alas -- no go.

 

[medora66]

Here's an interesting development -- it suddenly looks like a medium insert may not fit in our fireplace (contrary to what we were told, alas).

Are the Jotul inserts any quieter than the PE -- more comparable in volume to the Regency? Or are they just as noisy as the PE?

The Winterport has the one-door assembly, and may be back in play (husband Dan wasn't keen on the two-door Kennebec setup).

Again, keep in mind -- this is in a "quiet" room with very little television use, and a whole lot of reading/meditative time.

 

[Hogwildz]

IMO, no matter what insert your get, with the fan on high, you will hear it.
Its more of a white noise to me. I am still sleeping on the couch while I work on the addition. And it does not keep me awake, rather a this point helps me sleep by filtering other noise out.
In a short time, I really didn't notice it much, nor does it bother me.
Now with the kids, they crank the TV up, but then again, even with the fan off and stove not running, they crank the TV up.
If you want perfectly quiet, don't get an insert. Try for a freestanding stove. Or just keep paying the oil man.

 

[begreen]

Actually, have you considered a hearth stove instead of an insert? That would be almost silent.

 

[medora66]

With a hearth stove, we'd lose quite a bit of efficiency, no? Or would we be able to get a BIGGER stove, thus actually improving the benefit (since we're now stuck with the smallest inserts)?

 

[begreen]

Besides silent operation you could potentially gain efficiency and a larger stove. However, there may be caveats such as clearance to combustibles like the mantel and a need for a hearth extension.

 

[medora66]

Can you guys recommend a stove that would make a good hearth stove -- maybe something that could handle 1500-2000 sq ft, but is configured in such a way that it wouldn't protrude much? It's funny, I've done extensive Googling and haven't found many suggestions specific to hearth stove installations (you're just getting a regular wood stove ultimately tho, right?).

 

[tkuhe]

I think the Hearthstone Homestead describes what you are looking for.

 

[Hogwildz]

I almost bought this one.
(broken link removed to http://www.regency-fire.com/Wood/Inserts/H2100/index.php)

 

[jqgs214]

back to the Mid -size PE blower, I run mine exclusively on low and get great heat circulation in my 2 story 1600 sq/ft house, we dont use the upstairs except for computer room and guest bedroom but it keeps it 66-68 up there andf I dont burn 24-7, when we do have the fire going 24-7 like on the weekends it can be 80 downsatirs and 72up all with the blower on low. On low the fan is quiet, more like the sound of rushing air than an electric motor sound, On high it does get kinda loud though. What are the measurement of your fireplace, there should be no ?'s its kinda cut and dry what will fit and what wont.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

Thanks to y'all, we've done a lot of research here and went to a dealer today Ready To Buy. We had it narrowed down to a Jotul Kennebec, a Pacific Energy Pacific, or a Regency i2400. The Regency was lowest on our list, mainly because people here are so darned enthusiastic about their PEs and Jotuls -- and because a local installer highly recommended the PE. My husband nixed the Jotul due the two-door design. We both greatly preferred the aesthetics of the PE, and it is $550 cheaper than the Regency.

But -- it seems loud. Really loud. We aren't big TV watchers -- so we'd be near the insert in a quiet room, and we're a little afraid the PE may drive us nuts.

Truthfully -- and Regency lovers, please take no offense -- I think the i2400 is ugly. I don't like the way the grate looks. But it seemed considerably quieter.

If we are noise-averse -- how much should we weigh the "showroom blower test?" Will the sound of the fire mask it at all? How often do you crank the blower? Should quiet trump beauty?

Thanks -- we're truly flummoxed.

Why?

 

[Bigg_Redd]

I think my Regencey insert is quiet with the fan on and the most beautiful thing you could lay your eyes on.
Rusty

Have you seen any other wood stoves?

 

[burntime]

If you are not a regency fan look at the hampton at hampton-fire.com, it is the sister to the 2400 with a pretty face. Next I would look at the quad if you want a different looking insert. If you want a heating beast just go to a bigger firebox.

 

[medora66]

The Regency Hearth Heater is intriguing. It's still not going to look the way I want it to (I'm sorry, Regency fans!) -- BUT if we are stuck with a smaller insert otherwise, I might be willing to sacrifice beauty for more BTU/SQ Ft, and a quiet blower.

Are there other similar "protruding" models we should consider that fit into a smaller fireplace? The key for us is that the height can't be more than 20".