Vermont Castings Encore 2040 Crack

[WarmDeer]

I have a 3 year old Vermont Castings Encore 2040 and I just discovered this crack (See attached pictures). Is this covered under the 5 year warranty? Is this fixable with cement? it goes all the way through.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

Wow... i haven't seen anything like that. I think it would be covered, its not an internal part, its part of the casting looks like. I would contact the dealer for sure and see if i could get some help on it..

 

[WarmDeer]

Thank you... I just sent them an email with pictures. I hope it is covered.

 

[WarmDeer]

The dealer was not very accommodating and accused us of overfilling the stove and said it probably won't be covered. We've always kept it within 350-550 degrees and did the proper catalyst heat-up procedure outlined in the manual. They also said it is irreparable and we'd have to buy a new unit. The oddest part is after the owner stated all that they still wanted to schedule us for a annual gasket service with them, seems quiet contradictive.

I just couldn't believe this and dove into research and making calls to other stove dealers. From all that I've learned that:

• I can drill a hole at the very end of the crack and fill it all with stove cement and would have to re-fill with cement each year.
• I could hire a specialized welder to grind down a channel over the crack and fill in with a weld bead.
• I could have a local foundry whom specializes in replacement parts install a new back.

In addition to that Ive learned, from a local reputable stove repair technician, that Vermont Castings will do everything in their power to skirt around honoring their life time warranty. The Tech also states he believes the crack occurred from an air draft in the damper gasket, which caused pressurized air to hit directly on that spot. It makes sense because the gasket was pealing off.

Im sorta panicking because our savings went into this stove and I feel like the dealer is essentially saying it's my problem.

If the dealer doesn't help... Do you think it is worth me fighting this with Vermont Castings directly or just paying out of pocket to repair it?

 

[bholler]

The dealer was not very accommodating and accused us of overfilling the stove and said it probably won't be covered. We've always kept it within 350-550 degrees and did the proper catalyst heat-up procedure outlined in the manual. They also said it is irreparable and we'd have to buy a new unit. The oddest part is after the owner stated all that they still wanted to schedule us for a annual gasket service with them, seems quiet contradictive.

I just couldn't believe this and dove into research and making calls to other stove dealers. From all that I've learned that:

• I can drill a hole at the very end of the crack and fill it all with stove cement and would have to re-fill with cement each year.
• I could hire a specialized welder to grind down a channel over the crack and fill in with a weld bead.
• I could have a local foundry whom specializes in replacement parts install a new back.

In addition to that Ive learned, from a local reputable stove repair technician, that Vermont Castings will do everything in their power to skirt around honoring their life time warranty. The Tech also states he believes the crack occurred from an air draft in the damper gasket, which caused pressurized air to hit directly on that spot. It makes sense because the gasket was pealing off.

Im sorta panicking because our savings went into this stove and I feel like the dealer is essentially saying it's my problem.

If the dealer doesn't help... Do you think it is worth me fighting this with Vermont Castings directly or just paying out of pocket to repair it?

You can try contacting vermont castings directly. They are now owned by hearth and home technologies and their customer service may have improved.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

The dealer was not very accommodating and accused us of overfilling the stove and said it probably won't be covered. We've always kept it within 350-550 degrees and did the proper catalyst heat-up procedure outlined in the manual. They also said it is irreparable and we'd have to buy a new unit. The oddest part is after the owner stated all that they still wanted to schedule us for a annual gasket service with them, seems quiet contradictive.

I just couldn't believe this and dove into research and making calls to other stove dealers. From all that I've learned that:

• I can drill a hole at the very end of the crack and fill it all with stove cement and would have to re-fill with cement each year.
• I could hire a specialized welder to grind down a channel over the crack and fill in with a weld bead.
• I could have a local foundry whom specializes in replacement parts install a new back.

In addition to that Ive learned, from a local reputable stove repair technician, that Vermont Castings will do everything in their power to skirt around honoring their life time warranty. The Tech also states he believes the crack occurred from an air draft in the damper gasket, which caused pressurized air to hit directly on that spot. It makes sense because the gasket was pealing off.

Im sorta panicking because our savings went into this stove and I feel like the dealer is essentially saying it's my problem.

If the dealer doesn't help... Do you think it is worth me fighting this with Vermont Castings directly or just paying out of pocket to repair it?

I would contact VC directly. I haven't had problems with my stove, but i have had some questions I have contacted them a number of times and have found them to be helpful. If it is a gasket failure and the cause of the crack is from the gasket, they should help. I would let them know that the dealer was contacted and has not been helpful in this case. I cant imagine the whole stove needing replacement I haven't had my stove apart so I'm not super familiar with just that one piece and how it affects the rest of the stove

 

[Dobish]

you could try dealing directly with VC. I do think that you should at least report your dealer to them, as it appears your dealer is just trying to get you to buy a new stove and make money off of you.

If they did the annual gasket maintenance, why was it peeling off in the first place?

 

[Bad LP]

I'd be a tad pissed off. Squeaky wheel gets the grease.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

You can try contacting vermont castings directly. They are now owned by hearth and home technologies and their customer service may have improved.

My dealer also said that to me. So now the parent company is the same company that sells Harmon, Quadra-Fire, and Dutch West

 

[bholler]

My dealer also said that to me. So now the parent company is the same company that sells Harmon, Quadra-Fire, and Dutch West

Yes and they are also no longer assembled in vermont. We will see how it plays out. Hht has done well with quad but harman still has the same issues they had before hht bought them. Hopefully they turn vc around. I would like to see their stoves and service improve but it will take a while.

 

[WarmDeer]

Thank you all for your advice and encouragement. I will wait one more day for the dealer to follow up on the emails I've sent and if no contact is made I will reach out to Vermont castings directly.