HHT and Ravelli agree to release efficiency for 5 stoves

In response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the Alliance for Green Heat, Hearth & Home Technologies (HHT) and Ravelli released actual efficiency numbers for several of their popular pellet stove models.  Efficiencies ranged from 56% to 76%.

Wood and pellet stoves certified after May 2015 must test for and disclose their efficiency to consumers, as required by new EPA regulations. Prior to these regulations, stove manufacturers claimed that any available efficiency data was confidential and they generally did not provide it to consumers.  However, many companies provided the efficiency data to the EPA as part of the certification process. 

The Alliance for Green Heat, based on its legal counsel, argued that the EPA could not keep efficiency data it collected prior to May 2015 confidential because it was based on emission data, and emissions data cannot be confidential.  In July 2015 the EPA declined to release the efficiencies to the Alliance, in keeping with its longstanding practice that they would keep all data confidential if it was submitted as Confidential Business Information (CBI).  

Originally, the Alliance had asked for the weighted average efficiency as well as the efficiency from each of the four burn rates that labs use to test stoves.  The Alliance agreed to drop the request for the individual burn rate efficiencies and only request the average.  Based on that change, HHT and Ravelli agreed to allow the EPA to release their efficiency numbers to the Alliance with some conditions.

The EPA provided a final response with a data sheet (pdf) attached.  The efficiency numbers (HHV based on B415.1) from that data sheet are:

Company        Model                         Efficiency

HHT                Accentra 52i insert    76%

HHT                Mt Vernon E2            75%

HHT                Mt Vernon AE           71%

Ravelli             RV100                       70%

Ravelli             RV80                         56%

The Alliance requested efficiency information for these particular models, along with several others, because we were in the process of independently testing a selection of pellet stoves.  The Alliance was also attempting to convince the EPA to change their policy and disclose all efficiency data, even if that efficiency data had been marked as Confidential Business Information.  The Alliance argued   

The Ravelli RV80 Ceramica
is far cleaner than the original
RV80. The new, improved
efficiency is not yet posted on
the EPA list.

that efficiency was of such basic importance to consumers and that keeping it confidential served no useful purpose. That attempt was unsuccessful.  The Alliance is not appealing.

The five newly released actual efficiency numbers are not included on the EPA’s list of certified stoves, where about 25% of the stoves have actual efficiencies listed.  Except for one of the Ravelli’s, these five stoves all have around average or above average efficiencies.   The Ravelli RV80 was only 56% efficient, but  Ravelli has a updated version of this stove, the RV80 Ceramica, that has much lower grams per hour. (In response to this post, the EPA found that they had mistakenly omitted posting the efficiency of the RV80 Ceramica and said they would post it soon.)  Virtually all stoves claim to be 75% efficient to be eligible for the $300 federal tax credit, and EPA listing or disclosure that reveals the stove is not even 60% efficient does not appear to deter manufacturers from continuing to claim eligibility for the tax credit.   

Note: A representative of Ravelli replied to this blog saying that the RV80 is now out of production.   The Ravelli representative said that the updated RV80 Ceramica has an efficiency "over 75%." We asked Ravelli to support the "over 75%" figure with a lab report.  EPA regulations require companies to post lab report on their website for any stove tested under the 2015 NSPS.  Some companies comply, and others resist this level of transparency.

Update on the Mt. Vernon Pellet Stove Recall

About 2,000 Quadra-Fire Mt. Vernon E2 pellet stoves and inserts are being recalled and repaired, due to high pressure that can lead to explosions that shatter the glass in the door. The company says the stove is safe if properly operated. The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a voluntary recall on July 9, 2015. Problems were first reported to the company by consumers in the winter of 2015.

The problem is unique to this model and does not present a safety issue in other models sold by Quadrafire or any other manufacturer, according to pellet stove experts. If you own a Mt. Vernon, follow instructions in the voluntary recall notice and the company will repair the stove free of charge.

Some consumers and stove retailers contend that the stove was poorly designed and even if a stove is not operated properly, it should not build up pressures that can lead to explosions. At least 6 stoves have malfunctioned, leading to glass in the front door shattering, sometimes sending flying glass through rooms. No injuries have been reported. AGH believes the EPA should ask that this stove be re-certified since changes to it are substantial.

A number of discussions in independent chat rooms have raised the issues and include commentaries by affected consumers about how Quadra-Fire has responded.

The Alliance wrote to HHT asking for clarifications about what caused the malfunction and whether the stove would be 3rd party tested again for safety. We formally asked for information for our newsletter, which may have led to a less responsive reply, which is reproduced below.

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Mathis, Kristen (HHT) ‪
Date: Tue, Aug 4, 2015 at 11:34 AM

Subject: RE: questions about the Mt Vernon E2 for wood heat newsletter

To: John Ackerly

Hi John,

I wanted to send these responses as promised, although I see the newsletter has already gone out. The responses below in RED are provided by our VP Product Engineering, Gregg Achman.

1. Will HHT be sending this stove back to any 3rd party lab for safety testing?

When a modification is made to a Hearth & Home Technologies product, all necessary certification bodies are informed and the required testing is completed. Updates and notifications are published as necessary, and in accordance with the respective entities.

2. In your certification testing with OMNI, did any of the tests involve running the stove as the consumer might do it, instead of following the owner's manual?

OMNI follows the testing protocols set forth in the test standard that the appliance is being certified to. The test standards follow ANSI protocol, and go through a revision process that allows for review and comment from interested parties to address future requirements and enhancements for performance and safety.

3. From your website and from talking to various HHT dealers, its confusing as to whether you consider this mainly a problem with incorrect operation by consumers, or whether its a flaw in the stove operating system. Your site says that the stoves in question will receive an enhanced control board "if necessary." Are there some stoves that are not getting an enhanced control board or do all stoves in the recall get the enhanced control board?

HHT issued this recall proactively and in conjunction with the CPSC to reinforce our commitment to consumer safety. No injuries related to the Mt. Vernon E2 stove or insert have been reported. Issues of glass breakage are only related to Mt. Vernon E2 stoves and inserts when not maintained as outlined in the owner’s manual.

This recall affects an isolated set of units; if the unit is verified to be within the select group of recalled stoves or inserts, the control board should be replaced. HHT dealers have proactively contacted all consumers with affected stoves to have them repaired.

Lastly, you mention being unable to connect with someone at HHT. While I can’t speak to previous relationships, I do want to open the door for you to connect with me when you have questions moving forward. We always appreciate the opportunity to share factual information about our products and/or to share our passion and enthusiasm for the industry, and I can typically turn around responses in 2-3 business days.

Sincerely,
Kristen Mathis
Hearth Expert
Sr. Communications Manager