Pacific Energy cracked welds

[The Seeker]

I have a pacific energy super insert LE and three welds are cracked. How would I get it fixed without the distributor and manufacturer? My thoughts are that the stove is compromised and needs to be replaced PE wants to do a draft test during cold weather. The distributor has been a nightmare since they swiped my credit card. They are in Southington CT and their name starts with a S. Run don’t walk to get away from that outfit. I didn’t get on here to slam them but whenever anyone talks wood, stoves… I make my feelings known I’m where I’m at with this and trying to move forward. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Since PE is the manufacturer and they would be doing the replacement, I think you will have to work with them. Their system has a local dealer and regional distributor. My regional distributor is in Hudson, NY. That’s not too far from CT. Maybe just a quick run down I-84? I think there’s another one in Boston. There has to be procedures in place for when a local dealer goes out of business. Maybe you could work within those.

 

[stoveliker]

PE likely wants to do a draft test to ascertain whether there is overdraft. Stoves with warranty claims due to installs that don't meet specs are going to have a difficult time getting warranty pay out.

How tall is your chimney?

 

[The Seeker]

Since PE is the manufacturer and they would be doing the replacement, I think you will have to work with them. Their system has a local dealer and regional distributor. My regional distributor is in Hudson, NY. That’s not too far from CT. Maybe just a quick run down I-84? I think there’s another one in Boston. There has to be procedures in place for when a local dealer goes out of business. Maybe you could work withi those.

The dealership I bought it from is still there, I had such a bad experience dealing with them that I refuse to give them another penny. I did contact them and they have been in touch with pacific energy. PE wants a draft test done. Dealer wants $295 for that when it’s cold outside. I’m wondering if I can just get a welder to come and fix it in place ? Or might it be compromised from a safety standpoint? This had to have happened at the end of the season because there was a point where I noticed that the stove was crankin and the cover over the fan on the left was hot. Like too hot. It had always been cool enough to touch before that. I got four seasons out of it. Along with a bunch of headaches. My thought was to see if I can get it fixed and maybe install another wood stove in the other fireplace.

 

[stovelark]

That burnt orange color is normally an indicator of it burning pretty hot. But this unit doesn't look that old, when was it born? I'm thinking with persistence that a company like PE will eventually take care of you, its in their best interest to. It is regretful that your dealer is not being more supportive, I know they've had cracking issues in the past, but I thought that had been taken care of. Stay patient, it'll get resolved. Good luck.

 

[kborndale]

The biggest driver of draft is chimney height. How tall is yours? No sense welding it if the cause of the failure has not been fixed.

 

[The Seeker]

The biggest driver of draft is chimney height. How tall is yours? No sense welding it if the cause of the failure has not been fixed.

The biggest driver of draft is chimney height. How tall is yours? No sense welding it if the cause of the failure has not been fixed.

My chimney is roughly 25’ high.

 

[stovelark]

I do believe PE's are one of the brands that breathe easy, so over drafting may be a part of it. The unit being only 4 years old is concerning. So, was high temps normally observed on this unit? Was the burn temp controllable for most part? Could you keep stove top temp between 450-650 degrees? Draft could have been a factor, fuel burned etc. Am wondering if maybe an air leak was present? Maybe the door gasket? I'm guessing you could get the welds fixed, but hopefully PE takes care of the issue.

 

[The Seeker]

My chimney is roughly 25’ high.

The stove was bought in June of 2022. I had a conversation with the dealer prior to buying it in which I told them that the liner wouldn’t line up and grinding of the brick would be necessary to make it hook up. She said “are guys are pros, they do that all the time “. The installer shows up and says absolutely not, and took it back. Then they sent another guy who showed up with this offset adapter and he got it set up for me. My point is that the draft has been VERY temperamental from the beginning. Humidity in the high 30’s - and up, I’d need to have a good strong fire 🔥 or it would smell like a wet campground in the house. I did send an email to PE when I first got the stove telling them that they had a deceitful and no good dealer there. The sad part is that I was buying a stove no matter what, they should’ve done better with me. I think I’ll just try dealing with the manufacturer myself, explain the situation and if need be get a new insert. Thanks for listening. 👍

 

[The Seeker]

I do believe PE's are one of the brands that breathe easy, so over drafting may be a part of it. The unit being only 4 years old is concerning. So, was high temps normally observed on this unit? Was the burn temp controllable for most part? Could you keep stove top temp between 450-650 degrees? Draft could have been a factor, fuel burned etc. Am wondering if maybe an air leak was present? Maybe the door gasket? I'm guessing you could get the welds fixed, but hopefully PE takes care of the issue.

Stove temperatures were controllable , I could always put my hand on the top, ash lip, and fan cover without getting burnt.
Problems so far,
1) installation
2) blower bearings, replacement 3 on the left, 1 on the right.
3) soot coming through the blower
4) room air cover hadn’t been removed for drawing air from inside the house
5)openings on the back of the unit
6) thermal fan switch
7) cracked welds
Let me know if this is normal in the wood stove world. I feel like I’ve been through the wringer.

Thanks

 

[The Seeker]

Stove temperatures were controllable , I could always put my hand on the top, ash lip, and fan cover without getting burnt.
Problems so far,
1) installation
2) blower bearings, replacement 3 on the left, 1 on the right.
3) soot coming through the blower
4) room air cover hadn’t been removed for drawing air from inside the house
5)openings on the back of the unit
6) thermal fan switch
7) cracked welds
Let me know if this is normal in the wood stove world. I feel like I’ve been through the wringer.

Thanks

 

[stovelark]

Wow- no, I'd say this is not the normal happening. I remember the soot problem from another posting. I'm wondering if the off set had and has to do with your issue. That sounds like a number of replacement parts for a younger insert too. Hopoefully, it gets resolved for you.

 

[The Seeker]

Thanks ,
I actually have new ceramic insulation in the closet that I bought thinking it might help the situation. It’s a mess, but I’ll keep moving forward. I do love having the wood stove, it’s literally kept me from moving south. I think I like winter better than summer now. 👍

 

[stoveliker]

Yes, as I said, the draft is likely an issue, hence the draft test that they want done.

The smell may be because of there being a place from where soot falls down. I.e. there's a path from soot to room. That should not be there.