Vistaflame VF 170

[kjones22]

I am new to the forum. I just bought a vistaflame VF-170 3 days ago. I installed it myself in my finished basement. This stove throws a lot of heat and I am satisfied with the output. When I first turned on the unit the auger motor made what sounded like a grinding noise. every time the auger turns the motor makes a loud grinding noise. we have been unable to sleep for the past few night due to this noise.

I was wondering if anyone has this problem. I contacted the dealer and he is sending me a new motor.

I feel like a new stove should not have a motor issue right out of the gate.

does anyone know how much the heat distribution kit cost?

do people have good luck with these stoves?

thanks

 

[batchman]

Welcome to the forum, it's sure been a lot of help to me.

I'm a half season ahead of you with a new Maxx-M, a cousin to your stove. Been great so far, although I have developed a noise on my stirrer motor. This has changed a couple times over the last month so I'd suggest giving it some time to break in. Also since they don't burn stoves in at the factory I don't think there's a lot they can do as far as final functional test beyond making sure all components run. That said something loud enough to lose sleep over would have cleared up by now I'm sure.

The distribution kit is somewhere mid $300s if I recall, but my memory is not that good anymore. I'm looking forward to trying it but have to do some work on the house to be ready first.

Cheers,
- Jeff

 

[p962man]

I am a dealer for these stoves in PA, great purchase! I just checked my book and there is not a heat distribution listed for this stove- this is odd because there is one available for the Maxx & Maxx-M which are essentially the same unit as the VF 170.

In regards to your auger noise, did you trying removing all the fuel from the hopper and checking for any foreign objects at the bottom? There maybe something that fell in there accidently or was in there from the factory, crazier things have happened. Outside of that, unless you have definitely identified the motor as what is causing the noise, you may want to think about checking how the auger is seated in the bushing and if the auger is rubbing anywhere in the auger tube. If it is the motor, that should be an easy fix. It is unusual for them to be bad right out of the box and I wouldn't let it affect your confidence in the unit. Good luck!

 

[Happy Hour]

I am a dealer for these stoves in PA, great purchase! I just checked my book and there is not a heat distribution listed for this stove- this is odd because there is one available for the Maxx & Maxx-M which are essentially the same unit as the VF 170.

@ p962man, can you confirm that the distribution kit is for the Maxx-M and NOT just the Max? Last time I look into it for my Maxx-M it was only listed for the Max.

@ kjones22, Like batchman, I to have the Maxx-M (cousin to your stove) Are you running a OAK (outside air kit)? If you are, the noise you are hearing is the auger fan blade hitting the OAK piping. You need to pull the piping away from the fan blade hitting it.

 

[p962man]

@ p962man, can you confirm that the distribution kit is for the Maxx-M and NOT just the Max? Last time I look into it for my Maxx-M it was only listed for the Max.

@ kjones22, Like batchman, I to have the Maxx-M (cousin to your stove) Are you running a OAK (outside air kit)? If you are, the noise you are hearing is the auger fan blade hitting the OAK piping. You need to pull the piping away from the fan blade hitting it.

I'm only a Vistaflame dealer, not Enviro, so I can't tell you for certain- but on the Enviro website, the heat distribution kit is shown as an option on the Maxx page as well as the Maxx-M page.

 

[batchman]

Are you running a OAK (outside air kit)? If you are, the noise you are hearing is the auger fan blade hitting the OAK piping. You need to pull the piping away from the fan blade hitting it.

Good call! I had so much fun with that problem I immediately forgot about it. kjones, at least that's an easy fix, unless you're like me and used 3" steel exhaust pipe!

Cheers,
- Jeff

 

[Happy Hour]

I'm only a Vistaflame dealer, not Enviro, so I can't tell you for certain- but on the Enviro website, the heat distribution kit is shown as an option on the Maxx page as well as the Maxx-M page.

You have a link to the page where it shows it for the Maxx-M? I can't find anything.

 

[batchman]

You have a link to the page where it shows it for the Maxx-M? I can't find anything.

When I was shopping this stuff last fall I saw something listing it for both, but when I went to buy it Enviro's listing had changed to just the Maxx. I believe it is probably a Certification problem as they may not have actually run both units through testing. I am still a ways away from implementing but fully expect it to be straightforward.

Cheers,
- Jeff

 

[kjones22]

The new auger motor has not arrived yet, but last night the noise was so loud I had to shut the stove off. Do you guys with the Enviro/vistaflame hear the auger turning? what is the loudest part of your stove on setting 1.

yesterday I took the motor off and let it run by itself and it didn't seam to be to loud. So if I replace the motor and the noise still exist what elts could it be? I did empty the hopper yesterday as well and vacuumed it out. nothing foreign was found.

I am still having a hard time believing this stove is this loud. I am also not very happy with the purchase I feel like I was lied to at the stove shop. I paid 2100 for the stove, did I get a good deal?

my house is 1600 sqft with a finished basement at 600 sqft. total is 2200. I was told to go with this stove because I could use the heat distribution kit and make my own duct system for my house. At the time it sounded like a great idea. Now i'm finding out I cant use the kit. Our bedroom is in the basement and the stove is to noisy to sleep. I normally sleep with a fan on and am used to ambient noise, but this stove is almost grinding when the auger turns.

Thanks guys, any input helps.

I can not return the stove as I found out after I bought it there is a 25% restocking fee

 

[kjones22]

Here are a few video links of the noise I am dealing with

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[stovelark]

Hello. Hate to tell you, but allost Maxx and VF170 are that way- with the 3rpm motor its noisier. Don't know why dealer didn't tell you that. The one in our shop is like that too- The Maxx is a great unfinished basement heater or where noise is not a factor. Great heater though. AFAIK, Maxx is only listed stove from Enviro that has ducting plume. Would have to call and check on that. Good luck with it, 2100 does sound like a great price, we sell the Maxx at 2995, list now is about 3200.

 

[jvanase]

I've got the same stove and my motor sounds about the same as that. When they get close to end of life, I do notice that they get even louder (good indicator it's going to fail unfortunately). Mines in an unfinished basement so the noise doesn't really bother me much.

Paid $1800 in 2012.

 

[batchman]

I think the noise is coming from the blue cooling fan, it sounds like it's rattling like maybe it's not balanced or solidly located on the shaft - any play or wiggle on the shaft, side/side or up/down (check with stove unplugged, obviously!)? My Maxx's fan is different, around 6 squared blades in a neutral (whitish) plastic, and my auger motor does not sound like that at all. A replacement motor, if it includes the fan, may be better. When I was wrestling with an interference between my fan and my OAK (as Happy Hour mentioned) one suggestion I got was to remove the fan. I thought about it but didn't go that way, maybe you should consider it - especially when your replacement motor shows up it may be worth looking at.

Good luck,
- Jeff

 

[jvanase]

I really doubt the fan is necessary. That motor doesn't run constantly. That said, at least on mine the noise isn't from the fan or the motor, its from the transfer box between the motor and the auger shaft I think.

 

[Happy Hour]

After watching your video's, it's def. not the auger fan blades hitting like batchman said.......the Maxx & Maxx-M auger blades are way bigger.