After researching wood and pellet stoves, I finally decided on a Pacific Energy Summit insert wood stove. I decided on a wood stove over a pellet stove for several reasons: the greater cost of pellets over wood, I can get some free wood, the higher potential btus from the wood stove. I was seriously considering the Regency I3100 until I saw the Pacific Energy Summit. After reading reviews, I decided to go with the Summit.
Everything I read was good, and nobody seemed to have any complaints at all. It has higher potential BTU output and, and sounds like it will do a slow burn very well. The stove will be delivered and install on the weekend after thanksgiving. The Summit stove insert cost $2300, and I will need a liner for my chimney, and that cost $1000 and installation will be $625. The Regency would have cost over $2400, though the install would have been about $550, and the liner would have only cost $400 (though I don’t know if they knew that I would have needed about 35 feet of it. I have a tall chimney). I believe the 304 stainless steel liner I am getting is a much heavier gauge than I would have gotten from the place selling the Regnency.
The guy at the fireplace store said I would probably use about 4 full cords of wood. I already have about 1 full cord, so I called and ordered another 3 full cords. I have been out back on my property cutting down dead trees, and cutting them up. They already pretty dry. There is a big fallen tree down the hill, and I am going to try to cut it up and stack it for next year. My chain saw was starting to cut pretty slowly as I think the chain was getting a little dull. I pulled out the chain saw sharpening kit that I had bought for my Dremel, but have never used. With a bit of reading, and trial and error, I think I succesfully sharpened my Poulan Pro chain saw. So hopefully I will get out tommorrow and cut up some more wood. I am probably going to rip up one or two of my raised bed gardens so I will have a place to stack the 3 additional cords of wood I am getting. I am really pumped to get my new stove.
Our Pacific Energy stove was delivered in damaged condition in July of 2009. Quality control, either at the factory or at the distributor seem to be a major issue with this company. Enamel panels were scratched down to bare metal; door handle was bent; top enamel lid was wobbly and loose even though it was properly screwed down; baffle insulation was torn; baffle gaskets broken.
Comment by Bruce — July 28, 2009 @ 5:03 pm
Bought a pacific energy “pacific” (medium size wood insert). After first burn the paint falked right off of the unit. The dealer gave me a new one which is now called the “super” insert. Once installed, I noticed a hole in the side of the unit near the door the size of a tip of a pen. The dealer gave me silicon to put over the hole. Two units in 2 months and 2 problems, sounds like a lot of trouble from the company. Also, motor turns on for a few mintues when up to temp, then shuts off, then turns back on. What a mess, had a known I would have spent the extra 300 from another dealer and got a different insert.
Comment by Mike — November 1, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
I bought a Pacific Energy Summit insert this year on the recommendation of my Chimney guy. I had an insert from Fisher that just wore out after 15 years. I am very disappointed. The baffles that push air out are noisy and rattled so much that the installer had to come back and try to secure them (they still rattle). The ash guard in the front of the firebox warped after just two burnings and now has to be replaced because it is completly twisted after just 10 uses of the instert. I would not recommend this insert to anyone.
Comment by Richard Clarkson — December 19, 2009 @ 1:44 pm
I bought an Alderlea T-6 free-standing stove around the end of February this year after a lot of research and cost/benefit analysis. After 2 months usage I am reasonably happy. The heater itself works very efficiently and heats very nicely. I live in a 2700sqft 130yr old farmhouse that is quite drafty and inneficient at retaing heat. It warms the downstairs quite comfortably and makes the upstairs bearable at night without the use of the propane furnace. I live in the midwestern US and only burn hard woods (as that’s all I cut for myself and all that I sell to others), including various types of Oak, Hackleberry, Locust, Walnut, Mulberry, Hedge and some silver maple. The stove is quite easy to use, and the only problem that I’ve experienced (other than the ash-dump system is designed rather poorly) is that the ash guard or whatever the metal plate behind the loading door is, warped within the first 20 fires. After the initial warpage, it has held it’s current shape and seem fine otherwise. For those wanting a roaring blast furnace, this isnt the stove for you. But, for those wanting continuous, efficient, steady heat (thats deceptively warm) this will make you very happy with your purchase. I was very dissappointed in the dealer/installer as the install cost me $1500 and the shoddiness of the flue install (aesthetics only as it doesnt leak any smoke or fumes) gives it the appearance that a couple of drunken incompetant idiots performed the work. That said I am quite happy with the stove overall. It definately cut my fuel consumption down approx. 7/8ths between the propane furnace barely running at all and just the sheer fuel amount that I used in previous residences for much less heat. During a 2 week period where the average temp was 5-34 degrees (f), the stove only consumed 1/4 of a chord and the propane furnace ran a total of maybe 8 hours or less. For perspective, when I bought the house in January, I went through an entire 500 gallon propane tank trying a semi steady 63 degree (F) indoor temp. With the Stove the indoor temp varied between 65-70(F). Just thought I’d try to give people some hard/fast numbers to do an accurate comparison with. My next project is replacing all 4 doors and 15 windows on my house. When that’s done, the r-factor should increase by 10-15 and I imagine that the stove will then keep the upstairs comfortable and the downstairs almost too’ hot. That’s a problem I dont mind having.
Comment by Bryan — May 15, 2010 @ 10:18 am
I’m in the process of getting a wood burning insert. I am getting the Regency I3100. The dedision came down to the Regency and the Pacific Energy Summit. I choose the Regency for two reasons. When looking at the two in person the door on the Regency seemed much more sturdy and the two dealers I was shopping both recomended the Regency over the Pacific Energy because of quality.
Comment by Tom — July 15, 2010 @ 11:16 pm
I bought the summit insert last year went looking for the buck stove and was guided to this on a promise that it would run me out! we disliked it from the begining. and still have had no help from the dealer. the fan is very noisey! not enough heat! burns through wood, please do not buy one of these you will be sorry.
Comment by Duane Willis — December 2, 2010 @ 9:59 am
Bought the Pacific Energy Summit October 2009; aside from a loud vibration it worked well on a diet of seasoned slab wood. Little over a year later, I’m unhappy. It chews through wood, leaves deep beds of half-burnt coals, seems maybe creosote is dampening the draft. Our QuadraFire at hunting camp has worked phenomenally well for ten years. Complete burns, lots of heat, no noise. That’s what I should have bought. I have mixed feelings about the Pacific Energy Summit; prefer other makes.
Comment by Pennsylvania Joe — December 19, 2010 @ 9:57 pm
I’ve had a PE Summit for two winters now and I can confirm that the rattling of the sheet metal baffles when the fan is on is annoying. The key to solving this problem is sticking some heavy (2″ x 2″ x1″) ferrite magnets in key places on the stove. This provides additional mass on the resonant panels and makes the stove dead silent. I suck a few on the blower assembly, in the throat of the top baffles, under the thick top plate, and on the outer firebox. It took a little work to remove the surround, and the side screens, but for 20 bucks in magnets I now have a nuclear hot stove that is does not rattle at all.
Comment by Nick Hallett — January 7, 2011 @ 12:40 pm
Bought a pacific energy insert. The baffle warped. I had it replaced and it warped again. Told me i was burning too hot. I didnt read anything in the book , nor was i ever told i couldnt burn higher than 600 degrees. Ridiculous Goes through wood fast. Now the latch for the door handle came off when opening door. Not getting good customer service from the store i bought it from. Im going to try calling the company.
Comment by Paul Gouveia — February 2, 2011 @ 5:35 pm
I recently bought a Pacific Energy “Super” insert for my home. Overall it does heat the house – but it eats through wood like there is no tomorrow and doesn’t seem to put out the btu’s one would think for the level of heat generated in the box.
Further – the glass door broke after only 2 weeks of use and I brought it up to the store (and then up the chain to the manufacturer) because it was obviously poorly annealed glass that shattered due to thermal shock – but they refused to replace under warranty it saying that I “obviously slammed the door” and had to pay for the repair out-of-pocket.
And now, yes, I too have to deal with that horrible rattling. It comes and goes – but sometimes is so loud it is hard to talk over.
Customer service with this company sucks and I would advise people to just stay away from their products
Comment by Ben L. — March 9, 2011 @ 3:55 pm
Bought the summit last year and used it during the 2010 winter. I also went through a bunch of wood with very little heat output…….in the process of looking for another stove to replace this one. Need I say more??
Comment by john — October 17, 2011 @ 9:47 pm
I can’t think I “forgot” to read your blog due to the fact I found it three months earlier. Also busy with work I guess. Anyways I have it bookmarked now to be sure that I get notified when you put some new content material up.
Comment by Joe — November 3, 2011 @ 1:23 am
We bought a Pacific Energy Summit this Oct.after much research and raves about the efficiency and technology .
This is the one site that I didn’t find, but wish I had.
We don’t have any of the damage that I have read on your blog, but CANNOT get it to pour out the heat like our big ‘Ole Heritage did. We have a 3000sq ft old farmhouse that is drafty and albiet poorly insulated. The summit does burn a lot less wood, but what’s the point, if you are cold since you cant pack the woodbox any fuller? And it leaves sizable chunks of unburned wood, unless you let it simmer away, which means that you get cold because you haven’t added anything more.
Have found that you need ALOT of soft wood in order for it to really burn.
