WhatStove?

Review of Vermont Castings Intrepid 2 Multi fuel stove

Dreadful.

Peter Griffiths 9 years ago

This stove cost £1300 to buy, and in four years, it has probably been alight for 400 days,and lighted the same number of times, burning only wood.

In that time I have replaced:

2 Throat Plates @ £20 ea

1 Lower Stove Back @ £27

1 Upper stove back @ £27

and am now faced with £100 for a Flue Deflector, essentially a piece of 1mm thick stainless sheet.

Fortunately I was an engineer, and quite practical, so I have replaced these parts myself. What would a Vermont technician have cost?

The enamel finish has two large flakes which have fallen off the top surface (at the back of the stove where it would be virtually impossible for anyone to strike it).

The flue, before anyone mentions that the draught is too strong, is of the same size as the flue outlet of the stove and some 27' long (fairly normal for a house).

We seldom run the stove 'flat out' and it spends most of its time at the low end of its temperature range.

As a chimney sweep who sees a good many woodburning stoves, I have yet to come across one that is so demanding of spare parts.

A pleasant looking stove, one that can be used to cook on (it works well) and it heats the room and part of the house

Buy one at your peril!

Overall rating:

3 flames

Build Quality 4 flames (avg 4.3)
Quality of finish 4 flames (avg 4.4)
Value for money 1 flames (avg 3.7)
Ease of use 4 flames (avg 3.9)
Ease of lighting 4 flames (avg 4)
Firebox size 5 flames (avg 4.2)
How well does the airwash work 3 flames (avg 3.8)
Controllability 3 flames (avg 3.8)
Handle operation 5 flames (avg 3.8)
How likely are you to buy it again? 1 flames (avg 3.5)
What is your overall satisfaction? 1 flames (avg 3.8)