I have been using this stove for 11 years. During our long Wisconsin Winters this stove become the heart of our home. Our house is around 2600 square feet and the defiant will heat the entire house except when the temperatures are extreme, like 20-30 below zero. Basically we use the defiant to take the burden off of our gas furnace. This stove pretty much cut our gas bill in half. Fortunately I am able to get our wood for free thanks to owning a llarge wood lot and having friends who are tree trimmers. Great stove.
Well... we purchased a new Defiant stove about 2 weeks ago. In retrospect, we probably should have bought the Encore, at the most. We were replacing an '80's era Earth Stove (wonderful stove) and this one seemed about the same size. But compared to the old Earth Stove, this will put out a lot more heat. In fact, it performs best when you operate this stove at ~ 450 F or higher. At that temp (surface measure) it's heating our house to almost 80 degrees. Don't buy this big a model unless you really feel you need it; like, maybe, heating 2500+ sq. ft. We do like it, tho. Very well made and a beautiful stove.
My Vermont Castings Defiant is perfect for my 1600 sq ft home. What maybe your model doesnt have is a right handle controlling the Air Intake/temp. - you set the handle and a thermostat controls the heat out put to keep it steady. I just bought mine in 2023. I think the model number had a “1975” in it, so I dont think this right handle is a new feature
@@sherylhaggerty9770 Our stove has the air control valve on the right side like yours. I believe all the Defiant models do. We can use it to lower the temps to < 200F when burning but the large surface volume of the stove puts out too much heat at the burn temperatures recommended by the manufacturer (>300F - 450F). My point is the size of the stove is just too big for houses like ours (1250 sq. ft) when burning in the recommended "Burn Zone' (in compliance to the EPA, no doubt). At 200F-250F the burning wood creates the most creosote blackening the glass, creating faster buildup of creosote on the inside of the chimney pipe. and emitting the most smoke. The Encore model would have been plenty of stove for us.
@@sherylhaggerty9770 Well, it's soot and some creosote. The black residue that's hard to get off is the creosote. The hotter the stove burns the less creosote created and the cleaner the glass stays but there's our problem: if we burn the stove at the recommended temps (>30o-450F, < 500F) our house gets to warm except on the very coldest of days.
I am in love with the Defiant. It is effective, efficient, quality built and aesthetically pleasing. The white is my preference for a particular project. Thank you for the video. Do you or any of the viewers know whether there is the option of a water jacket?
It would be nice to get some examples of the burn times for different types of wood. I have easy access to and fur trees here in the north west and I appreciate that the stove will not go for 16 hours but will it go for eight?
Hey, I just bought the same stove but intrepid 2 early 90s and I was wondering if you could help me with some thing. Is there a gap where the left panel meets the front panel? So like if you’re standing, looking at the stove on the left side corner towards yourself. If you look at the side of the stove, do you see a gap between the front panel that the doors are attached to, and that side. It would not be the way on the other side. I’m just wondering if mine got altered or moved or if that’s actually part of the ventilation system because I have air that goes in that area on mine.
Thanks. I actually wound up filling it with some furnace cement. After doing some research I don’t think it was supposed to be that way. It’s just been broken down overtime.
@@mic982 perfect size! I love being able to load wood from the top. I don't really need to clean glass burning good seasoned wood. As for the ash pan depends on how much you burn. Ill empty mine once a week.
@@t.daniel5003 We're getting about 4 days on the ash pan but I've learned how to safely empty it without letting the stove go out. If you close the ash pan door after removing the pan, the air stops getting into the stove and you have time to empty the pan outside safely. This is a real PLUS when burning wood, not needing to let the fire go out just to empty the ashes.
@@mic982 No problem - Catalyst works fine although the honeycomb catalyst is delicate so be careful when cleaning. We love ours we have to open windows sometimes because the house gets to hot.
@@Tang77so We're probably going to have to do the same - open windows on days when it's not real cold. This will be our 1st stove with a catalyst combustor and we typically never had our stove at the temps V.C. recommends this one burn at to effect catalytic operation. Thanks for your reply.
Why do I keep seeing stoves called "Defiant Encore". Isn't "Defiant" the largest Vermont Castings stove and the "Encore" the next size down? WTF is a "Defiant Encore"? Please explain this confusion away. I passed on buying an Encore, because I wanted the Defiant. What is the difference between the two?
I have been using this stove for 11 years. During our long Wisconsin Winters this stove become the heart of our home. Our house is around 2600 square feet and the defiant will heat the entire house except when the temperatures are extreme, like 20-30 below zero. Basically we use the defiant to take the burden off of our gas furnace. This stove pretty much cut our gas bill in half. Fortunately I am able to get our wood for free thanks to owning a llarge wood lot and having friends who are tree trimmers. Great stove.
Taldish Castle that’s great to hear!!