Have even taken the ashpan out of it’s drawer in the hopes that more air would be sucked in to make the fire burn hotter.
We are considering taking some of the fire bricks out of the sides so that more immediate heat will emminate from them, but I am worried that the enamel might peel away.
Initially we loved it because it kept the house constantly warm to hot in the cool of the fall.
In the deep freezing cold though, it is not doing enough.
Comment by Debbe — January 10, 2012 @ 4:24 pm
We have bought and set up an Adearly 4. Beautiful looking unit but so far fairly useless. Unit when it does work rigt goes through way too much wood for what you get heat wise. Unit worked I thought fairly well but then started to fail, the unit does not draft very well. I talked to the dealer and Pacific E
Comment by Rick — January 28, 2012 @ 7:31 pm
We have bought and set up an Adearly 4. Beautiful looking unit but so far fairly useless. Unit when it does work rigt goes through way too much wood for what you get heat wise. Unit worked I thought fairly well but then started to fail, the unit does not draft very well. I talked to the dealer and Pacific E
Comment by Rick — January 28, 2012 @ 7:31 pm
We set up a Pacific Energy Adearly 4 so far not impressed with the unit. Unit looks great but does not draft properly, it did work good for the first two weeks. Anyway we called the dealer and
Comment by Rick — January 28, 2012 @ 7:34 pm
Sorry I keep hitting the wrong button. Anyway the unit does not draft well and after calling the dealer and the manufacter they told us we needed to extend the chimney.
Comment by Rick — January 28, 2012 @ 7:35 pm
Re: Pacific Energy “Adearly 4″, does not draft well. After talking to dealer and manufacturer we installed more chimney as they reccommended. No difference still does not draft well. We have lots of fresh air going to the unit. Unit just doesn’t work. I’m hoping they willeither fix it or give me my money back. We will have to see what happens, meanwhile don’t buy this stove it is fairly useless and we are getting poor service.
Comment by Rick — January 28, 2012 @ 7:40 pm
Bought a pacific summit insert, the biggest they have Feb 2010. I have to agree with the others, this thing chews through wood like there is no tomorrow with little heat production. I also warped the baffle very quickly, having problems with the company to replace it. Looking for another stove, have burned this one 2 winters and very very disappointed, I would not recommend this insert to anyone.
Comment by Drew — February 20, 2012 @ 10:29 am
I have a 1992 Pacific wood stove. The baffle is warped very bad. The company won’t warranty this year, if it was a 1994 or newer they said they would cover it. It’ll be about $500 by the time I’m done with it. Not happy with Pacific
Comment by Jim — February 21, 2012 @ 1:09 am
I’ve had a Regency 3100 for 5 years now. I use about 6 cords a season. It’s been a wonderful stove. Two speed fan is great. Pack it tight on top of a good coal bed and it lasts all night. I’ve replace the fan motor and door gasket with no other problems.
Comment by Mike Henyon — February 22, 2012 @ 10:22 pm
We have a 200 sf house in Western North Carolina and installed a Pacific insert last winter season.
The unit was installed promptly after arrival; it suffered some damage in shipment and the dealer replaced the damaged parts within two weeks.
Last winter was unusually mild and we used two and a half cords of wood, never turning on the electric heat.
The dealer, Foothills Fireplace and Stove in Tryon, NC was extremely helpful and answered all of my questions promptly.
I am extremely satisfied with the insert and do not have any complaints at all.
The insert does everything it is supposed to do and looks great to boot!
Comment by Manetti — November 30, 2012 @ 9:16 am
Bought a PE Summit freestanding to replace a 30 or so year old Appalachian Stove.
Not impressed at all.It easily eats 2-5 times the wood the Appalachian did, and the heat output SUCKS !! This “beast” is in a less than 1k sqft basement and the only place its warm is right at the stove when you open the door !!The blower setup is a joke at best.
After 1- 1 1/2 hrs running the old Appalachian,I could run around in underwear,not happening with this Summit.If I had the $$$ to replace this thing it would be GONE !!!!!the only nice thing about it is the glass stays clean so you can see the fire for what good that does.
And the dealer I got it from could care less
Comment by SM — December 5, 2012 @ 10:00 pm
After nearly four years of using my Pacific Energy insert (largest model), I now openly regret its purchase. The QuadraFire 5100 insert was what I had my eye on, but the dealer talked me out of it. The QuadraFire has two air sources, and the Pacific Energy has only one, up front. The PE chews through wood but dumps the heat up the chimney, and leaves a heap of unburnt charcoal that requires constant raking. It’s frustrating. Mine also rattles and buzzes like crazy. One kudo is the apparent long life of the fan, which we run six days a week.
Comment by Pennsylvania Joe — February 11, 2013 @ 2:10 pm