Knowing what you know now about pellet stove would you have bought the stove you have now or a diffe

[save$]

I am ok with my purchase, but knowing what I know now, I would have taken a look at the Englander. I snubbed them back then because they are only available at the box stores. I didn't want to be high and dry if I had a problems. As it turned out, my dealer should stick to his oil business. There are better looking stoves, but dollar for dollar, the Englander is one at the top of my list of affordable and dependable stoves.

 

[tinkabranc]

In '06 my plan was to install a wood stove in my basement office. Since we could not find a stove we
liked that could meet the required clearances, we checked out pellet instead.

Knew basically nothing about them nor was I even aware of this site at the time, but I wanted a stove
with classic good looks, built solid, and made in USA. Enter Harman XXV.

I obviously know alot more about pellet stoves now than I used to, but if I was to replace them I would
probably stick with Harman.

 

[Lineman30]

When I bought my first stove I was uneducated about pellet stoves. I went to my local hearth/ tractor/ mower shop where they told me that the Quadra fires are the best on the market so I was sold. Here in Oklahoma there isn't much to chose from
Plus they really aren't as popular as in the northeast. If only I would have done some homework I probably would have chose differently. I'm not degrading Quadrafires, good reliable stoves but the craftsmanship and engineering is a total 180 compared to the Harman I picked up a month ago. My classic bay was very faithful but between a Quadrafire and Harman I would pick a Harman.

 

[goatman-68]

Still love my XXV..........

 

[ssupercoolss]

pretty happy with my quad sante fe. seems to be picky about pellets, which leads to frequent mis-fires, and regular burn pot cleaning. but i run it on thermostat, so it doesnt run 24/7. auger seems to be sturdy as well as the original igniter (5 yrs?). blew the circuit board up once in an electrical storm. luckily the manufacturer of the board, who is not quadra-fire, puts their name and model number on the case.

 

[alan323]

I've had my Harman P68 since April. Admitedly I have not run it for very long. But, I am very satisfied with the heat output and ease of use. The real test will be this winter. As of right now i'd still choose a Harman.

 

[nhredbird]

I was ready to buy a Harman, but listening here i would say i only spent a 3rd of what i would have spent.
The 10-cpm is up and running, so far its early to tell.
But I feel made the right move.
Thanks to all here, I,ve learned alot and still learning.

 

[RiddleMasterMorgon]

I like my BOSCA pretty much (more important: my wife likes it!), if I would have to do it again the competition would come from a wood stove rather than pellet...but then again..the grass is always greener on the other side

 

[ifixmy2]

NO, I would have researched beforehand. Anyone heard of a Comfort Grain multifuel?
Dang, I still do the impulse buying and then my girlfriend turns around & finds an Englander at a better deal than I got.
So I have tore apart 2 stoves and if she doesn't see a savings in winter bills, I might get her stove for my house.

 

[rideboard147]

I love mine it has done great so far. THis will be the 3rd season I have used it. Sometimes I wish I got the Mt. Vernon, but that would have been over kill for my home. I will save that stove for my new home whenever it gets built.

 

[Mackdog]

Going on my 4th season with Harman P68. I would also prefer a multi fuel stove and a bigger hopper and a less expensive stove. The Harman heats the house but the value for the price isn't there in my opinion. My cousin has a less expensive stove, doesn't even clean it as well as we clean ours and has not had one single problem and we have had 4 things break on the stove.

 

[tjnamtiw]

Despite the Chinese concept of construction integrity and quality, I have been overall satisfied with my Quads for going on 3 years. Now, of course, they will blow up the minute I plug them in Knock on wood.

They are simple to operate and simple to troubleshoot if you are moderately skilled in understanding schematics and using a meter. You can't get much simpler than the Quad schematic. The only downside is that the control box remains the 'black box' with no similar schematic. That's just not right! Obtaining service can be a downside for me since the dealer is 2 hours away, but I've had good luck learning the idiosyncratic nature of the beasts such as finding and curing auger jams at the top of the chute caused by long pellets. I have been able with the help of some of you to find ways to squeeze some more heat out of the archaic heat transfer system that hasn't changed in concept in these stoves and most others for 30 years of wood burning. Those experiments are well documented in the archives.

