New Member.....Whitfield Pellet Stove Owner Of 6 Years

[Willyk9]

Just found this forum and it has some excellent information!

I purchased a home 6 years ago that came with a Whitfield Pellet Stove, I also have oil heat. In the beginning the pellet stove was more of a novelty but over the years I have been burning more and more and using less oil each year. The stove is positioned in a corner of my house and my first floor is very open so it heats most of the first floor and as long as we keep the bedroom doors open upstairs it does a good job of heating the upper rooms. Over the years we have only ran the pellet stove when we are home over the weekends and every night after work.

I have been pushing more and more with the wife to run it 24/7 but we do have animals in the house and are afraid since it is fire. I know the stoves have safety controls in them but I am curious if many of you run yours 24/7 and especially when no one is home??

On an average year I am burning 1 1/2 ton but still burning about 600 gallons of oil as well, but compared to most people 600 gallons for the heating season and hot water for the summer is not much. Was buying pellets on average for $260-$300 a ton in years past and then all of a sudden at the end of last season there was a significant price drop at the big box stores and so far for this season I recently picked up a ton from HD for $197 and have some bags left over from last year and I will usually buy 5 or 10 bags here and there to supplement if needed.

 

[silverfox103]

I use to burn 1300 gallons of oil, then I bought a Harmon P68. That brought oil usage down to 400 gallons and 4 tons of pellets. This year I picked up a used Harmon P38 for the other end of the house. My goal is zero gallons of oil and about 6 tons of pellets. This is my 4th season of burning 24/7. With proper installation, maintenance and cleaning a stove will work efficiently and safely.

Tom C.

 

[PJPellet]

As stated above proper cleaning, maintenance, etc. and there is no reason why you cannot burn 24/7. I burn 24/7 myself and understand your apprehension. But in my opinion if the stove is maintained and cleaned properly no problem!

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Welcome to the forum.

A large number of folks on here burn 24/7 as long as you maintain the stove it will have no problems with burning all of the time.

You have to be sure that all safety devices are operational and not bypassed.

Mine was started on Thursday October 20,2011 and likely will be shut down for its first cleaning of the season this afternoon.

 

[mepellet]

I use to burn 1300 gallons of oil, then I bought a Harmon P68. That brought oil usage down to 400 gallons and 4 tons of pellets. This year I picked up a used Harmon P38 for the other end of the house. My goal is zero gallons of oil and about 6 tons of pellets. This is my 4th season of burning 24/7. With proper installation, maintenance and cleaning a stove will work efficiently and safely.

Tom C.

Silverfox-
I am curious as to how you reduced your BTU usage for a year by almost 34% just by adding the P68. Was the year you used 1300 gallons of oil colder than the year you used 400 gallons of oil and 4 tons of pellets?

 

[smoke show]

Likely the difference between central heat and space heating.

 

[mepellet]

Likely the difference between central heat and space heating.

Is the difference that he is heating the space that they are mostly in? I have a 3 zone HW baseboard system and last year I used prog. thermostats to heat the areas during the hours they were occupied (Living room 4pm-10pm, bedrooms 8pm-11pm, etc.) I assume if that is the difference that I wouldn't see a reduction in actual btus used, just a shift from oil to pellets (which will still save money)

 

[jedidiah578]

purchased my accentra insert in sept along with 4 tons of pellets & plan on running 24/7. have the thermostat for the furnace set as a backup in case the pellet stove happens to shut down.

 

[DexterDay]

24/7 here. 4 ton (give or take) and have animals.

ZERO PROPANE!!

 

[silverfox103]

I use to burn 1300 gallons of oil, then I bought a Harmon P68. That brought oil usage down to 400 gallons and 4 tons of pellets. This year I picked up a used Harmon P38 for the other end of the house. My goal is zero gallons of oil and about 6 tons of pellets. This is my 4th season of burning 24/7. With proper installation, maintenance and cleaning a stove will work efficiently and safely.

Tom C.

Silverfox-
I am curious as to how you reduced your BTU usage for a year by almost 34% just by adding the P68. Was the year you used 1300 gallons of oil colder than the year you used 400 gallons of oil and 4 tons of pellets?

I don't remember if it was the year before I got the pellet stove or not; but I know we used 1300 gallons. My wife was nipping at my heals saying we have to replace the boiler. After 3 years of being nipped, I bought a pellet stove. Last year we used 400 gallons, this year I am bound and determined to use none; so far so good. The second pellet stove allows me to balance out the heat. I have a 2300 sq ft "L" shaped ranch. One end of the house I had to supplement with oil heat, this year there is a pellet stove at that end of the house.

Tom C.