EmailBest Reviewed
Pellet and Wood Stoves
- Best wood-pellet stove Harman XXV *Est. $3000
- Budget wood-pellet stove Summers Heat 55-SHP10L *Est. $1300
- Large-capacity multi-fuel pellet stove Quadra-Fire Mt. Vernon AE *Est. $3700
- Best wood stove Hearthstone Heritage *Est. $2825
- Small wood-burning stove Vermont Castings DutchWest 2478 *Est. $1550
- Budget wood stove for occasional use Vogelzang Defender TR001 *Est. $600
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Large-capacity multi-fuel pellet stove
- Burns many different fuels
- 81-pound hopper
- Programmable thermostat
- Auto-clean feature
- Price
- Some owners say it's inefficient
- Shorter warranties on other parts
February 2009. This 60,200-BTU Quadra-Fire multi-fuel stove is rated for heating up to 3,800 square feet. Its main advantage is that it automatically adjusts to burn a wide range of biomass fuels, important since local supplies can vary in price and availability. Fuels include sunflower seeds, wheat, corn and various grades of pellets. The Quadra-Fire Mt. Vernon stove's 81-pound hopper and programmable thermostat minimize upkeep, and if the electricity goes out you can run it from a car battery. Smaller Quadra-Fire multi-fuel stoves are also available, all with lifetime warranties on the firebox and various shorter warranties on other parts. If wood pellets are readily available in your area, and you don't need to heat this much space, consider the 50,000-BTU Harman XXV (*est. $3,000).
We found a critique of the Quadra-Fire Mt. Vernon stove at Dulley.com, where the brand is covered in a buyer's guide. User ratings of this stove are also helpful. We found comments at WiseHeat.com and Hearth.com.
Our Sources
1. Dulley.comDetails/Subscribe
Household energy expert Jim Dulley lists the Quadra-Fire heaters among 14 brands recommended in this buyer's guide. Though the brands aren't rated, Dulley notes the Quadra-Fire heaters' lifetime warranty, automatic thermostatic control and easy cleaning.
Review: Bulletin 880: Corn/pellet Stove Heaters are Efficient, Convenient to Use, Jim Dulley
2. Wise Heat
Over a dozen owners review the Quadra-Fire Mt. Vernon AE stove here, giving it a relatively high average rating. Some are extremely satisfied, but a few complain of a squeaking noise and one finds it burns inefficiently.
Review: Quadra-Fire Mt. Vernon AE, Contributors to WiseHeat.com
The print version of this article on pellet stoves mentions the Quadra Fire stove along with two other models, but doesn't document any testing.
Review: Clean Heat, Keith Pandolfi, Nov. 2006
4. Hearth.com
This forum discussion is one of several at this site that discuss Quadra-Fire products. One new owner provides some photos of the stove in action; others note that it's very easy to clean.
Review: Harman XXV or Quadrafire Mt. Vernon, Contributors to Hearth.com, Nov. 2007
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