Quadrafire Mt Vernon AE please help me reconsider.

[Alexmert]

OK all please understand that I love the look of this stove and the btu (65,000 btu) put out. I went to a reputible dealer to purchase the stove, yesterday the installers came in and put the stove together. The stove brand new came right out of the manufacterers box. They installed it in my fireplace. To everybodys surprise a -------- message came on the upper left hand side of the thermostate and you couldnt select the type of fuel used. The installers told me they have to replace control board and thermostat on the unit. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? Does the manufacturer test this products before they come out of the production line. The company I bought the stove from wanted to change the parts in a few days. I told them I dont want the stove unless I get a new one. They are replacing it with a new stove, but I am discouraged about Quadrafire now. Is this what I am going to expect from this stove? nothing but problems? Does anybody have this stove and have encounterd these type of problems?
Is this stove dependable? Please help! I'm very close to not getting a pellet stove at all!! :-(

 

[smoke show]

All stoves have problems sooner or later.
Did you make an informed decisiom and do your homework before buying?
My dealer does the imstall and a preburn prior to install to avoid these situations.
Sorry to hear your having problems. Are the installers famaliar with the unit?

 

[dsnedegar3]

I have the Mount Vernon AE insert. No problems and on my fourth season. I got mine from Afterglow Energy in Meriden. They're very knowledgeable on the unit... not sure if you got yours there but see you live in CT.

 

[dsnedegar3]

Thats a good price. I think I spent $3800 plus install -- $4500 total during 2008 when the price of oil went crazy... and it's almost there again. The only complaints I've heard are 1. When the stove is on "low" there is a light ticking sound from the auger which goes away when the stove is on any other speed and 2.) People don't care for the autoclean because it shuts the stove down too often and impacts the warmth of the house.

Personally, I've had no problems other than my wife gets somewhat irritated by the auger ticking noise. However she was real happen when we lost power for 4 days and I had a couple of deep cycle marine batteries on standby that allowed the stove to run without the need for a UPS or expensive power generator.

I am going to add the Outside Air Kit in January to reduce the draft in the house... but otherwise I'm counting my $ I'm saving buy not buying oil. Went from 1000 gallons per year to about 300-350.

 

[smg64ct]

I bought mine in 2009 and I had problems with it in the beginning. They figured out in the second season I had it what the problem was. Knock on wood it's been running well and is putting out a lot heat.

 

[tsmith]

You may not need the new control board and thermostat. If you get those dashes across the top left side of the screen, it means that the thermostat is not comunicating with the control board. There was a problem with the connection of the wires to the back of the stove. Find where the three wires are attached to the bottom of the back of the stove and gently push up on them from underneath them then see if the thermostat communicates properly. For some reason this happens sometimes and is a easy cheap fix. Dealer should probably have known this. When the stove is working properly, you will love it, it puts out a lot of heat. Any more problems or questions just drop a line here, lots of people have been through the operations of this stove and have learned these little tricks. Let me know if this works or not.

 

[kykel]

I'm watching this post closely as im about to pull the trigger on a new Mt Vernon Ae at 3200.00 figured i'd grab one

I would love to hear what current owners like and dislike with the AE

They wanted 5000 for one here on long island

 

[smoke show]

I bought mine in 2009 and I had problems with it in the beginning. They figured out in the second season I had it what the problem was. Knock on wood it's been running well and is putting out a lot heat.

Spill the beans Steve.

It may help some of us out in the future.

 

[JoeS]

I had every problem that was imaginable with my AE but I had an excellent dealer that worked through each and every issue. Keep in mind I purchased a unit back in early 2008 when they were still having significant problems. Finally in early 2010 my dealer pulled the stove and replaced it with a brand new unit at no cost. Point here is whatever you purchase make certain it is from a reputable dealer. The new stove has performed flawlessly.

