Well, where to start? I don't notice much in the way of pings when it's heating up. If there are any, I imagine they aren't loud, or at least are so normal sounding that I don't notice.
My saga with this stove is long and troubled. After a few months of dealing with a horrible, unprofessional dealer/installer, and many phone calls to the manufacturer in Canada, I think I have this thing working as well as it could. I am unimpressed with it's heat output, and it does indeed have a relatively short burn time (update that to finding these compressed-wood logs which seem to burn longer).
What I have learned, which hopefully won't be problems you have to experience:
1) The flue MUST be sealed completely around the chimney liner. What I have learned, the hard way, is that most inserts are a box within a box, and the space between them is where the heat is contained and then sent out via vents and fans. The Volcano, for some reason, is just the one steel box, so the fireplace itself then becomes the heat chamber, therefore must be sealed COMPLETELY so the heat does not escape anywhere but back into your room. That said, I am still very unhappy with the amount of heat that moves into the room vs. how much is being generated by the stove. With the fire burning vigorously, and the fans on high, the heat output right in front of the stove is quite disappointing. The installers did a horrible job of sealing the flue, never put in the SUPPLIED thick steel sealing plate, and even when they came back, did a crap job using flimsy aluminum flashing and left substantial gaps still. I took it all apart and did a better job, though the stove still disappoints.
2) Every connection in piping coming out of the top of the stove must be COMPLETELY sealed. The guys that installed mine left huge gaps in all the bends and elbows. This, the manufacturer told me, was why the draw was awful. I sealed these gaps myself, and the draw improved.
3) For some reason the manufacturer urges that firestarter sticks are used to start the fire, and no kindling, etc....I have followed this every time so far, but I may experiment. In my house, at least, the fire frequently is a groan to start.
4) The stove itself is fairly well built, but after taking it apart the times I had to, I found that the screws holding the face on are crap (and a groan to re-align properly), the fan knob is a piece of crap (no big deal though, but I'm sure I'll be living without the know soon enough, and the adjustable legs could be sturdier.
5) When the fan is not on, or simply not on maximum, the amount of heat that this thing puts out into the room, and I'm just talking a couple of feet in front, is lame. I will never be able to even heat the area just around it in the event of a blackout (somewhat frequent in the winter aorund my parts), let alone just wanting it to add some gentle heat without having to listen to the rather loud, while rather wimpy fans.
6) Am I sounding pissed yet?
7) I'm not an idiot. I am pretty handy myself. I don't think my expectations are too high, which is what the irresponsible jerk who owns the stove store I bought it from said to me.
8) My house is about 1500 sq/ft and the stove is rated for 2000, I think. BULL!
Okay, this is quite a rant, but I've been so upset about this whole ordeal, I would hate to see someone else have the same problems I've been having.
9) On the positive side: you may have a reputatable, honest dealer/ installer (I did not) who knows the specific requirements for this particular stove. Alos, you may have a better set-up in your home as far as some of the dynamics/ physics, etc....that could be contributors to my particular problem ( though I have good insulation, an open plan, etc...)
10) I have been placing door-jam fans throughout the house to move the warmed air around. I also luckily already had a ceiling fan just over and in front of the fireplace. I must have it on at medium speed, with it turning so the air move upward, not downward.
11) I will also put a new thermostat in which has a fan timer on it so I can use my forced-air furnace system's "fan only" to move the air around, and not have to run the furnace itself.
12) Okay, I'm pooped. I'm pissed. I'm learning to live with this thing.
13) I will stop bending your ear now. As you can see, I've been through the ringer. In the end, you may have a far better experience than I did. Who knows...maybe I do expect too much from this. BUT, I was told this would heat my downstairs just fine,
and that, when running at full-bore, I would need to open windows. I don't think so.
I hope this helps some. Jeez, that was quite a rant.
