Pellet Stoves
Nov 23, 2017 07:13:48 #
Now that I'm retiring the propane stove I sometimes used to heat this TV/Computer room, I was wondering about a pellet stove. Since the room is about the size of a garage (that's what it used to be), a small stove would be fine. Small stove/small price. I'd want automatic heat control.
So, if you have any recommendations about brands, models, or features, difference in pellets, I'd be glad to hear them. The stove would go where the propane is now, in front of the fireplace.
So, if you have any recommendations about brands, models, or features, difference in pellets, I'd be glad to hear them. The stove would go where the propane is now, in front of the fireplace.
Nov 23, 2017 09:32:08 #
Hey Jerry -
Also recently retired, I'm looking to replace a wood stove with a pellet stove so I'll second your request and watch the responses, closely. I've burned wood for years but I'm sick of the mess and hassle of dealing with multiple cords of wood. HOWEVER, my main objection to a pellet stove, is that it requires electricity to power the pellet feed and a pellet stove won't work if the power's out Since I used a wood stove to keep my house warm during what seems to have become all-to-frequent prolonged power outages, I would need to be able to keep the pellet stove running during those events. Other than buying a generator, I'd be interested if any pellet stove models address this issue. Maybe your responders can consider this issue, too.
Also recently retired, I'm looking to replace a wood stove with a pellet stove so I'll second your request and watch the responses, closely. I've burned wood for years but I'm sick of the mess and hassle of dealing with multiple cords of wood. HOWEVER, my main objection to a pellet stove, is that it requires electricity to power the pellet feed and a pellet stove won't work if the power's out Since I used a wood stove to keep my house warm during what seems to have become all-to-frequent prolonged power outages, I would need to be able to keep the pellet stove running during those events. Other than buying a generator, I'd be interested if any pellet stove models address this issue. Maybe your responders can consider this issue, too.
Nov 23, 2017 10:00:02 #
I agree with fourlocks. The Achilles heel of pellet stoves is their need for electricity. I just use a wood stove for now till technology gives me something better and simpler.
Nov 23, 2017 12:08:57 #
Our indoor patio is 13' x 40' and we use a pellet stove to heat it. It provides MORE than enough heat, even for my wife as she is always cold. Only down side is lugging 40 lb bags of pellets and the stove does not work in the even of a power failure. They have come out with pellet stoves that don't require electric power but have not looked into them as of yet.
Nov 23, 2017 20:43:02 #
Nov 24, 2017 07:18:49 #
Am on my second pellet stove, after a combo. Wood-coal stove. Love the pellet stove. Cost the same to run if you have to by wood, and a lot less work and a lot cleaner an fewer ashes. I now have an Enviro-Fire parlor stove, porcelain coated.
Nov 24, 2017 08:33:44 #
I have a Harman pellet stove insert that fits into the fireplace. Instead of all the heat going up the chimney it now keeps it in the house. Very efficient and throwa a very good amt of heat. Our back up source is gas heat. I have a 3 bedroom cape house and it provides enough to heat the whole house. $250 - 280 a ton and most i used per year is 3 ton. Better than wood splitting and bringing insects into the house. They offered a battery back up but as we have gas we will always have a source of heat.
Nov 24, 2017 08:47:43 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Now that I'm retiring the propane stove I sometimes used to heat this TV/Computer room, I was wondering about a pellet stove. Since the room is about the size of a garage (that's what it used to be), a small stove would be fine. Small stove/small price. I'd want automatic heat control.
So, if you have any recommendations about brands, models, or features, difference in pellets, I'd be glad to hear them. The stove would go where the propane is now, in front of the fireplace.
So, if you have any recommendations about brands, models, or features, difference in pellets, I'd be glad to hear them. The stove would go where the propane is now, in front of the fireplace.
Jerry, A few years ago we were at the Duchess County Fair and they were selling Corn Stoves, could burn pellets or feed corn, great aroma and supposed to be less expensive, different auger is what they told us, made me wish I had a place for a stove. Bob.
Nov 24, 2017 09:22:13 #
Bulldog1jack
Loc: CT
jerryc41 wrote:
Now that I'm retiring the propane stove I sometimes used to heat this TV/Computer room, I was wondering about a pellet stove. Since the room is about the size of a garage (that's what it used to be), a small stove would be fine. Small stove/small price. I'd want automatic heat control.
So, if you have any recommendations about brands, models, or features, difference in pellets, I'd be glad to hear them. The stove would go where the propane is now, in front of the fireplace.
So, if you have any recommendations about brands, models, or features, difference in pellets, I'd be glad to hear them. The stove would go where the propane is now, in front of the fireplace.
Jerry
I heat 3000 sf with two stoves. They come in all shapes and sizes. Mine happen to be inserts. I would say most on the market today work with thermostats, I just sold one of mine and replaced it with a used one from Craigslist. Paid 500 bucks for it. Nothing wrong with it I just wanted to have the same model stoves. That said they work great. You may pay a bit more now because your in season. I burn 7 tons pre-season.
Nov 24, 2017 10:12:25 #
The house I bought 3 years ago (when I retired), had a Quadra-Fire Mt. Vernon AE insert. Programmable thermostat , burns wood pellets(soft or hard), corn, wheat and sunflower. It has a power cord that attaches to a 12 volt battery should the power goes off. Have not had to use that feature yet. Being in TX our winters are mild , so far we use about 2 tons per winter. I dump the ash pan about once a week ,( about a quart of ash) !! I have used a fire place most my life and really enjoyed cutting, hauling, removing 10 gals ash a week, cleaning the mess that comes with using wood and I can say now we have gone to pellets , ain't goin' back. I LOVE THIS PELLET BURNIN' contraption. They come in various sizes. I heat about 1800 sq ft with mine. Recommend
Nov 24, 2017 11:26:01 #
buckbrush
Loc: Texas then Southwest Oregon
Jerry,
I worked for a helicopter logging company years back and most everyone burned wood in their homes. Many still do. Thats just for background to explain that most everyone had years and years of wood burning experience.
One of our most experienced maintenance workers decided he was tired of cleaning out the ashes from his wood stove. That led him to buy a pellet stove. For the first year he couldn't say enough good things about the pellet stove making his life easier. The it came time to clean the pellet stove and he related to everyone at work how difficult it was to clean properly as the pellets bonded to the stoves internal parts causing great difficulty for him to clean. He said he would never had bought one if he knew the yearly cleaning was so labor intensive.
This was about 10 years ago so maybe they have improved the stoves to minimize the maintenance issues he had. I suggest you make sure the maintenance of the pellet stoves they sell now arn't difficult.
As a separate thought, I have an outside wood boiler in one house that heats water that heats the house floor.
I'm not recommending you redo your house but I also heat my work shop (about a 1000 square feet) with that same water system via a radiator with a thermostat controlled fan.
If you have a small room you might look into using an outside wood boiler and running two insulated lines to a small radiator in the room. Then all the wood is outside, cleaning is easier, I empty my ashes about one every three weeks with a shovel into two buckets so no ashes in the house, and no wood in the house either.
Just a thought as it is so much easier than having a stove inside the house.
Keep us informed as what you wind up doing.
Alex
I worked for a helicopter logging company years back and most everyone burned wood in their homes. Many still do. Thats just for background to explain that most everyone had years and years of wood burning experience.
One of our most experienced maintenance workers decided he was tired of cleaning out the ashes from his wood stove. That led him to buy a pellet stove. For the first year he couldn't say enough good things about the pellet stove making his life easier. The it came time to clean the pellet stove and he related to everyone at work how difficult it was to clean properly as the pellets bonded to the stoves internal parts causing great difficulty for him to clean. He said he would never had bought one if he knew the yearly cleaning was so labor intensive.
This was about 10 years ago so maybe they have improved the stoves to minimize the maintenance issues he had. I suggest you make sure the maintenance of the pellet stoves they sell now arn't difficult.
As a separate thought, I have an outside wood boiler in one house that heats water that heats the house floor.
I'm not recommending you redo your house but I also heat my work shop (about a 1000 square feet) with that same water system via a radiator with a thermostat controlled fan.
If you have a small room you might look into using an outside wood boiler and running two insulated lines to a small radiator in the room. Then all the wood is outside, cleaning is easier, I empty my ashes about one every three weeks with a shovel into two buckets so no ashes in the house, and no wood in the house either.
Just a thought as it is so much easier than having a stove inside the house.
Keep us informed as what you wind up doing.
Alex
Nov 24, 2017 12:38:29 #
Not much maintenance on my Quadra-Fire. Once yearly vacuum . Once month brushing heat exchanger (15 minuet job). Total maintenance for season might amount to 2 hours . My stove is also vented with pvc. This is first and only pellet stove I have used, cannot say for other stoves. One draw back though the stove I have is pricey.
Nov 24, 2017 12:39:25 #
Not much maintenance on my Quadra-Fire. Once yearly vacuum . Once month brushing heat exchanger (15 minuet job). Total maintenance for season might amount to 2 hours . My stove is also vented with pvc. This is first and only pellet stove I have used, cannot say for other stoves. One draw back though the stove I have is pricey.
Nov 24, 2017 12:41:17 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Now that I'm retiring the propane stove I sometimes used to heat this TV/Computer room, I was wondering about a pellet stove. Since the room is about the size of a garage (that's what it used to be), a small stove would be fine. Small stove/small price. I'd want automatic heat control.
So, if you have any recommendations about brands, models, or features, difference in pellets, I'd be glad to hear them. The stove would go where the propane is now, in front of the fireplace.
So, if you have any recommendations about brands, models, or features, difference in pellets, I'd be glad to hear them. The stove would go where the propane is now, in front of the fireplace.
Wouldn't have one as a gift, the power goes out to feed the hopper you got nothing. Better off with a wood stove and presto logs if you don't want to mess with fire wood. Wouldn't have a house without a wood stove and a winters supply of wood or prestos. Power goes out who cares. Longest stretch 2+ weeks, no problem. I now have a propane heater but the wood burner is still in place. Use the propane to heat the house while I go south in the winter.
Nov 24, 2017 12:45:56 #
Hi Gerry !
Also consider installing a Mitsubishi Heat pump / air conditioner. My heating engineer told me that it cost the same per BTU as propane (when propane is $1.92 per gallon) in Rhode Island where I think electric rates are relatively high. My people company just made a delivery at $3.31 per gallon. (about 70% more expensive than my heat pump)
You will enjoy the added benefit of having an incredible efficient air-conditioner during the summer months.
A peller stove can add soot outside your home: You will need to have a chimney: I've heard they use a fair amount of electricity to run. Where will you store the pellets? Will you enjoy loading the stove with pellets every 30 hours or so?
Politically: If you think we have the greatest president of all time you could show your adoration for him by buying a coal stove.
Tim
Also consider installing a Mitsubishi Heat pump / air conditioner. My heating engineer told me that it cost the same per BTU as propane (when propane is $1.92 per gallon) in Rhode Island where I think electric rates are relatively high. My people company just made a delivery at $3.31 per gallon. (about 70% more expensive than my heat pump)
You will enjoy the added benefit of having an incredible efficient air-conditioner during the summer months.
A peller stove can add soot outside your home: You will need to have a chimney: I've heard they use a fair amount of electricity to run. Where will you store the pellets? Will you enjoy loading the stove with pellets every 30 hours or so?
Politically: If you think we have the greatest president of all time you could show your adoration for him by buying a coal stove.
Tim
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