I'm getting closer to pulling the trigger. Going to look at Harmans tomorrow at a local dealer if he has them out yet.. I'm still batting around the Drolet Eco-65 but there are no local dealers. Decisions...decisions 
Took a loan out for $ 4000
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I'm getting closer to pulling the trigger. Going to look at Harmans tomorrow at a local dealer if he has them out yet.. I'm still batting around the Drolet Eco-65 but there are no local dealers. Decisions...decisions
Cannot go wrong with a Harman.
Good Luck!
Harman p-68a
Member
I have a harman been a good stove have done routine maintenance on it had to replace a few things but common pellet stove stuff... I would buy another
stoveguy2esw
Minister of Fire
For the price? The Drolet has the bottom feed of a Harman, but has a distribution blower of a small furnace. Can be ducted to where the heat is needed, and did I mention the price!! LOL! 
I may be biased. But the Eco 65 is a lot of stove (A Harman P-61 or P-68 / equal BTU to the Drolet, but WAY more expensive) and is half the price of a similar Harman. Those are my 2 pennies.
I may be biased. But the Eco 65 is a lot of stove (A Harman P-61 or P-68 / equal BTU to the Drolet, but WAY more expensive) and is half the price of a similar Harman. Those are my 2 pennies.
subsailor
Minister of Fire
For the price? The Drolet has the bottom feed of a Harman, but has a distribution blower of a small furnace. Can be ducted to where the heat is needed, and did I mention the price!! LOL!
I don't know anything about the Drolet and it may be a better deal than a Harman, but I would be hesitant to buy one without a local dealer.
dylskee
Feeling the Heat
I thought $3000. would get it done for me and I was WRONG! I've had quotes as high as $4700. installed for a P43
I thought $3000. would get it done for me and I was WRONG! I've had quotes as high as $4700. installed for a P43
For four grand and then the added cost of the pellets I could heat this joint here in the Tropics of Virginia for several years with just electric space heaters at around five hundred a month in the really cold months. And never have to heft or clean anything.
This is what I'm looking at, as confusing as it is:
Option 1: The new Harman insert, love the look....$4000 + piping. It would be in my living room where I have a P-38 now and does a pretty good job but doesn't get to the back rooms. I use electric heaters in back rooms. Insert may have enough btu's to get it done. I don't know.
Option 2: P-68...$3800, I already have piping to set this up, but I still like the looks of the insert.
Option 3: P-61....$3500, same as above
Option 4: ...and I haven't mentioned this but this is a doublewide on a basement. The Drolet Eco-65 ( $3100 pipe and all) in the basement with ductwork to the back rooms and leave the P-38 to heat what I've used it for in the past
Other ideas, and I know this is frowned upon is put a P-68 or Drolet eco-65 in the basement and tie it into my existing ductwork..I know..I know...not safe. My basement is a somewhat finished mancave and I was going to put one of the ducts from the Drolet in the duct and the other over the tv/couch area.
As I mentioned before this is kind of back up heat but may become primary. I have been using my P-38 to heat the house with no heat in the basement and have cheated with a free gas stove if it got real cold...unfortunately the free gas is gone...hence the new plan.
My goal is of course to heat the upstairs completely without the electric heaters and possible put a little heat in the basement...confused...me too...lol. I've lurked on you all for the last year and welcome ANY suggestions.
..I wait patiently with beer and cigar in hand.
Option 1: The new Harman insert, love the look....$4000 + piping. It would be in my living room where I have a P-38 now and does a pretty good job but doesn't get to the back rooms. I use electric heaters in back rooms. Insert may have enough btu's to get it done. I don't know.
Option 2: P-68...$3800, I already have piping to set this up, but I still like the looks of the insert.
Option 3: P-61....$3500, same as above
Option 4: ...and I haven't mentioned this but this is a doublewide on a basement. The Drolet Eco-65 ( $3100 pipe and all) in the basement with ductwork to the back rooms and leave the P-38 to heat what I've used it for in the past
Other ideas, and I know this is frowned upon is put a P-68 or Drolet eco-65 in the basement and tie it into my existing ductwork..I know..I know...not safe. My basement is a somewhat finished mancave and I was going to put one of the ducts from the Drolet in the duct and the other over the tv/couch area.
As I mentioned before this is kind of back up heat but may become primary. I have been using my P-38 to heat the house with no heat in the basement and have cheated with a free gas stove if it got real cold...unfortunately the free gas is gone...hence the new plan.
My goal is of course to heat the upstairs completely without the electric heaters and possible put a little heat in the basement...confused...me too...lol. I've lurked on you all for the last year and welcome ANY suggestions.
..I wait patiently with beer and cigar in hand.
Sounds like you need to do what cord wood burners do and that is put a fan back by the bedrooms on the floor blowing the cold air back toward the stove room Works a treat. It is replaced by warm air coming back to ya. A convection loop.
Thanks Bart, I think that would work too, except for my back bathroom which isn't a real big deal. Lots of options as I'm sure many of you have gone through, just need to decide. My decision would have been made if I could have put my hands on the Drolet and made sure it was solidly built. The reviews are great but $3000 is a lot of money to put on a stove you've never seen.
I hear ya. Don't know about their pellet puppies but Drolet's wood burners are solid as a rock. Harmans are the Cadillac of the pellet stoves. I just happen to not want a dealer between me and the manufacturer. Personal thing.
I've joked with my wife I should become a dealer for pellet stoves in this area as much research as I've done and the limited dealers in the area...lol.
Yep, not many around here Don. I found a P-68 in Pittsburgh, Pa area for $2500. Pittsburgh is a couple hours away though. Most folks that have stoves around here for sale are the Tractor Supply and Lowes Stoves which may be fine I just don't know much about them and the pictures I've seen on craigslist are rough looking.
In West By God you don't burn them little turds. Ya burn logs like God intended.
Lol...that's true. We are kind of old school and don't like change. I'm and oddball around here
Yeah but West Virginians are the salt of the earth. Good people.
Thanks, a lot of good hardworking people as in your fine state...
Yeah but all of them are a lot farther south of here than I am.
movemaine
Minister of Fire
I think a local dealer for your stove makes a big difference when push comes to shove.
Seasoned Oak
Minister of Fire
That stove is a work of art,as are most harmans. I dont regret the extra $ spent for the harman for a minute. In fact I bought 3 other stoves combined brand new for less money than my TL-300 but i still think the harman was worth every penny and would get one all over again. I love the way they make the new pellet insert look like a wood stove.
FyreBug
Minister of Fire
As mentioned in PM to the OP but for the edifications of everyone here, the ECO-65 is not certified as an "Add-On" furnace. Which means you should not connect it to your standard furnace ductwork. Besides, the blower on the 65 is not strong enough to push the volume of air required for such ductwork.
Here's the link to the distribution kit installation manual which shows what you can and cant do. http://www.drolet.ca/upload/images/accessoires/manuels/hot-air-plenum-kit-3-14-x-10_Manual_002.pdf
depending where you are there is a dealer near Altoona PA called Heating World. He specializes in Pellets and biomass furnaces/boilers and is very competitive.
Here's the link to the distribution kit installation manual which shows what you can and cant do. http://www.drolet.ca/upload/images/accessoires/manuels/hot-air-plenum-kit-3-14-x-10_Manual_002.pdf
depending where you are there is a dealer near Altoona PA called Heating World. He specializes in Pellets and biomass furnaces/boilers and is very competitive.
Thanks Fyrebug, I could still use the Eco 65 with the plenum kit. Altoona is about a 6 hour drive, but I will try to look him up online. Going on a pellet run...I appreciate all the help folks.
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