Hey everyone. I'm finally off the sidelines. Been hanging around and picking up alot of useful advice for well over a year now. Finally a member now. I'm a woody and have an open hearth. I recently saw a offer for a Breckwell p23i pellet insert. It was installed in a condo in 2000 and removed by a new owner in 2004. Been in storage since. Pictures look good but haven't seen it in person. Can't imagine it getting a ton of use in a condo. Guys looking for $1100 and including 10ft of stainless pipe. Told him I would be up this week. Don't know enough about pellet stove. My neighbors been using them for 20yrs and swears by them. The seller says everything was in good working order when removed. What am I looking for and asking about when I go up there? Is the price legit? Ready and willing to read. Thanks in advance for all advice and looking forward to chatting.
Breckwell advice
- Thread starter dannyboy
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
- Status
I can get a timberline on Ebay for less than $1000 and shipped which carries a one year warranty and has modern technology
BrotherBart said:
Something like that and I even know the guy checking thes units out I saw one the other day on Ebay for $499
I had a breckwell and it worked okay but in the year and I had it i had to replace both fans in it. granted it was old, and when it was running it did the job it was intended for. I would probably advise against this brand based on my experience with it and my experience with my current stove. I do however love the pellet stove.
So I should try to knock the price down. I'm also running the risk of certain parts working from the start but then breaking down. But for the price, I could replace some major parts and still be well below the price of new.
Welcome MCW. Buying a used pellet stove can be risky unless you have some knowledge about the stove and it's inner working. FWIW, personally, I wouldn't buy a used pellet stove for my first one. All pellet stoves are not created equal. Some are noisy, need frequent cleaning and are a regular PITB to keep going. Others are a dream, need only bi-weekly cleaning and can be put on a thermostat for easier operation. Long term satisfaction comes from getting a good fit to start with. Also, it would be helpful to know what the previous owner burned in the stove. How does it look? Clean as a whistle or kind of dirty? Is the glass clean?
Where are you located? That will determine a lot as far as climate, pellet cost and availability. How large is the area you intend to heat with the stove? Where do you intend to put the pellet stove? Will noise be an issue in this location?
Whatever you do, insist on trying out the stove first. It can be run outside for a test. Bring a long a bag of quality pellets. Let it run for a couple full cycles. If the stove is finicky and doesn't run/cycle normally, some parts, like the controller can be very pricey. It doesn't take long to ring up a $500 repair bill on a neglected or seriously ailing pellet stove. For comparison, a new P22 can be had for about $1600. Now's a good time to shop. Go into a spa and stove store when it's 85 outside and tell them to crank up the demo units. They'll be eager to sell if you hit them on a slow day. Also look at Quadrafire and Harman stoves if they have them. And do consider the TimberRidge by Englander. It offers a lot of value.
Where are you located? That will determine a lot as far as climate, pellet cost and availability. How large is the area you intend to heat with the stove? Where do you intend to put the pellet stove? Will noise be an issue in this location?
Whatever you do, insist on trying out the stove first. It can be run outside for a test. Bring a long a bag of quality pellets. Let it run for a couple full cycles. If the stove is finicky and doesn't run/cycle normally, some parts, like the controller can be very pricey. It doesn't take long to ring up a $500 repair bill on a neglected or seriously ailing pellet stove. For comparison, a new P22 can be had for about $1600. Now's a good time to shop. Go into a spa and stove store when it's 85 outside and tell them to crank up the demo units. They'll be eager to sell if you hit them on a slow day. Also look at Quadrafire and Harman stoves if they have them. And do consider the TimberRidge by Englander. It offers a lot of value.
This unit has a retail of about $2170 with the flashing. Seems like a good deal to me. I sell truckloads of breckwells in the northeast and have had very few warranty problems.
Thanks for the correction Jack. I was looking at a P22's online price. If the stove works fine and has been well treated or rarely used, and pellets are affordable in his region, then agreed, 50% off is a nice price.
do you own/work for a stove store?jack said:
if so ask webmaster to have you down as an industry member
OK im not bashing Breckwell but
You say you have sold Truckloads and NEVER had very few warranty problems. Sure with newer stoves that have the new technology.
The P23 is an older stove
the control board not available and have to do a full Control board and wire harness upgrade that will cost you over $350.
Best to stick with a new stove is you are not mechanically inclined and never worked on pellet stoves before.
