Review of Clearview vision 500 stove
Clearview Vision 500..
Installed the Vision 500 about 10 years ago, at that time the airwash was quite a new twist on an old idea. On first installing the stove we had fumes creeping through the joints in the chimney so the chimney was back filled by a specialist company. If fitting any stove, look at the condition of the chimney first, fumes and smoke hang in the chimney with a stove unlike an open fire where air is drawn through all the time.
The stove has always worked very well and heats the 17ft square room to a cosy temperature, if it gets too warm we just open the doors into the next room and the heat makes its way through. Over the 10 years we have used the stove we have always used a Stove thermometer and never run the stove over 500 degrees. The fire bricks have been replaced a couple of times along with the door and flue rope seals, with a good clean the stove still looks and works as well as it did when it was purchased, we lubricate the main air control pull flap with copper grease this helps to keep a good seal and lubricates the mechanism, this appears to be what was used on the stove when it was new. I think these stoves are overpriced in this day and age when there is more competition and products that are just as good or maybe superior, I think some of the Dunsley range could be just as good for far less money. Whenever I have contacted Clearview by email I never received a reply, and when I phoned them to get the diameter of the stove rope for the front door, which the dealer did not know...I was met with quite a snooty attitude by the lady who answered the phone and never did find out, from Clearview, the diameter of the rope, telling me to just buy the Clearview rope kit... which was 2.5 times the price of the rope and glue from a local shop... So all in all a very good stove that has lasted well over the 10 years we have used it. Would I buy the same stove again, not at the price they are now as I believe that other companies have sprung up that make a product which is just as good or better at a more attractive price, and they can even speak to you on the phone in a pleasant manner.Stove expert replied: Replacement rope is expensive but important to the working of a stove, think of it as a genuine spare for a car. It is not only the diameter of the rope but the density as well and this is a trade secret to each manufacturer.
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Rob Kay said 10 years ago:
Just an update to the above review, stove is still performing well after nearly 11 years use. There has appeared an inherant problem with the door handle on mine and several younger stoves i know of. The thread on the door handle wears leaving the handle very floppy and wobbling about. The handle thread part is easily replaced, under close inspection with an eye glass you can see the thread has become worn and deformed, this does not always cure the problem, the actual thread that is tapped into the cast front door also wears, the only cure for this seems to have the front door drilled and an hellicoil fitted to form a new thread. I spoke to Clearview about this problem and they were very evasive about this saying the new handle would cure the problem but this is not always the case. I think this problem will show up on most of the Clearview range as the thread is cut into the soft cast door.
nicole L said 10 years ago:
I keep checking reviews from this brand/model, and what really puts me off, is the costumer service, For that reason I may chose a portway 2 or a Bronsley Serrano 7, which is a shame as I was prepare to spend the extra money.