Well... we purchased a new Defiant stove about 2 weeks ago. In retrospect, we probably should have bought the Encore, at the most. We were replacing an '80's era Earth Stove (wonderful stove) and this one seemed about the same size. But compared to the old Earth Stove, this will put out a lot more heat. In fact, it performs best when you operate this stove at ~ 450 F or higher. At that temp (surface measure) it's heating our house to almost 80 degrees. Don't buy this big a model unless you really feel you need it; like, maybe, heating 2500+ sq. ft. We do like it, tho. Very well made and a beautiful stove.
thanks for the feedback
My Vermont Castings Defiant is perfect for my 1600 sq ft home. What maybe your model doesnt have is a right handle controlling the Air Intake/temp. - you set the handle and a thermostat controls the heat out put to keep it steady. I just bought mine in 2023. I think the model number had a “1975” in it, so I dont think this right handle is a new feature
@@sherylhaggerty9770 Our stove has the air control valve on the right side like yours. I believe all the Defiant models do. We can use it to lower the temps to < 200F when burning but the large surface volume of the stove puts out too much heat at the burn temperatures recommended by the manufacturer (>300F - 450F). My point is the size of the stove is just too big for houses like ours (1250 sq. ft) when burning in the recommended "Burn Zone' (in compliance to the EPA, no doubt). At 200F-250F the burning wood creates the most creosote blackening the glass, creating faster buildup of creosote on the inside of the chimney pipe. and emitting the most smoke. The Encore model would have been plenty of stove for us.
@@mic982 OK thanks. Didn’t realize that black junk on the glass was creosote. Guess I will need yo have my chimney cleaned peruodically
@@sherylhaggerty9770 Well, it's soot and some creosote. The black residue that's hard to get off is the creosote. The hotter the stove burns the less creosote created and the cleaner the glass stays but there's our problem: if we burn the stove at the recommended temps (>30o-450F, < 500F) our house gets to warm except on the very coldest of days.
I am in love with the Defiant. It is effective, efficient, quality built and aesthetically pleasing. The white is my preference for a particular project. Thank you for the video. Do you or any of the viewers know whether there is the option of a water jacket?
It would be nice to get some examples of the burn times for different types of wood. I have easy access to and fur trees here in the north west and I appreciate that the stove will not go for 16 hours but will it go for eight?
yeah it should!
Hey, I just bought the same stove but intrepid 2 early 90s and I was wondering if you could help me with some thing. Is there a gap where the left panel meets the front panel? So like if you’re standing, looking at the stove on the left side corner towards yourself. If you look at the side of the stove, do you see a gap between the front panel that the doors are attached to, and that side. It would not be the way on the other side. I’m just wondering if mine got altered or moved or if that’s actually part of the ventilation system because I have air that goes in that area on mine.
That doesnt sound right, but i can check our unit when i get the chance.
Thanks. I actually wound up filling it with some furnace cement. After doing some research I don’t think it was supposed to be that way. It’s just been broken down overtime.
Have one and love it !
Do you find it a bit too big or about right? How often do you need to clean the glass and dump the ask pan?
@@mic982 perfect size! I love being able to load wood from the top. I don't really need to clean glass burning good seasoned wood. As for the ash pan depends on how much you burn. Ill empty mine once a week.
@@t.daniel5003 We're getting about 4 days on the ash pan but I've learned how to safely empty it without letting the stove go out. If you close the ash pan door after removing the pan, the air stops getting into the stove and you have time to empty the pan outside safely. This is a real PLUS when burning wood, not needing to let the fire go out just to empty the ashes.
awesome
We love our Vermont Casting Defiant wood stove...
Any problems with your stove yet? How about the catalyst, do you use it and is it still working after one year? Thanks.
@@mic982 No problem - Catalyst works fine although the honeycomb catalyst is delicate so be careful when cleaning. We love ours we have to open windows sometimes because the house gets to hot.
@@Tang77so We're probably going to have to do the same - open windows on days when it's not real cold. This will be our 1st stove with a catalyst combustor and we typically never had our stove at the temps V.C. recommends this one burn at to effect catalytic operation. Thanks for your reply.
good to know
Can you show how to remove the cat and put back together thank you
Hmmm we don’t have any videos on that
This is a great video!
What then small rods that hang on the side of the trays I have 2 and don’t know what they are
mitten rods...
Have they fixed or changed the secondary burn? The secondary burner has been known to not work and run to hot
its a little different now yes
@@embersliving where can I read about that?
Why do I keep seeing stoves called "Defiant Encore". Isn't "Defiant" the largest Vermont Castings stove and the "Encore" the next size down?
WTF is a "Defiant Encore"?
Please explain this confusion away.
I passed on buying an Encore, because I wanted the Defiant.
What is the difference between the two?
so they call it that, because the old model from a long time ago used to have that name. Sorry I know its a little confusing