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4.8
Long saga with Esse Ironheart – We bought our Esse Ironheart from Pivot ten years ago. The stove they shipped had an black enamel top which is not what we ordered and parts were missing. Pivot shipped the missing parts and we put up with the wrong top as it was going to be too difficult to deinstall a 400kg stove and ship it back to Pivot.
We are very happy with the performance of the stove but what I consider a major flaw in the Ironheart has just shown up.
When I did my yearly thorough clean out of the stove I found to my horror that a duct on the outer side of the oven that takes the flue gasses from the top to the bottom of the oven had rusted trough along the seam at the top and has nearly rusted out in several other areas. On closer inspection it appears that this steel duct is much thinner that the rest of the stove even though it has the hot flue gases flowing through it!
If the duct had been made of stainless steel or had been as thick as the rest of the steel in the stove this problem may not have occurred. To make matters worse this duct is welded to the body of the stove which makes repair difficult.
If this was a cheap stove I would have not minded but for a major fault like this to occur in a 'quality' stove after only ten years makes it impossible for me to recommend it to anyone.
I emailed Esse about the problem asking if they had any ideas on how to rectify the problem and asking if the design or construction of this duct had been improved and received what I consider a very unsatisfactory reply to my email from Pivot which did not address my problems.
- Store Location: Visited Gelong store and purchased from Dandenong store
You obviously don't know how the Ironheart is constructed. When the oven bypass control is closed the 'air duct' as you call it channels ALL the exhaust gases that come from the firebox via the top of the oven down the side of the oven. The exhaust gases then go under and up the back of the oven and exit at the flue.
If the 'air duct' rusts out the stove becomes a flueless stove dumping the exhaust gases directly into the room where the Ironheart is installed.
Please tell me what spare part you have to replace this 'air duct' and explain how you would install the part considering the 'air duct' is welded onto the side of the oven.
While on the subject of spare parts, I also need replacement glass for the firebox door which IMO cracked due to the poor design of the early clamps that hold the glass onto the cast door frame. I was also hoping there was a kit available to upgrade the old clamping system to the new improved one. I can't find these parts listed on your website.
If I had received a reply from you or Esse stating that the problem with the 'air duct' had been addressed and that there was a repair kit available I would have still written a review but with a positive rating as it would have shown that you and Esse were prepared to accept that there is a problem and that it has been addressed.
Its disappointing that you are using your comments to put a one star review to downgrade us over this .
To answer your statement : Esse have consistently made improvements on their cookers - from 10 years ago to today, there are over 30 changes esse have made - including the air duct.
One issue we have in Australia is esse cookers are not used for (up to 6 months ) over the hot summer period : and this time siting dormant can allow any metals to absurd moisture from the humidity.. this mixed with soot on the metal can cause any products metal to be effected.
We have always offered as much support for customers to advise them to clean their wood heaters / or cookers after the winter to ensure the soot + moisture damages can be reduced.
This forum (product review) allows you to tell the world if you have a good or bad experience with a product or company - and you have had the esse working happy for 10 years
For any parts you need - or support, we are here to assist - please email us at sales@pivotstove.com.au with your contact details
I and I am sure others that are reading this review would be interested to hear what improvements have been made to the 'air duct' to fix this problem. As I have said before, until this problem has been addressed I will not be recommending anyone purchase this stove unless they have money to burn.
Sure, I am very happy with the stoves performance and would give it 5 stars for performance but an overall recommendation has to take into account value for money and build quality which I would give 2 stars for and service which I only give 1 star for. If Esse or Pivot had acknowledged the problems I am having and addressed them I would have given more stars for value for money and service.
You should know my contact details as your CEO sent me an email in reply to my initial correspondence with Esse.
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We are saddened that you gave a 2 star review to us.
Your stunning esse is 10 years old, and has never let you down.
The duct you are referring to is just an air duct : not structural to the firebox or the performance of the cooker.
We know this did not satisfy your answer, but its the correct answer to give.
As you are aware, we have all the parts you will ever need to continue to service your esse cooker, which we offer delivery to your home - you can purchase these at pivotonline.com.au