Now after you've owned a pellet stove

[m159267]

We to have a geothermal (5-ton closed loop) conditioning 3600 square feet. I have a Harman P38 in the basement / family room (yet to be finished). In our case the idea of having the pellet stove is not to save money but to have a backup system (powered by a pure sine wave generator) during our winter-time power-outages. Also it works extremely well with the geo in single-digit/sub-zero conditions. I will never be without a pellet stove.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

I probably won't be moving so that's a moot point. The way I see it as long as Grandpa can get that 40lb. bag up from the basement I'm all set. Come to think of it, didn't someone come out with a 25lb. bag. Looks like I could burn pellets even longer!

The problem isn't likely to be the 40 lb bags, but Grandpa's old arthritic knees even being able to get Grandpa up over the stairs ;-).

 

[jtakeman]

I probably won't be moving so that's a moot point. The way I see it as long as Grandpa can get that 40lb. bag up from the basement I'm all set. Come to think of it, didn't someone come out with a 25lb. bag. Looks like I could burn pellets even longer!

The problem isn't likely to be the 40 lb bags, but Grandpa's old arthritic knees even being able to get Grandpa up over the stairs ;-).

Put Grandma at the bottom of the stairs, Grandpa will climb them much faster.

 

[THE ROOSTER]

Very interesting read, thanks for all the comments... I too love my stove and will always have one although I don't burn mine hard I do burn it when it gets cold...
I have two high effec. heat pumps and only pay $.08/kwh after after taxes so I am not sure I save anything burning pellets, but there is nothing, I MEAN NOTHING like a pellet fire on a mid teen degree day...

 

[tjnamtiw]

Very interesting read, thanks for all the comments... I too love my stove and will always have one although I don't burn mine hard I do burn it when it gets cold...
I have two high effec. heat pumps and only pay $.08/kwh after after taxes so I am not sure I save anything burning pellets, but there is nothing, I MEAN NOTHING like a pellet fire on a mid teen degree day...

Wow, you are lucky with your electric rate I HATE YOU :cheese: I see your webcam but why aren't you out on the trampoline???????

 

[THE ROOSTER]

I see your webcam but why aren't you out on the trampoline???????

Thin blood...

 

[opus74]

Yes & Yes !

 

[caledoniacars]

I probably won't be moving so that's a moot point. The way I see it as long as Grandpa can get that 40lb. bag up from the basement I'm all set. Come to think of it, didn't someone come out with a 25lb. bag. Looks like I could burn pellets even longer!

Great idea on the 25lb bag! I am sure some people would love it. I may even be able to get the wife and kids to help carry and stack bags!

 

[johnny1720]

I didnt really know of a zero clearance coal stove until after using the pellet stove for a while. I dont think I would want to deal with the coal stove in the living room though, but if I finish the basement I may look into one for there The Pellet stove replaced a ventless LP log insert which was never hooked up due to the many concerns with ventless operation. As to converting to a closed loop, not a chance. The two wells are 400 feet deep and only one would be able to be used for a closed loop and at a conservative estimate of 200ft per ton I would still need an additional 400 ft.
House is ~2700sqft and decently insulated. The worst heat bills are ~300 for the very cold weather at about 13c kwh, avereage heat bill might be 200-225. If I burn full time I am pretty sure I keep it slightly under a ton per month (and my well runs a lot less extending the life).

I don't think I will ever be with out a pellet stove. However I eventually will be doing a Geo-Thermal setup for my 1860's house. Are you saying that you are burning a ton a month and you are paying 200-225 per month for electric?

 

[tjnamtiw]

Have Geothermal and we use the Pellet stove a lot. Ashes are good for winter driveways to boot.
Would get one in the next home.

I can't for the life of me understand why you would think a pellet stove is saving you money over a geothermal heat pump. You should be getting a COP of about 3 or 300% more efficient than direct electric heat strips. All the cost comparison charts show you should be much cheaper with geothermal unless you are paying a terrible price for electricity.

I also see you are in NE Pa, so you are within striking distance of the coal regions and could pick up all the coal you want in Tamaqua for less than $200 a ton and use a Harman coal stove. 70,000 + btu's!! and cheap to run plus the beautiful blue flame is something to behold in the evenings!

