?Cost to Run Pellet Stove?

[Paul Raz]

Times change just like anything else. House is about 20 years old and oil wasn't an issue then. Since it has exceeded $4.00 per gallon it is quite hard to come up with that. Are you suggesting that I move? Think I'll try this option first. Seems to be working so far. And everything is not always what it seems. Just because the house is big doesn't mean I'm rich, just means I got a good deal in right place, right time. Why should I piss my money away on something I don't even see(heat). Especially when there are alternative things I can do to save a buck.

 

[tjnamtiw]

wait..... you have a 5500 sq ft house and money for heating is an issue? lol sorry, but it must be nice.

Yea, you're breaking my heart, too! Sounds like Al Gore bitching because some poor widow is leaving her incandescent light on too long!

 

[tjnamtiw]

You also have to factor in relative efficiency. My Mt. Vernon and my oil burner both run about 82% efficent, I don't think my PDVC does as well as those two. So I would have to burn more pellets in that to get as much heat from it.

The calculator I posted not only figures in efficiencies but also takes into account your air distribution efficiency.

 

[Paul Raz]

Yea, you're breaking my heart, too! Sounds like Al Gore bitching because some poor widow is leaving her incandescent light on too long!

Bunch of haters!

 

[briansol]

Well, you could always shut a whole floor down and use the rest of the house. turn off the water/etc in the winter. Have that level be your summer home. Or something.

I hear ya that things change, but some kind of future thinking had to have been made when you bought a house that could easily house 10 children, each with their own bedrooms. Plus a den. Plus a billiards/game room. Plus a live in maid.

 

[Paul Raz]

Well, you could always shut a whole floor down and use the rest of the house. turn off the water/etc in the winter. Have that level be your summer home. Or something.

I hear ya that things change, but some kind of future thinking had to have been made when you bought a house that could easily house 10 children, each with their own bedrooms. Plus a den. Plus a billiards/game room. Plus a live in maid.

Nope met the wife who already owned the house, paid probably half what you paid for your house. Heating wasn't an issue at the time.

 

[saladdin]

Yeah well move to New York where the last time I got oil it was $4.00 per gallon. I have a 1000 gallon tank and was filling it 3 - 4 times per year. This is my first year with the stove and I don't really know what I am saving just yet, but I do know that Pellets are cheaper than oil. Since my stove was installed the only time it goes off is when I clean it on Saturdays, otherwise its on 24/7 and the oil burner is not.
I keep my gym in the boiler room in the basement and every night I would be in there working out the boiler was going on and off every 2 - 5 minutes. Granted I have a fairly decent sized house 4500 sq ft + basement addl. 1000 sq ft. With 7 zones, but still that was ridiculous. I didn't realize how often it was cycling until I was in there every night. After I realized it I would cringe every time it went on thinking of $ with wings going out the window. When my stove was installed in November it is amazing how much warmer the house is kept and how little that the boiler actually comes on now. Was in there for an hour the other day and it didn't come on once(and it wasn't during that warm spell either. It was actually cold outside).
Originally we got the stove to handle just the downstairs and hoped that would work, we planned to use the stove for downstairs and oil burner for upstairs. Luckily the layout of my house is perfect for the air circulation( its like one continuous loop) and not only does it heat the downstairs, but if I leave the bedroom doors open upstairs it will partially heat those too.
So as I said, not sure yet what I'm saving yet, but I know it's something significant. If I can only use the oil for hot water and heat the upstairs at night I know I'll eliminate at least 1 if not 2 fillups this year. That's $4,000 -$8,000. Not sure about where you are, but my Pellets haven't cost me anywhere near that amount.

Dude. That is beyond a decent sized house. That is a monster. You have those, what are they called, cathedral ceilings too? I'd burn the souls of cute puppies if it would be cheaper to heat a house that size. I feel for you.

It was 75 here yesterday and my stove has not turned on since Saturday.

 

[Paul Raz]

Dude. That is beyond a decent sized house. That is a monster. You have those, what are they called, cathedral ceilings too? I'd burn the souls of cute puppies if it would be cheaper to heat a house that size. I feel for you.

It was 75 here yesterday and my stove has not turned on since Saturday.

Burning puppies....don't know about all that the stove so ar is doing just fine. Lovin it!

 

[SwineFlue]

I would be willing to bet that the electric cost of running a pellet stove is on a par with running a fossil fuel fired boiler or furnace. My oil fired boiler has a combustion blower and a circulation pump. I have to measure the actual power draw, but it is probably a couple of hundred Watts.

The Castile on the highest setting draws just under 100 Watts. I agree the oil boiler is probably double that (though I haven't measured it).