I have a Harmon Pellet Furnace that replaced an oil burning furnace 3 years ago. I have been burning on average 9 tons of pellets each year. I have been told from a technician for the Trading Post in New Milford, CT that 9 tons is twice as many pellets that should normally be used for a season. He has checked the draft reading at the chimney twice and it was within range. He has spoke with Harman and there suggestion was to block half the two inch flapper intake down near the auger motor. Has anyone else had problems with this unit, and how did you resolve it while having to deal with the dealers because Harmon won't talk to anyone besides the dealers. Thanks for any information to deal with Harmon or this problem.
Harmon Pellet Furnace
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Can you tell us how much oil you used to use in your oil burner?
It is highly doubtful that a few tweaks will vastly improve the performance of your unit...assuming the flame is OK, etc.
Let's back up one moment and talk about oil vs. pellets.
Pellet stoves and furnaces are often over rated as to efficiency. This is done by using "default" or other methods of efficiency, when the real story is often much different. In other words, there are no real furnace-type standards (Energuide, Energy Star) that these products are normally tested to.
Because of that, we must take the lower estimates of efficiency, heat content, etc....because wishful thinking will nor produce brute force heat......
Let's guess that your furnace is operating at a total delivered efficiency of 70%.
Taking a ton of pellets at 7500 BTU (adjusted for moisture), times 70% would equal about 10,000,000 BTU's into the house.
The amount of oil needed to replace this at 75% efficiency would be about 100 gallons.
Therefore, if your oil use before was about 1000 gallons per year, then you will burn 9 tons or more.
Does that sound in the ball park?
Looked at another way.......pellets at $250 a ton are about equal to oil at $2.50 a gallon - more or less.
It is highly doubtful that a few tweaks will vastly improve the performance of your unit...assuming the flame is OK, etc.
Let's back up one moment and talk about oil vs. pellets.
Pellet stoves and furnaces are often over rated as to efficiency. This is done by using "default" or other methods of efficiency, when the real story is often much different. In other words, there are no real furnace-type standards (Energuide, Energy Star) that these products are normally tested to.
Because of that, we must take the lower estimates of efficiency, heat content, etc....because wishful thinking will nor produce brute force heat......
Let's guess that your furnace is operating at a total delivered efficiency of 70%.
Taking a ton of pellets at 7500 BTU (adjusted for moisture), times 70% would equal about 10,000,000 BTU's into the house.
The amount of oil needed to replace this at 75% efficiency would be about 100 gallons.
Therefore, if your oil use before was about 1000 gallons per year, then you will burn 9 tons or more.
Does that sound in the ball park?
Looked at another way.......pellets at $250 a ton are about equal to oil at $2.50 a gallon - more or less.
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