Then all you have to do is figure out what to do with all the toxic ash.

I thought of you, slls, as I unloaded a ton of pellets yesterday as I stared at this on every bag > "Warning: Combustion of this product results in the emissions of carbon dioxide, soot and other combustion by-products which are known by some states to cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm. Do not directly inhale exhaust." I guess you aren't as green as you thought..... :lol:

 

[THE ROOSTER]

Well, I have sold my first stove so to speak, a friend at work has just bought the same stove as mine (Harman Accentra insert) and we will be installing it this Saturday... I sure hope he and his wife like it, and that it is as good as I have talked it up to be...

Wish me luck Saturday

 

[defield]

1) Will you ever be without one; if you move do you plan on buying a new one or taking your old one
2) Have you ever tried to talk a friend into buying one

1. I hope to never be without one. If I move, it will probably be to a home for the aged and insane and they will not let me bring a wood burning unit.

2. I try to present a realistic balance of the pros and cons of a pellet stove and let them decide. Just because I have one does not mean a pellet stove would fit their lifestyle and needs. Just because I have a certain brand that does not mean my friend should purchase that brand.

Regarding the comments about packaging pellets in 25 pound bags . . . . One of the polls on this site, a while back, asked for age groupings of pellet stove owners.

Many of the ages were in the higher brackets. 25 pound bags make sense as the population gets older. I believe that Maine Woods did 25 pound bags, available through area convenience stores. Not sure how that went or if still available.

Anyone know??

Regards,

Ranger

 

[jgcable]

I would tell anybody that a pellet stove is much less work as compared to a wood burning stove but it generates much less heat.

 

[Snowy Rivers]

We have had pellet stoves since 1991 and love them.

I doubt that I will ever move, but if I did, a Pellet stove would definately be on the list of things.

Currently there are Four (4) in the house. 3 upstairs and one in the large apartment downstairs.

Just a way of life around here.

I have offered advice to others on the merits of the pellet stove, but thats as far as it goes.


Heck, I was hacking holes in the walls and installing pellet stoves before we even moved into this house.

We currently have a tripe wide manufactured home that is permanently attached to a full daylight basement.

The house came with full electric heat and that IMHO sucks not to mention costs far too much to run.



An older home that has baseboard heat, or an other type system thats not real efficient can really benefit from a pellet stove/stoves.

They are easy and quick to install, just pick a good outside wall with no venting issues and cut a hole, install the vent pipe and its off to the rodeo.

Done right, a Pellet stove or two can be a greqat addition to almost any home.

Some creativity in building a raised hearth and such and they can add real Pizzzaz to even the most mundane room.

Hope this answers the question

 

[nosaudioil]

question #3 Is there a better option than a pellet stove?

 

[tjnamtiw]

Very interesting read, thanks for all the comments... I too love my stove and will always have one although I don't burn mine hard I do burn it when it gets cold...
I have two high effec. heat pumps and only pay $.08/kwh after after taxes so I am not sure I save anything burning pellets, but there is nothing, I MEAN NOTHING like a pellet fire on a mid teen degree day...

Thought for sure you'd have the pellet stove cam going this morning!!

 

[ChrisWNY]

Though I've only had my Fahrenheit pellet furnace for a couple of weeks, I don't think I'd go without one in the future. If anything, I'll add another pellet burner in the future, perhaps a smaller stove for my garage. The price per gallon of LP is rising and the cost of using it as a primary heating fuel is outrageous, so I do recommend pellet burners casually to anyone complaining about the cost of LP or Natural Gas.

 

[Threerun]

I used to burn hardwood in a Dutchwest xl woodstove for many, many years. The chore was worth it when we didn't have kids and I could devote the month of weekends required to cut, haul and split my own fuel.

Now that the kids are 10 and 12 and active in everything, time is more precious than before. Burning pellets is a great alternative, still cheaper than LP and electric but a lot less work than a wood stove.

I think when the kids are grown and my wife and I scale down to a cabin I'll go back to burning split wood. I don't see it as much of a chore, rather a way to excercise and be outdoors.. But who knows what the future holds. Right now I definately appreciate the pellet!