There is a reason people sell there old stuff.
I am a distributor in NY and New England. I thought that by saying I sold truckloads it indicated that I am a distributor for Breckwell. Sorry if that was not clear. I personaly have sold and serviced Breckwell products since 1992. I like them. Please don't misquote me. I never said never with regards to problems. I am simply trying to convey the fact that I have had fewer problems with Breckwell stoves than some of the other brands I have sold. I don't believe he would need the pigtail harness and digital board upgrade. For a 2000 model p23i the board was a ce950. It is still available. You are correct about pricing though. I have a retail on the ce950 board at $300.
jack said:
Sorry when I was replying early I was working on 3 project. Dont know how that NEVER got in there.
I have had problems with Most OLDER Breckwells but after you upgrade them with Newer Parts they work OK.
You are correct if the P23 is a Post 2000 stove a 950 control board is the replacement.
But just because it was installed in 2000 does not make it a post 2000 stove. I just got rid of (sold)my last p24 that was a 1999 model.
so if it is a C-E-057 board on a pre 2000 stove then they would need to upgrade with
a C-E-101 board $229.00 with a C-E-UH1000 Wire harness $79.00
Again Im not bashing breckwell, We have a lot of them out there that we do service on. Im just stating the facts and my opinion on buying a used stove.
If someone is not experienced on working on pellet stoves it is best to buy new from a LOCAL dealer.
Anyway my comment about being an industry member was that in you profile Craig has you as a Normal Member.
We have a restricted area for Industry Members that you can get into if you are upgraded.
- Apr 25, 2007
- 375
I like your user name. That about explains everyone's wife on this forum huh? 
I can't say I know a lot about pellet stoves, but I'd think you could buy a new pellet insert and have it installed for around $1100 and you'll have a warranty. I didn't know Breckwell was that pricey, and as was said, you're buying something with 7 year old technology and has at least 4 seasons on it.
My $0.02
I can't say I know a lot about pellet stoves, but I'd think you could buy a new pellet insert and have it installed for around $1100 and you'll have a warranty. I didn't know Breckwell was that pricey, and as was said, you're buying something with 7 year old technology and has at least 4 seasons on it. My $0.02
OK i'll bite ............................name that stove installed for around $1100.............................................R&D Guy said:I like your user name. That about explains everyone's wife on this forum huh?
My $0.02
Dang
Now this is why I joined up. Thank you everyone for the feedback. Jack, I'm just south of you in Hopewell Jct. A buddy of mine took a drive up to Hudson a couple of months ago. Don't know if it was to you, but if it was, had alot of great things to say about the people he dealt with. If I had to any repairs, remember I would be getting this thing for $1100 (stove, shroud, 10ft pipe), I can still come out ahead. My chimney guy would put it in for $400. Any inserts that I priced in a 30 mile radius put me close to $3000 (stove,pipe,install,tax). I'm just looking for an insert for my open fireplace to heat 1200sf and shut my wife up. Pellet access doesn't seem to be an issue with neighbors and family members who have stoves. I'm going to go look at the stove tommorrow. I'm not married to pellet either. Wood is my preference. Willing to hear feedback on that as well. Keep it coming. This is good stuff.
Now this is why I joined up. Thank you everyone for the feedback. Jack, I'm just south of you in Hopewell Jct. A buddy of mine took a drive up to Hudson a couple of months ago. Don't know if it was to you, but if it was, had alot of great things to say about the people he dealt with. If I had to any repairs, remember I would be getting this thing for $1100 (stove, shroud, 10ft pipe), I can still come out ahead. My chimney guy would put it in for $400. Any inserts that I priced in a 30 mile radius put me close to $3000 (stove,pipe,install,tax). I'm just looking for an insert for my open fireplace to heat 1200sf and shut my wife up. Pellet access doesn't seem to be an issue with neighbors and family members who have stoves. I'm going to go look at the stove tommorrow. I'm not married to pellet either. Wood is my preference. Willing to hear feedback on that as well. Keep it coming. This is good stuff.
Yes I am the stove shop in Hudson. If you ever stop by feel free to ask for me I am the only Jack here. I am always happy to help even if you didn't purchase a stove from us. You may want to plug the stove in before you purchase it to check for fan and auger operation. Check out breckwell's web site and read the start up procedure this will give you some things to look for.
- Status
