NORTH STAR / QUADRAFIRE 7100 HE ZC Fireplace

[Woods Dweller]

New post. Still haven't nailed down which fireplace to install. I'm replacing a Heatilator ICON 100 prefab. Was down to the Napoleon High Country NZ6000 or the Extrordinair Elite 44. Had to rule out the Napoleon because it requires metal studs above the header and sheet rock up a ways too. Won't work because I have solid wood walls in my log home. So the Extrordinair ($7K installed with chimney system....yikes!) looks like the winner, but I am semi-considering both the Quadrafire 7100 and the Heat N Glo North Star. They're a step down in size (matters) but they look good and seem to be good heat producers. Are they made by the same manufacturer? They look like clones and the specs are almost the same.
Does anyone have any experience with the North Star? Have read some about the Quad, but very little about the North Star.
Thanks.

 

[Woods Dweller]

BTW: Pics are what I have now and plan to replace. Only two seasons old. Want to leave the stone. Wife loves it. I'll have to do some stone work to fill in the voids when the new goes in. That's one reason I wanted the bigger unit. Might not look like it, but the opening is huge. 50 inch wide firebox.

 

[kaplan]

I'm kinda in the same boat. I was wanting to rip out my heatilator, and replace with a free standing, but the guys here kinda made me see the light. Now I'm looking at the 7100.

 

[BrotherBart]

Keep an eye on this ongoing saga with some 7100s.

 

[scfa99]

here's the thread link https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/20294/

Before this issue I absolutely loved my unit, I have a review posted over in the reviews. It's going to be interesting to see how Quad addresses a very serious issue in their design.

 

[Woods Dweller]

Wow. That thread is a little scary. The Quad has such a good rep, but even if they make good on the repair, who knows how it will hold up over time.
Anyone with info on the North Star? Looks like and specs out like a clone of the 7100. I'm just about settled on the Extrodinair Elitee 44 but want to explore every option. I like the bigger fire box of the 44 but not the price.