Harman wood burning fireplaces, factory built

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Feb 13, 2012 · , sent to the company Mar 1, 2012 · , published by CPSC Mar 15, 2012

   The product, in the report: Harman Home Heating, 300i Woodburning Fireplace Insert

   I purchased a Harman Home Heating 300i Woodburning Fireplace Insert on October 16, 2011. Shortly ofter installing this insert I realized that it has major design flaws which make it impossible to operate in the manner it was designed to do.

   The 300I Insert is a down draft stove and when in the “clean burn” mode it can and will backfire with enough velocity to blow smoke and ash backwards through the draft controls out into the living area of the house. This usually happens when first closing the by-pass damper when smoke and gas accumulate in the fire box. It also happens when the fire starts to die down and the temperature in the firebox drops below the temperature needed to maintain a clean burn.

   I did write to the manufacturer, Harman Home Heating, they in turn contacted Hearthside Patio, the dealer, 790 Bald Hill Rd., Warwick, RI 02886, and a dealer representative was sent here in mid-December 2011 to inspect the stove, check the quality of my firewood, and inspect the installation of the stove and chimney liner since I did the installation myself. He determined that he could not find any issues with the stove installation or the quality of my firewood. He stated that he would contact Harman and get back to me in early January after the holidays. I have called Hearthside Patio three times and visited the store where I purchased the Insert and to date have not heard back from anyone.

   The 300I Insert has not fulfilled its advertised claims: it states that it can be used as an open fireplace, but with the door open, smoke back drafts into the house; it states that the stove has a 12-15 hour burn time, the most I have gotten is six hours; it states that you must reach the “clean burn” stage for proper stove performance, but it is extremely difficult and dangerous to raise the temperature high enough to reach the “clean burn” stage and maintain it. I am only able to use this extremely expensive stove like an old Franklin style stove with the damper open. If I close the damper to put the stove in the “clean burn” stage, the fire goes out, and if I leave the damper open it burns wood extremely fast making this a very expensive stove to own. The most dangerous fire is in the “clean burn” stage when the burning of smoke creates the “secondary burn” which can back fire and the pressure of this burn can force smoke and gas from the stove into the living quarters.

   Another major fault is in the fire box. The draft to the fire can be impeded with one inch of ash in the bottom of the fire box. This stove has no ash pan, therefore, I must remove ashes daily or the stove cannot maintain a burn. The placement of the logs in the fire box can also impede the burn since the draft is at the bottom rear of the fire box and if a log rolls against the draft opening, it will cause the fire to go out.

   The stove requires constant attention to just keep a fire burning, and is impossible to maintain a safe fire in the “clean burn” cycle.

   I do not believe the dealer, Hearthside Patio, is acting in good faith. They are well aware of the problems I have described above and agree that the stove is not working properly. To date they have not addressed the issue that the stove has major design flaws that could result in the safety of anyone using this stove.

   I also believe that Harman Home Heating knows of these problems and chooses to ignore these real and dangerous design flaws.

   Please refer to SaferProducts Report No.: 20110311-6B7FC-2147481644, Report Date: 3/11/2011 Product Description: Harman Oakwood Freestanding wood stove. I believe that this persons description of the “smell of smoke in the house” and the problem with the “gaskets” are due to the same basic design flaws that I am experiencing with my 300i Insert. I have not found a Response Report on your web site from Harman Home Heating concerning this report.

   Model

   300i Woodburning Fireplace Insert, Model #1-70-300100

   Serial number

   008700050

   Bought from

   Hearthside Patio, Specialty Hearth Products, LLC

   Bought

   Oct 16, 2011

   Where

   Warren, Rhode Island: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 64, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   My Spouse

   As this report names them

   Brand Harman, made or sold by Harman Home Heating

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources