Pellet Stoves

[Chris]

In preparation for winter here in Wyoming where it can regularly see -50 to -70, I wanted to get a secondary source of heat for our home. Originally I was thinking wood stove, but given that there aren’t many trees here in the high plains, I’m thinking a pellet stove sounds like a better idea.

I’ve been doing some research and Harman sounds like the gold standard, of course they’re easily $5000 or more.

ComfortBilt is Chinese, but from what I am reading they have exceptional customer service and people really seem to like them.

Interested in hearing opinions of those who have pellet stoves and what brands you recommend, would stay away from, etc.

I’d like to keep it under $3000. Heating will be for 1700 sq/ft which is the entire upstairs. The basement has a propane stove.

 

[Rickyd]

What is your primary source? Have you done an energy calc for -50*???

 

[Chris]

What is your primary source? Have you done an energy calc for -50*???

We are on propane which is the only thing available out here aside from electric.

Haven’t done an energy calculation for -50 but I can tell you that out here pellet stoves seem to be what everyone is running. My local Bomgaars and Tractor Supply have endless supplies of pellets. They’ve got parking lots full of pellet pallets.

 

[JustDandee]

Had a 2nd hand Lennox and a tractor supply unit. One in each shop and a wood burning insert in house fireplace. Lennox was definitely a better unit better more BTU.

Pellets way cleaner and I think cheaper to run unless you hunt your own wood. Which I have done but that is a project plus the cost of log splitter maybe a chain saw if you don’t have one in the arsenal already. My local fireplace store seem to only carry decent stuff- Pacific Energy is who made my wood stove and if the pellet is as good as the wood should be decent.

 

[DB04RedJeep]

Can't go wrong with a pellet stove, just keep in mind if the power goes out you will need a back up power supply.

We have two Harman's an insert and a stand alone. I purchased a small Honda generator to run the insert if we loose power. Can't say enough about the Harman's, expensive yes but have worked great. When there on they are on 24/7. The stand alone we purchased a couple of years ago when they had a tax credit on new stoves which saved us some money. Worth looking if they still offer it.

Good quality pellets make a difference in heat output and ash build up. We have had the insert since 2006 and burn 3-4 tons per year depending on the weather.

 

[Danarch]

Can't go wrong with a pellet stove, just keep in mind if the power goes out you will need a back up power supply.

^^This is what I was thinking. We use a wood stove, but wood is easily available here. I like the look and heat from a wood stove.

 

[tworley]

My folks use pellets. They get hot(!). I don't have any experience with anything but harmon. Scratch and dent options at the local lumberyard or tractor supply?

Factor in electricity costs too.

While -70 isn't unheard of in wyoming, very very rarely will it ever get to that. Cold snaps in the -20 to -30 degrees are more common

 

[Rich1961]

We have a Quadrafire Mt Vernon pellet stove. Here in Northeastern Nevada we use around 3 tons per year, and that's setting the heat at 72 degrees during the day (we are retired and home a lot) and setting it back to 63 degrees at night. As mentioned in a reply above, plan on a backup power source if your power goes out. The hopper size of a pellet stove is important as you want at least a capacity of one bag of pellets, if not more capacity. Keep an eye on Marketplace as I see pellet stoves for sale all the time in my area.

 

[Tranz Zam]

I have a Harmon. It works so well, it basically is used to heat the entire first floor of the house for the entire winter. Pellets burn hot as a mofo, but you can go through them pretty fast if the heat is cranked.

 

[Granite]

We have a Harman, and it’s great, but it’s the third heat source; mainly just a luxury to quickly heat up the kitchen area while the wood stoves (primary heat) get stoked in the morning. I try not to use the oil heat (secondary).
Pellet stoves are great but you’re dependent on electricity and pellets. And a circuit board.

 

[1o1proof]

Cold snaps in the -20 to -30 degrees are more common

Nothing to add to the convo…just laughing at -20 being called a cold snap.

 

[LukesfirstJeep]

Harmons are built not too far from me. My last house I had a Franco Belge brand stove. I burned pea coal with it. Coal was nice because it was easily obtained, heat was steady, and you could sit within 30" of the stove. Wood would require frequent loading, and it got too hot to sit nearby. My friends with pellet stoves like them, and it seems pellets burn evenly similar to coal. Your flue diameter is determined by your fuel type.

My last house was a bi-level and I had my stove in the lower level. Using the natural circulation pathway, I could heat about 2/3 of my house without the need for any ductwork.

I installed a 12"x12" opening in the ceiling above the stove through the floor above. The openings were covered with decorative cast iron floor grates. I had a fan, about the size of a computer cooling fan, mounted in the space between the lower level ceiling and the upper level floor. The fan was variable speed with a control on the wall. I rarely used the fan because hot air rose naturally up through the grates and would return down the stairway, if I left the door open at the bottom.

 

[Chris]

Thanks guys! I’ll check marketplace for a used Harman.

We have a Generac backup generator that runs off a 1000 gallon propane tank. I’ve also got a solar generator as well just in case.

 

[Chris]

While -70 isn't unheard of in wyoming, very very rarely will it ever get to that. Cold snaps in the -20 to -30 degrees are more common

Makes sense. All the locals like to tell me about the -50 and -70 temps. I figured they can’t be all the common.

 

[ColoJeep]

I used to be part of factory rep . for Harman . Harman was/is? the best most reliable pellet stove period. A P -61A would be a great stove for your home.
Don't cheap out , a low cost stove is low cost for many reasons . Harman's heat exchanger is more efficient than the typical punch plate swedged tube type most stoves have , higher discharge temps , more heat per pound of pellets burned.
Quadra fire MT.Vernon is a decent stove also , however the servicablity isn't as good.

 

[Woodrow]

Makes sense. All the locals like to tell me about the -50 and -70 temps. I figured they can’t be all the common.

Funny how people always like to do stuff like that.

We use our pellet stove to heat a room, not really the house. As you know, the I-5 corridor in Oregon isn’t too hard on HVAC. Its good you have a generator. With extreme cold, being able to heat without power seems prudent (a wood stove is our back up if the generator fails for some reason).

 

[tworley]

Makes sense. All the locals like to tell me about the -50 and -70 temps. I figured they can’t be all the common.

Still cold as hell and one thing I don't miss about Wyoming!

If your truck has a block heater, you'll get used to plugging it in at night. Almost instant heat when you fire it up in the morning.

 

[oldjeepman]

I would bet you'll see wind chills that cold this winter. If your truck doesn't have a block heater and sits out put a battery maintainer on it. Nothing worse than a dead batt on a cold morning or working on your truck on a freaking cold morning.

 

[wigsajumper]

Big fan of our pellet stove. We primarily use wood but our backup is a Heatilator CAB50 in the basement Holds 2.5 bags of pellets and can run on a thermostat which is really nice when away from the house for a while. Definitely go Harmon, Quadrafire or Heatilator. Stay away from the Tractor Supply crap.

If you can swing it try for a pellet stove made from cast iron or that has soapstone. Will radiate heat longer after the flame goes out.

Pellet stoves do require a bit more maintenance then a woodstove.

 

[Chris]

Still cold as hell and one thing I don't miss about Wyoming!

If your truck has a block heater, you'll get used to plugging it in at night. Almost instant heat when you fire it up in the morning.

Funny you mention that, I've got to install a block heater before the cold weather sets in. I want it for that instant heat.