Settled on a P43, now which dealer? Any experiences to share?

[scajjr2]

After a hectic year (daughter, son-in-law and grandson having to live with us for 9 mo, wife getting laid off then getting new job) we've finally decided we can get the pellet stove to replace the woodstove w/pellet basket setup we've been running for a year (it does work well, house is a very nice 71 today). Mainly cause basket has hole growing in center (so it would appear it would need replacing every year at $100) and wanting an automated unit.

So we've decided on a Harmon P43 (1600 sq ft salt box, center chimney, stove sits just off staircase to 2nd floor semi-open floor plan on 1st floor, ceiling fan in LR). Now the question is which dealer to buy from? We're in SE NH so the 3 closest to us are Home & Hearth in Hampton Falls, Hearth Designs in Hooksett and Abundant Life in Chichester.
Any experiences with any of these dealers is appreciated.

Thanks.

Sam

 

[boo boo]

I had very good experience at Hearth designs in Hooksett. You should go to each store and ask questions like Parts inventory they keep on the shelf and service. You will learn a lot more here about the stove than from the dealer

 

[Lousyweather]

Ive heard a lot of good stuff about Hearth & Home in Hampton Falls. You don't get to be a #1 dealer without doing *something* right!

 

[silverfox103]

The P43 is a nice stove, obviously you have done your homework. My only concern, would be if the P43 is big enough for a 1600 sq. ft. house. It would probably do a good job when the temperatures are moderate, but when it gets real cold, it may not be able to keep up. Just my 2 cents.

Tom C.

 

[Enigma869]

After a hectic year (daughter, son-in-law and grandson having to live with us for 9 mo, wife getting laid off then getting new job) we've finally decided we can get the pellet stove to replace the woodstove w/pellet basket setup we've been running for a year (it does work well, house is a very nice 71 today). Mainly cause basket has hole growing in center (so it would appear it would need replacing every year at $100) and wanting an automated unit.

So we've decided on a Harmon P43 (1600 sq ft salt box, center chimney, stove sits just off staircase to 2nd floor semi-open floor plan on 1st floor, ceiling fan in LR). Now the question is which dealer to buy from? We're in SE NH so the 3 closest to us are Home & Hearth in Hampton Falls, Hearth Designs in Hooksett and Abundant Life in Chichester.
Any experiences with any of these dealers is appreciated.

Thanks.

Sam

Hi Sam...

I bought my P68 from John, who owns Hearth Designs in Hooksett. Good guy, who knows his stuff. He even threw in the Harman heat shields for free when his installers couldn't quite get the required 13" clearance on the left side of my stove. I couldn't recommend him more. Good luck.


John

 

[Harman Lover 007]

I purchased both of my Harman's from Home and Hearth in Hampton Falls. They really know their stuff and as someone else said, they are the #1 selling Harman operation in the country.

 

[scajjr2]

Thanks for the responses. We're going to go over to Home & Hearth today.

silverfox103- originally I had decided on the P38 but decided that going up to the P43 would fit our needs. My preference would be the P61 but not sure we can afford it.

As for heating the whole house (1982 saltbox, small addition added on back in 2003), currently we're using this pellet basket ( (broken link removed) ) in our 30 year old HearthMate wood/coal stove. Averaged a bag a day using it last winter (Fireside Ultras). Last Sunday when it was super cold & windy it kept the house at 71 downstairs and 68 up.
House is very well insulated, have a 4" fan mounted on mantle above stove blowing toward kitchen & TV room (TV room has ceiling fan). Stove is sitting just off stairway to upstairs so the heat rises to the 3 bedrooms & bath up there nicely. The bedroom directly above the stove room gets nice and warm, our bedroom and the bath are right off the top of the stairway so they get warmed nicely, even the back bedroom is usually only 1-2 degrees cooler. The front room the stove is in and around to the kitchen & TV room is a big open L so the warm air circulates easily. My small den/office and bath/laundry room are the 2 other rooms downstairs behind the stove room and they stay within 1-2 degrees of stove room as the doorway to my den is literally at the bottom of the stairway and the other doorway in the den is at the small hall across from the bath.

Sam

 

[silverfox103]

Sounds like the flow pattern and insulation will be a good match for the P43.

Check Harman's site, sometimes there are coupons there.

Good Luck

Tom

 

[gfreek]

Harman may still have 100 off coupon on their web site. Yes go with P43 over P38

 

[scajjr2]

Yup the $100 off coupon are still available (good thru Jan 2014). Went over and ordered the P43 today, will be picking it up Fri afternoon or Sat. Also got a free ton of pellets (Curran's) which will augment the 2 tons of Greene Team we got in Sept.
Other than getting a 3" to 6" adapter pipe to connect it to the existing chimney the only hard part I can see is moving the 450lb cast iron wodstove out.

Sam

 

[ChandlerR]

Congratulations Sam! The P-43 looks like a real nice stove. I lust over it every time I go into Home and Hearth. They are nice people and their repair staff seem to me very knowledgable. I have a friend of mine who has worked for them for over 10 years. That says something right there.

 

[scajjr2]

I was a bit surprised that when I asked about needing an OAK they said they don't recommend them unless it's new super airtight homes or mobile home/condo installs.

Sam

 

[fmsm]

Congrats! It sounds like this dealer is a gentleman and runs the type of business I seek out to give my money. Please reconsider a OAK. It has made a world of difference since I tightened up my house.

 

[bellini13]

The P43 is a nice stove, obviously you have done your homework. My only concern, would be if the P43 is big enough for a 1600 sq. ft. house. It would probably do a good job when the temperatures are moderate, but when it gets real cold, it may not be able to keep up. Just my 2 cents.
Tom C.

I have the P43 and a 1300 square foot first floor (another 1300 sqr second floor). This stove has no problem heating the entire first floor to 75 at the low setting (The stove room itself gets to 85+). I do use 2 floor fans to circulate the heat better, but that is a different issue related to stove placement.

I suspect heating a 1600 sq ft area with the stove centralized will not be a problem, but you don't say how this is divided between first and second floors (I am not familiar with a salt box?).

I have a rather large staircase central to my home, and I struggle to get enough of that heat to rise and be effective. (The bottom of the stair case can be 75, the top will be 71 at best.

Get the OAK, do not even consider not getting it. The P43 will function so much better. Take it from someone who did not get one, and recently converted, the difference is amazing.