Environ fireplaces, kind not given

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Oct 8, 2019 · , sent to the company Feb 19, 2020 · , published by CPSC Mar 4, 2020

   The product, in the report: Fireplace insert

   Please note this fiasco started 4/21/2017. It has continued all of 2018 and so far, through October 2019. Ridiculous!! I am 82 years old and on a very limited income. I wish for an end to this and I be left with an insert that works properly and that I feel safe using. I am totally upset by the injustice in this matter. Please note the attached ad. It says a NEW insert. I am tired of money expended, the stress and time. As this has continued for 31 now going on 32 months, there has been so many telephone calls, visits, so much time with County not responding to me and not doing a thing, it is impossible to put down all that occurred. At the end of page 2, I am stating why I made the decision to get the insert.

   This program started with a request from Washington County, Oregon to fireplace dealers for low bids. There were 3 bids from Washington County and for some reason one from McMinnville, OR. which is located in Yamhill County. I was told to go to the one in McMinnville, about 35 miles from me. As I cannot look for streets/numbers while driving. I had to obtain a driver - taking off work, I might add. The three Washington County businesses were much closer and I had no problem later getting to them.

   I have added to the comments made on the information sheets I received. I am listing them as to the paragraph they respond to from the first report I received. Both reports tie together.

   Paragraph #1 I did not use that shelf for any purpose. That comment was just to indicate size of ledge. Picture of ledge and shelf beginning to come out, approximately 1/4 inch here, enclosed. I cannot push it in myself. I am concerned that as it continues out, this hot shelf can fall, bounce off the hearth, land on the wood floor and cause a fire. I hope the picture enclosed will be sufficient as requested -it is from the top showing surround, bottom and top shelf.

   Paragraph #2 I am concerned that other parts of the insert might be loose now, especially since the 40o+ pound insert had to be shaken when installed as there were problems getting it level. When arranging for the Environ (from McMinnville Hearth & Barbeque) to be removed, I asked a Washington County employee here at that time if it was going to be used again. He said after checking it out, if it seemed all right, yes, it would be. This couldn’t be the problem like those inserts I received, could it, especially when I was receiving a free one?

   Paragraph #3 I did not just believe the first insert (Environ, installed 6/26/17) caused excessive heat - it DID. I know hot when I feel it –I have grown up with fireplaces since I was an infant. The heat (02/04/2018) involved the bricks above the insert, back wall in next room as high as I could reach and the same with the side areas. That had never happened in the 25 years of use with the insert I lost.

   Paragraph #4 I have spoken to a [REDACTED] tech and employees from Washington County constantly throughout this mess. A County employee told me the tech from [REDACTED] said that he had checked with the [REDACTED] manufacturer and this was normal for the upper shelf to come loose. Doesn’t make sense. This County employee said she would call the manufacturer and let me know what that person said. That was June 13, 2019 and I have yet to hear from her. This has been how this has progressed.

   Paragraph #5 Over this time period, there have been 6 County employees to my house, all of them more than once and 4 of them numerous times. All totaled with the two fireplace companies and the County, I have dealt with more than 25 people. It has continued for 31 going on 32 months with no end in sight. I think the County is waiting for me to give up and just accept what I have. So what if I have another, not good, not new, appliance. Or at my age, they may just be waiting for me to die and I refuse to do either one to accommodate Washington County.

   Paragraph #6 Yes, these inserts use room air to be able to burn. It took the Environ 60 minutes to an hour and a half for the fans to start working and air to be pulled in and hot air out The [REDACTED] takes 45 minutes to an hour to start heating. There is a constant humming, slightly metallic noise all the time until the fire is done, very distracting. The air is cold when pulled in -I have to use a blanket. I was told by the County inspector there was an optional feature. This optional feature was one I would have definitely wanted. It did a bypass within the chimney to bring outside air into the insert. This feature had to be done before the insert was installed as the area was located on the side of the insert. By the time the inspector came, of course, the insert had been hooked up solidly to the chimney liner and to the top chimney coverings. The only option I had was to have the whole setup torn apart; the insert yanked out of my old existing brick/mortar shell. The wood doesn’t thoroughly bum, leaves chunks like charcoal, and yes, it is seasoned wood. I have a moisture meter and do sporadic checks on my wood.

   One very crazy thing. The EPA inserts need to have electricity for the fireplace to work. If power goes out, as it can especially in the cold, one’s furnace can’t be used nor the wood burning insert. No furnace, no wood stove, no heat!!!

   Incident Date: From bottom of first page, information sheets I received This has not been one incident Constant calls, written letters, etc., with both the Environ and the [REDACTED]. After being pushed in by a [REDACTED] tech or other employee or County employee, when used after 34 days the shelf slides back out again. Enclosed is a picture taken by a County employee of the shelf beginning to come out. It has been pushed innumerous times by a County or [REDACTED] employee. It comes apart continually with use.

   Incidentally, the Washington County Commissioner for my district never returned calls I made to him for help and I had voted for him.

   MY REASON I believe that pollution does come from fireplaces and we all need to do something about climate change. Washington County has been talking for some time about the pollution of wood burning stoves. I contacted Washington County, Oregon for their offer to trade in for a “NEW” wood stove. I knew it would be difficult for me to purchase and have an insert installed. Assuming we would all need to go to EPA certified stoves eventually, when the notices of this program came out, I felt it would be best for me to do it then if I qualified for a free one.

   Did I pay for it? I paid dearly - I had an insert that burned warmly, easily and I felt safe with its use. I should have waited until it was mandatory and then worked out whatever I could do. I have found many other things that I do to help in off-setting pollution. Also, electricity is expensive. I lost an entire winter use of the fireplace with the Environ overheating in early February and not receiving the [REDACTED] until late in December. I had to use my furnace.

   Currently, I have an insert, [REDACTED] that requires the door to be cracked open in order to get air. After it starts, I shut the door, go to another room for very few minutes, come back, the fire is generally out. It uses kindling like mad. Even after the room air starts to be sucked in by electricity, the fire can go out. (Environ did the same) I want an insert that I feel safe when it is going and easy to use. I really want to be able to feel safe. The moving air is cold -I have to use a blanket

   Tonight 10/28/2019 Started fire 2:30 p.m., now 5:40 p.m. After 3 hours, (with time for fan to start) then door shut, fire cuts out More kindling needed, door has to be cracked again to restart burning. Then with door cracked pitch or something spit out two sparks to the bottom of the door onto the bottom shelf.

   Oregon Bar apparently has set up half hour consultations for $35. One attorney whose name I was given simply said he “couldn’t help me. “That was with no consultation. All he did was quote people from computer who were pleased with their inserts. Would the County have listed any who were not pleased? I have never had the chance to tell what happened to my inserts.

   Can you help me, please? I am stymied by the County no matter what? Apparently, there are no senior, especially senior, senior advocates particularly if low income is involved. [REDACTED]

   Bought from

   Hearth & Barbeque, Oregon

   Bought

   Jun 10, 2017, about then

   Where

   Hillsboro, Oregon: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Environ, made or sold by Sherwood Industries Ltd

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources