Issues
The app has not worked from installation, now the remote doesn’t work either. Disappointing
3 years use
Heat n Glo Phoenix 42 Direct
The app is a good alternative to the supplied remote from H&G, which eats batteries unlike any electronic device I’ve ever used. Ridiculous, but that’s another story. The only issue with the app is that it cannot control the light (embers) kit with the fireplace. It’s no available and I don’t know why. You pay extra for the lights, but unless I reactivate the horrible remote and drop the app, my light kit isn’t available. For a $10k fireplace, that seems to be a pretty significant shortcoming. No sense buying the light kit with this fireplace. The app won’t let you use it.
The app is a good alternative to the supplied remote from H&G, which eats batteries unlike any electronic device I’ve ever used. Ridiculous, but that’s another story. The only issue with the app is that it cannot control the light (embers) kit with the fireplace. It’s no available and I don’t know why. You pay extra for the lights, but unless I reactivate the horrible remote and drop the app, my light kit isn’t available. For a $10k fireplace, that seems to be a pretty significant shortcoming. No sense buying the light kit with this fireplace. The app won’t let you use it.
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Just a bad app
Rarely ever controls my fireplace when I’m away from the house. So unreliable.
25% of the time
App is very flaky- works doesn’t
Worst app ever
This is absolutely the worst app I’ve ever used in my entire life and you need to pay developers to actually make it work when people pay this much for a fireplace. This is a total disgrace.
Temp doesn’t show the correct temp
The temp always shows -15 outside and 69 indoors
Works fine
Works fine app’s been getting better could use a few more tweaks
Won’t connect
This is horrible
Big improvement since last season
Getting everything on one page makes it easier, I also find that changing a setting it doesn’t pop back in 10 seconds as much as it used to.
Now I understand they don’t want to have timers because you don’t want it turning on with no one home, although that should be our option… But how about having a timer when it turns off? How many times have we gone to bed and forgot to turn it back it is how we heat our house it shouldn’t be that hard just to tell be able to turn it off at 10 PM, with no safety issues.
Update January 2026:
I got a response back that they added Alexa Voice to the system I’ve had mine for three years I don’t know how long they did it they should advertise that upfront in the app or something, the fact that the app is so limited it would’ve been a dream that they would jump the technology to such a higher level of automation, but they did!
I can now have Alexa set back the temperature to 64° at 10 PM during the week at 11 PM on weekends. Hooray!
I’m retired so I get up at different times now I can tell her to set the temperature to 70 when I wake up.
I already have Smartthings automation doing a power cycle every night because their WIFI unit becomes non-responsive randomly. That seems to prevent it.
Now I understand they don’t want to have timers because you don’t want it turning on with no one home, although that should be our option… But how about having a timer when it turns off? How many times have we gone to bed and forgot to turn it back it is how we heat our house it shouldn’t be that hard just to tell be able to turn it off at 10 PM, with no safety issues.
Update January 2026:
I got a response back that they added Alexa Voice to the system I’ve had mine for three years I don’t know how long they did it they should advertise that upfront in the app or something, the fact that the app is so limited it would’ve been a dream that they would jump the technology to such a higher level of automation, but they did!
I can now have Alexa set back the temperature to 64° at 10 PM during the week at 11 PM on weekends. Hooray!
I’m retired so I get up at different times now I can tell her to set the temperature to 70 when I wake up.
I already have Smartthings automation doing a power cycle every night because their WIFI unit becomes non-responsive randomly. That seems to prevent it.
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Terrible app and Applience
This thing feels like it came from the 80s. Everything is super slow. Connection is terrible. The app hardly controls any future of the fireplace. If you have color leds…. guess what! you cannot control it ! It also constantly freezes us as well. Basically the app and fireplace are for most part useless and dated. Go with a different product if you can.
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Too many pop-ups for review
Stop the pop-ups
Not a lot of Options
We paid an extra $300 for the app access. Not a lot provided for $300. My husband and I can’t both use the app interchangeably. If one turns it on, the other cannot turn it off. No voice command but it sure beats using their big clunky remote.
Horrible App
this app sucks so bad. It disconnects from the Wi-Fi module at least once per month and then takes 30 to 40 minutes and multiple attempts to reconnect. It is totally unreliable, but I guess you have no other choice. If you were stuck with this fireplace, I just wish they could do better.
Needs better wi-fi connection ability
Great fireplace, but does not always stay connected to the Wi-Fi set up. We often not have to reset it to get it to work with Wi-Fi. Not a game changer, but does not work as well as other Wi-Fi connected products.
Great update!
I’ve had a Heat & Glo with the WiFi adapter for a few years now. It was always just OK and worked fine. But since the latest update to this app, it’s on a whole new level. And with the changes to the interface, I can easily say it’s now an excellent product and am really glad I upgraded with the WiFi adapter. 5 stars, would recommend.
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Minimal functionality
Very disappointed that flame height & fan speed control available with on-site remote isn’t also at least viewable on app. Basic on/off & room temperature are only functions app offers for Vermont Casting stoves.
Keeps resetting Cold Climate setting
As the weather has turned cold here in New England, we’ve activated the Cold Climate setting on our VT Castings gas stove, using the remote. This keeps the pilot light on. Whenever we use the app, it turns this off, so the pilot light doesn’t stay lit. Not a huge deal, but clearly an issue.
Frustrated
The app is not great. We paid extra for it and it keeps disconnecting and won’t respond. We had a service man come and fix it but a few days later the same thing happened. I’m not pleased at all so far. I will put in another service call and see what happens this time.
Disconnected
The fireplace regularly disconnects from the internet and needs to be reset. Wish we had just used a switch or remote control.
Loses WiFi connection
The app seems ok but I keep on losing internet connection saying “ your appliance is offline “
Not sure why it’s doing this. All other WiFi connections ( cameras etc) are connecting fine.
Now I can’t control the temperature of my gas fireplace insert
This is the second time it has happened
Not sure why it’s doing this. All other WiFi connections ( cameras etc) are connecting fine.
Now I can’t control the temperature of my gas fireplace insert
This is the second time it has happened
