Fireplace Wood Insert

[gojfb1]

I just had a Quadra-Fire 4100I fireplace wood insert installed - don't know if I am quite satisfied yet. The bronchure talks about how clean the glass doors are while burning. I totally disagree. The glass gets filthy after a few hours of burning with dry seasoned oak wood. We have tried burning really hot also, but just does not seem to help. Anyone's help will be greatly appreciated. :confused:

[bigbry]

I just had a Quadra-Fire 4100I fireplace wood insert installed - don't know if I am quite satisfied yet. The bronchure talks about how clean the glass doors are while burning. I totally disagree. The glass gets filthy after a few hours of burning with dry seasoned oak wood. We have tried burning really hot also, but just does not seem to help. Anyone's help will be greatly appreciated. :confused:

Was the chimney relined at installation? Is it installed with a fresh air intake? (combustion air)


BB

[discountchimney]

Hello ,

I have dealt with the Quadrafire units in the past and they are a typically a good sound heater. Salesmen I work with have the tendency to mislead on how clean the glass will stay on any unit. The truth is you are burning wood and will develop creosote on the glass. With that said the buildup can be accelerated by several factors. If the unit is not hot enough creosote will form at a much quicker rate, do you know the temperature the unit is running at? Using a thermometer designed for stovetops or stovepipes can be a quick reference to how you are actually burning and will have ranges of operation marked on it to show creosote forming, normal operation, and overheating temps. I would have one of these inexpensive thermometers with or without operating problems as it is a good reference to how the unit burns and will tell you if something is going bad in the future.
The other important question is if you have it hooked up to any kind of pipe or liner or is it just set in the firebox? I will say that many times a unit can run right without a pipe of any sort (although probably out of code) but not all chimneys have enough draft to support an insert without some sort of connection to the flue (especially the newer more efficient units). If the smoke is not being pulled out of the unit quick enough it has a much better chance of causing the kind of accumulation you are getting and may be keeping it from reaching its optimal temperature amplifying the problem. By hooking up to a pipe the heat rising creates a vacuum in the unit, forcing more air to be drawn in to take its place and developing a cycle that increases the draft significantly. It may be the answer you are looking for and will always improve the efficiency of the unit.

Kiersten

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[gojfb1]

Was the chimney relined at installation? Is it installed with a fresh air intake? (combustion air)


BB
The chimney was relined with 6" stainless steel flex pipe and fresh air intake.
Thank you.

[my1889home]

I'm just wondering if any of you would care to reflect further on the Quad.

I'm thinking of getting their biggest unit (the 5100) and haven't seen anyone rave about it yet--though it heats the most sq. footage (3500 sq ft) and we have a bit more than that here in our drafty Buffalo house.

BB, did you solve your problem?
Kiersten: can you elaborate any further on your experiences with the Quad?

The unit I'm comparing it to is the Pacific Summit (3100 sq ft) which has an Extended Burn Technology. It's hard to choose.

Thanks!

[kenrun]

I have a quadrafire 5100 and the right side fan was rattling like crazy. Took it out but guess what the electrical connections all came out too, trying to put it all back. Used their manual which is pretty poor. I am stuck with the bypass wires. Cannot figure out where they go. Anyone know a good schematic they can refer me to or send to me or can any one tell me how i can put this last wire back to where it belongs?
Thanks,
kenrun