Avalon, Lopi and Napoleon which one would you recommend?

[smith2bj]

After doing some more research I have narrowed my search down to avalon, Lopi and a new one Napoleon.  Napoleon has the secondary burn chamber, has a life time warrenty on the stainless steal inner housing heats 1,500 to 3500 sp. ft. and is about 400 dollars less.  What your guys thought on these guys?

[logwalker]

I have never heard of them. Are they new to the scene? Joe

[smith2bj]

no, Lopi and Napoleon I know have been around for 30 plus years.

[Hoss]

Smith2bj,
Lopi and Avalon are made by the same company--Travis Industries--- in Logwalker's backyard in Kirkland, Washington. Napoleon is made in Canada. Depending on what model stove you are looking at, they all make cast iron but started out making steel stoves. I assume you are considering a wood stove. If so I would stay away from a catalytic model and go with ones that use secondary burn tubes to achieve the clean burn necessary to meet EPA stantards. If I remember correctly either Avalon or Lopi have by pass dampers--I would also stay away from this feature. I bet that all the manufactures have similar warranties.
Hoss

[logwalker]

I am familiar with the Lopi but not the Napolean. I would think the bypass might be a good thing if it was designed correctly. Less smoke out the front when loading.

[mad murdock]

I've been heating with a Lopi, older model, it does ok, but shows it's age.   Most newer good stoves will keep fire for 10-12 hours, mine needs to be restoked every 3 or 4.  My neighbor put in a wood stove a couple years ago, bought a quadrafire.  Very nice stoves, check them out http://www.quadrafire.com/  The one he bought heats his home handily, ( 3,000 sq. ft + log home).  His stove will keep fire easily overnight. I think we might trade up to one next year, will make for more sleep during the winter that's for sure.

[zopi]

I have a Napoleon which I am pretty unhappy with...The construction is of poor quality considering what I paid for the *DanG thing, and the "secondary burn chamber" was a few pieces of Kaoboard set in top of the stove...I will admit that
when they are in there it burns very efficiently, but they have to be replaced every couple of months burning...I will likely cut some heavy steel plates to put in there, just like I had to do with my high dollar BBQ pit...I wish they had just deigned the bloody thing better...

What I really want is a good old fashioned Ashley...

[GF]

My sister has a Napolean and the kaoboard did not laast in the top, a log knocked a hole in it.  I cut out some 1/4" plate and replaced it they dont have to worry about it for a long time now.

My brother has a quadrafire he put in last year, he has a 4,000 sq ft home and heats the entire home with it, he used no propane at all last year to heat with.   The quadrafire when he has it going good puts out a large amount of heat they are really nice units.

Gary

[Dan_Shade]

I have a napoleon NZ26 zero clearance fireplace.  I've been pretty happy with it, but the glass will not stay clean no matter how I burn the wood.

dry wood is an absolute necessity with the high efficiency stoves.