 

[Alexmert]

I did a continuty test on the line and everything seems to be going to the control board but the dashes are still their. On another note when the installers put the stove in the fireplace they did not remove my open close hatch the fireplace has. They stuffed it with installation and ran the exhuast threw the hatch open. Is this correct? Thanks all for the replies i will keep everyone updated.

 

[gblaue]

Mine has been great. 4th season now. The only issue that I had was the baffle cracking. It happened 4 times, They claimed that the gave me the updated ones, but it looked the same all along, The latest baffle is definitely different and has been good for a year now. I like the ease of the stove: fill it and vaccum it

 

[smg64ct]

They should have found the problem with my stove earlier. It turns out there was a problem with the connectors in the back of the stove. They replaced every part and some parts twice. I think these tech's need to learn more about these stoves. It doesn't make sense to me to replace parts that might not be the problem.

 

[smoke show]

They should have found the problem with my stove earlier. It turns out there was a problem with the connectors in the back of the stove. They replaced every part and some parts twice. I think these tech's need to learn more about these stoves. It doesn't make sense to me to replace parts that might not be the problem.

Thermostat wires?

 

[tsmith]

They should have found the problem with my stove earlier. It turns out there was a problem with the connectors in the back of the stove. They replaced every part and some parts twice. I think these tech's need to learn more about these stoves. It doesn't make sense to me to replace parts that might not be the problem.

That's what I told ya, I can't believe that people here know the stoves better than some of the techs do.

 

[smoke show]

They should have found the problem with my stove earlier. It turns out there was a problem with the connectors in the back of the stove. They replaced every part and some parts twice. I think these tech's need to learn more about these stoves. It doesn't make sense to me to replace parts that might not be the problem.

That's what I told ya, I can't believe that people here know the stoves better than some of the techs do.

Honestly, I didn't think it took all that long to educate myself about these stoves.

You would think selling dealers would want the knowledge?

 

[tsmith]

They should have found the problem with my stove earlier. It turns out there was a problem with the connectors in the back of the stove. They replaced every part and some parts twice. I think these tech's need to learn more about these stoves. It doesn't make sense to me to replace parts that might not be the problem.

That's what I told ya, I can't believe that people here know the stoves better than some of the techs do.

Honestly, I didn't think it took all that long to educate myself about these stoves.

You would think selling dealers would want the knowledge?

Most of them, mine included, just want to make the sale and dont seem to care about service afterwards.

 

[smoke show]

They should have found the problem with my stove earlier. It turns out there was a problem with the connectors in the back of the stove. They replaced every part and some parts twice. I think these tech's need to learn more about these stoves. It doesn't make sense to me to replace parts that might not be the problem.

That's what I told ya, I can't believe that people here know the stoves better than some of the techs do.

Honestly, I didn't think it took all that long to educate myself about these stoves.

You would think selling dealers would want the knowledge?

Most of them, mine included, just want to make the sale and dont seem to care about service afterwards.

And mine is very helpful when needed, willing to give free advise.
A good dealer can be priceless.

 

[smg64ct]

I was at the point where I just had it with this stove. They sent over two techs and the one guy who I never saw before, he said that he saw this happen on another stove. He said he had to clip off the connectors on back of the stove and replace them, and since that day I've never had a problem with the stove.

My stove never quit working. The problem was the thermostat would start blinking and then go blank. I couldn't shut the stove off or change the temp. I would have to take the thermostat off the wall for a minute or two then put it back and sometimes I would have to do this a few times.

 

[smoke show]

I was at the point where I just had it with this stove. They sent over two techs and the one guy who I never saw before, he said that he saw this happen on another stove. He said he had to clip off the connectors on back of the stove and replace them, and since that day I've never had a problem with the stove.

My stove never quit working. The problem was the thermostat would start blinking and then go blank. I couldn't shut the stove off or change the temp. I would have to take the thermostat off the wall for a minute or two then put it back and sometimes I would have to do this a few times.

yep, common fix for wall control problems.

 

[kinsmanstoves]

You have to research your dealer as much as the stove. Ask questions and ask for references. Whos fault is it if you do not do your research?

Eric