Would I buy another Quad? Given that I can understand how they work and how to fix them and I don't have to rely on service techs coming from 2 hours away (they probably would decline), I probably would. Another option would be to buy a slightly larger output appliance like the 1200 or another brand that offers factory support, which so many manufacturers refuse to offer even if their dealer network has collapsed in areas where their stoves are being used. I believe it is Englander that offers such service and advice.

Like so many have said to new prospective buyers, 'make sure you can trust your dealer'. Unfortunately, that dealer who tells you how great he is might be selling you the last stove he ever sells because he's going out of business. Until manufacturers support the products they sell either through direct contact with the user or through supporting dealers with realistic compensation for service calls under warranty, the list of viable pellet stoves for me is very small.

I should also mention that there is a Harman dealer close to me but he had ONE stove there and no one that could talk intelligently about it. They never mentioned the tax incentives at the time and they wanted full price for the stove. Also they did not install and didn't know who could install it. THAT'S SAD!

 

[Mr Whitfield]

I guess I was lucky to buy a used Whitfield Advantage II-T. I think this is the only stove I will ever own.

 

[BrotherBart]

After carefully considering the question, I have to say having paid $599 for the 25-PDVC new on the pallet and having only burned three bags in it, I would buy the same one again. :red:

Ask we again in January.

 

[Snowy Rivers]

We have owned several stoves over the years and the last two we bought were the two Whitfields we have now.

The Prodigy II and the Advantage II T

I bought these for a couple reasons, 1- they have a regular auger that will handle the nut shells I so love to burn.
The other reason was the Price, at $200 each and with both in great condition, I could not go worng.

I would do it again in a heartbeat.

The large Quadrafire 1000 has been a good old work horse for us and we still use it off and on when nobody (me) wants to get up and build a fire.

Usually during the spring in an early morning when a quick warm up to take the chill off is needed we will use the Quad as its quick and simple to just flip the T stat and let it go.

Mostly though we use the small whit during the shoulders and then as a helper when it gets really cold and the Big Whit can't hack it alone.

Very very happy with these stoves.

Snowy

 

[Countryboymo]

I am ok with my purchase, but knowing what I know now, I would have taken a look at the Englander. I snubbed them back then because they are only available at the box stores. I didn't want to be high and dry if I had a problems. As it turned out, my dealer should stick to his oil business. There are better looking stoves, but dollar for dollar, the Englander is one at the top of my list of affordable and dependable stoves.

I totally agree. I started looking for used stoves and did look at the Englander but I did not look close enough to realize it is made in the USA. I just ASSUMED Quadrafire and Harman were the 'go to' stoves to watch for on Craigslist and swap and shop. I didn't even pay any attention to any ad that listed anything different. My little Quad looks incredible when its all wiped down but if you lean on it or try to move it during cleaning and aren't extremely careful all of the porcelain exterior panels shift the wrong way and it almost jumps apart. Getting it back together again by yourself is like the humpty dumpty song... FORGET IT.


My next stove if I can't slide it across the concrete floor if I want to.... not that I would do such a thing. I want no part of it.

 

[Bkins]

I have 2 stoves that were bought used. There is a world of difference between the 2. My Quad seems to be built very well although at full tilt its noisy. It had some problems when we got it that took the help of this site and another to get worked out. We wanted the look of a traditional wood stove so our choices were somewhat limited at the time along with the fact that I wanted to buy used. While our Harman has been trouble free, other then not being able to deal with long pellets, I would not buy another insert as to me they are problematic to service with having to pull them out of the fireplace. I wish the Harman had a igniter in it as its a real pain to light every morning. We don't run our stoves at night for various reasons. The Harman is old but built like a tank and I don't know about getting parts at this stage. For the same amount of pellets the Quad just plain out performs the Harman.

If I knew then what I know now I would of bought a pellet furnace as in this house it is hard to get the heat in all ares, even with the 2 stoves. I passed at the time we were buying our Quad, which was our first stove, on a used 1 year old Harman furnace for $1200 with the bigger blower. I didn't know how good a deal that was at the time and in hindsight wish I had gone that route instead of the one we took.

It is interesting reading some of the comments here on which stoves do what and how long people (imacman) have run their stoves non-stop.

