Harman XXV-TC or Absolute 63?

[dirt duff]

Which pellet stove is best match for our house - the Harman XXV-TC or the Harman Absolute 63?

The BTU output ratings (rather than Harman’s advertised BTU input ratings) are:
XXV-TC = 7k - 35K
Absolute63 = 10K - 46K
(See EPA ratings at: https://cfpub.epa.gov/oarweb/woodstove/index.cfm?fuseaction=app.searchResults )

Our house:
2-floors, The pellet stove will be located on the lower floor.

Lower Floor - 1,600 sq. ft , 9 ft ceiling with an open floor plan including
900 sq. ft living room/kitchen and
700 sq. ft in bedroom, baths, laundry

Upper floor – 1600 sq. ft, divided into 7 rooms.

Average insulation and windows.

Climate: Oregon coast. Winter (Nov through March) average temps are in the mid-40s F. It is rarely below 30F at night or day.

Our Current Heating System:
An electric heat pump heat both levels and is divided into 2-zones (zone 1 is downstairs, zone 2 is upstairs)
Electric costs = 8.3 cents/kwh
Estimated monthly cost of electricity used by heat pump only in the winter months (Dec -March) = $100/month

Questions:
1. Considering the relatively low cost of electricity, and moderate climate, it would be more economical to use the pellet stove as supplemental heat, rather than as the primary heat source in the winter. True or False?

2. Heat Downstairs Only: If we only heat the lower level, considering the relatively low cost of electricity (8 cents/kwh), and the climate (avg winter temps in the 40s and rarely in the low 30s), which of the two Harman pellet stoves is the best fit for heating the downstairs only?

3. Should I even try to heat the upstairs too?
I assume I would need the Absolute 63 to heat the upstairs too. However, would it be effective to use the heat generated by the downstairs pellet stove to also heat the upstairs (zone 2) via the fan in the HVAC system considering the loss of the heat that would occur as the air travels through the ductwork and air handler to the seven rooms located upstairs?

4. Would I need to heat the downstairs to an uncomfortably high temps to get an effective heat level in the seven upstairs rooms via the HVAC air handler and ductwork?

 

[johneh]

First a Pellet Stove is a space heater not made to heat an entire home
For that you need a pellet furnace
Just be aware you will be disappointed
Also buy a stove that puts out more BTUs than you think you will need
In cold weather it is much easier to turn up the feed rate than get more BTUs from a Maxed out stove
Just my Nickels worth

 

[dirt duff]

First a Pellet Stove is a space heater not made to heat an entire home
For that you need a pellet furnace
Just be aware you will be disappointed
Also buy a stove that puts out more BTUs than you think you will need
In cold weather it is much easier to turn up the feed rate than get more BTUs from a Maxed out stove
Just my Nickels worth

Thanks for the quick reply. If the Harman Absoute 63 is too much for the downstairs (1,600 sq ft) would it rapid cycle? Thus, would it repeat a cycle of... turn on at high, fill the room with heat quickly, then turn off, repeat? Or would it be better to get the XXV-TC and take a bit more time to get the downstairs heated before turning off????

 

[Oregun]

Our house is 2-story 1400sqft in Portland metro area, Oregon. Our XXV heats both floors to 75F normally.
3 bedrooms , you must leave the doors open.
Probably a little colder here than on the coast, last winter it got down to about 15F at the coldest and it
didn't have any problem.
When it's warmer we use heat pump. We usually switch to pellet stove when it gets below 40F outside.

 

[dirt duff]

Our house is 2-story 1400sqft in Portland metro area, Oregon. Our XXV heats both floors to 75F normally.
3 bedrooms , you must leave the doors open.
Probably a little colder here than on the coast, last winter it got down to about 15F at the coldest and it
didn't have any problem.
When it's warmer we use heat pump. We usually switch to pellet stove when it gets below 40F outside.

Thanks for the reply. Good to hear from someone experienced in PNW climate

It sounds like the XXV would suffice our heating needs for the 1600 sq ft lower lever, and the Absolute 63 is a little overkill.

Pros and Cons:
XXV Pros:
Style - the XXV style fits a little bit better in our 1918 Craftsman house.
Sound - Much quieter than the Absolute 63 and 43 at 100% power. (However, all three stoves sound about the same in Whisper mode)

XXV Cons:
Costs - XXV costs $1,100 more than the Absolute 63 because the XXV does NOT qualify for the 30% tax rebate.
XXV Hopper is 7 lbs smaller than the Absolute 63

Absolute 63 Pros:
Costs $1,100 less than the XXV
Larger hopper (7lbs)

Absolute 63 Cons:
Unkowns: Is a larger pellet stove less efficient? Will it rapid cyle?
Style: "Transitional" but not "Traditional".
Sound: Much louder than XXV when at 100%. Not sure if it is louder at lower powers?

 

[Oregun]

Thanks for the reply. Good to hear from someone experienced in PNW climate

It sounds like the XXV would suffice our heating needs for the 1600 sq ft lower lever, and the Absolute 63 is a little overkill.

Pros and Cons:
XXV Pros:
Style - the XXV style fits a little bit better in our 1918 Craftsman house.
Sound - Much quieter than the Absolute 63 and 43 at 100% power. (However, all three stoves sound about the same in Whisper mode)

XXV Cons:
Costs - XXV costs $1,100 more than the Absolute 63 because the XXV does NOT qualify for the 30% tax rebate.
XXV Hopper is 7 lbs smaller than the Absolute 63

Absolute 63 Pros:
Costs $1,100 less than the XXV
Larger hopper (7lbs)

Absolute 63 Cons:
Unkowns: Is a larger pellet stove less efficient? Will it rapid cyle?
Style: "Transitional" but not "Traditional".
Sound: Much louder than XXV when at 100%. Not sure if it is louder at lower powers?

Our stove gradually got noisier over 10 years. Last year I changed the combustion fan and it got quiet again.

 

[Dataman]

I have had XXV since May 2018. It does the job with our 2500sq ft house most of the time. When we get that week or so of -20f it's not so great. It struggles to get to 70f in the hallway. Plus we run it max out and go thru 2 bags a day then. We use couple of box fans to move cold air from end of house to living room. Even the Blaze King King struggled at -20f. Nice not having to deal with Wood and overheating house. House is on the left. Garage is another building not connected with 5k Electric Heater for the Wife's Cars (Rolls Royce and Convertible). Our Daily Drivers stay outside (Jeep and Honda NART). Most of the time Old Man Winter is not so rough. Typically 0f is the low at most. With Temps going above freezing some days. With very cold temps it typically does not do the White Nasty Stuff. And if it does it's very light and fluffy and easy to push around.

 

[dirt duff]

Wow, it's looking mighty cold in your part of the woods - much colder than here on the Oregon coast. The XXV should work fine here. With that question answered I just need to compare the XXV to the Absolute 63 in terms of sound. Thanks

 

[Oregun]

Most of our winters are mild in Hillsboro but every once in while conditions line up for a cold snowy winter.
Check out these winters in the Portland area.
The 1950 storm dropped 5ft of snow in Hillsboro & Forest Grove Oregon near us.
If that happens again hope we have a couple tons of pellets in our garage.
We normally burn about 1-1.5 tons /year.