 

[jtakeman]

It is interesting reading some of the comments here on which stoves do what and how long people (imacman) have run their stoves non-stop.

I think imacman only did it that one time. He and member Erik kinsman were seeing who's stove would go the longest. Erik's heatalator didn't stand a chance IMHO!

 

[cold front]

This is my 4th season with a pellet stove and I am happy with the performance of the St. Croix. Saying that If knew what I know now back then I would have bought a stove that was more multi-fuel capable like the Enviro Omega seems to be.

What exactly are you trying to do with the St. Croix that an Omega would do better? Personally, I'd prefer any stove over a St. Croix when it comes to maintenance or operating noise....but for multi-fuel, the prescott will do alright with the versa grate. No stove is without some issues.

For one I can't burn 100% corn if I wanted to nor cherry pits or wheat seed. I want to burn whatever cheapest at the moment and is available in my area. That's why I got into this pellet thing is to save money over oil without chopping wood all day.

The operating noise does not bother me but than again I have nothing to compare it to, this is my first stove. A far as maintenance of the stove I can't complain it's simple. I can take the stove apart in about 10min that includes removing the backplate, combustion motor fan and room air blower. properly cleaning the frontend of the stove can take some time, like changing the oil in a car would.

 

[cold front]

This is my 4th season with a pellet stove and I am happy with the performance of the St. Croix. Saying that If knew what I know now back then I would have bought a stove that was more multi-fuel capable like the Enviro Omega seems to be.

There are a few stoves that run with the Omega. Most of them are made by Sherwood Industries. See list below. And the one imacman has Englander 10-CPM/Timber ridge 49-TRCPM/Summer Heat 49-SHCPM. I also think the new St Croix multifuelers should do pretty well. Probably missed a few others

I know A lot of stove makers say they are multi-fuel but are they truly multi-fuel. Maybe I'm using the wrong term, would Biomass stove be a better one.

I friend has a Tarm stove which is an amazing piece of technology. The Tarm will burn rye, wheat, corn, pellets, saw dust, dried grass, dried leaves. It has many safety feature including one that will automatically puts out hopper fires. The stove also monitors and automatically adjusts the combustion rate and is truly self cleaning. The only problem with it is that it cost over 10 grand and is heavy as hell. He had a tow truck lift it into his home.

 

[jdempsey]

COOL.....The tarm stoves are slick. Just watched a couple of videos from the site. How does your friend like his?

 

[Xena]

This is my 4th season with a pellet
stove and I am happy with the performance of the St. Croix. Saying that If knew
what I know now back then I would have bought a stove that was more multi-fuel
capable like the Enviro Omega seems to be.

I've got the Prescott also and am extremely happy with the cost/performance ratio so
yeah I'd buy the same stove over again. I find it simple to maintain.
I see other stoves that are comparable in quality and performance but the price
tag for a new one at the time was about a thousand bux more - no thanks. Happily heading into year #7 with
this heat beast. (broken image removed)

 

[sante fe]

I have a Santa Fe insert it has been very reliable, some stupid stuff. Large pellet stuck in drop shute.I went from burning 1200 gal of oil to around 400 gal for the season.Bought the stove new in 2005. Its simple but reliable so far.

 

[cold front]

I know A lot of stove makers say they are multi-fuel but are they truly multi-fuel. Maybe I'm using the wrong term, would Biomass stove be a better one.

I friend has a Tarm stove which is an amazing piece of technology. The Tarm will burn rye, wheat, corn, pellets, saw dust, dried grass, dried leaves. It has many safety feature including one that will automatically puts out hopper fires. The stove also monitors and automatically adjusts the combustion rate and is truly self cleaning. The only problem with it is that it cost over 10 grand and is heavy as hell. He had a tow truck lift it into his home.[/quote]

COOL.....The tarm stoves are slick. Just watched a couple of videos from the site. How does your friend like his?[/quote]



He likes it so much he has become smug about, LOL.

 

[jtakeman]

He likes it so much he has become smug about, LOL.

I kinda know the feeling.

There are some new burners hitting the market. Some burn wood chips even. But so far all I have seen is boilers. Check link

(broken link removed)