whta stove to get

www.amfmenergy.com/manufacturer-refurbished-stoves.html

Yes, if you decide to re-use the existing stove pipe, you'll need adapters to connect to 3" pipe.

Take a look at the Bixby Maxfire, multi-fuel, solid build, heat monster, and easy maint.

I've got the Englander/Summers Heat 55 and I am very happy with it. Heats my entire 2 stories, 2500s/f home. At $1700 brand new, its not a huge investment to "get your feet wet". I was originally thinking of getting a Harman at first, but at $3500 it was a major financial risk. After hearing a lot of good feedbacks on this forum I went with the 55 and was ecstatic to find it could do more than merely supplement my dependency on propane. Its been warm here too, but we had a couple of nights in the teens and the HVAC didn't kick on at all. Another plus was that I opened up a Lowe's credit card acct when I purchased the stove, so now I break my payment down by 6 months (0% interest) instead of dipping straight into my savings. Good luck

Buying a used stove can be rewarding or it can be a nightmare.

Now to clarify my statement.

If you are handy with tools and can do your own work, then buyng a used stove can be a real cost savings.

If you must hire things done, then the plan can have many a caviat.

I have purchased new stoves in the past, NEVER AGAIN.

Far too costly for my budgit.

I have experience as an engineer as well as a machinist, welder, carpenter, electrician and other skills.


The last two stoves that I installed here at our home were Craigs list deals that I found very cheap.

Both were early/mid 90s whitfields that were in good mechanical shape with lots of life left in them.


Both required a complete disassembly along with a thorough cleaning and servicing.

One got a partial repaint just before being installed.

My total out of Pocket cost for two stoves was $400 and one came with a hearth pad.

All told the two stoves INSTALLED with a new raised hearth for one and new pipe for both cost Less than $1000

Probably in the $800 range for everything.

Soem brands can be a great find used, others can be far more costly to repair if need be.

Do you want an auto light model, T stat controls and all manner of fancy goodies ??? or a simple manual light unit that is pretty basic.

The more complex the unit, the more costly it can be to fix if it has problems.


Your existing 8" chimney should be fine. You will need to run approved 3" pellet pipe from the stove to the exisiting 8 inch and install things as per the manufactures installation instructions.


Also all local codes will need to be followed.

If your area requires a permit and an inspection, these issues must be addressed too.

Most inspectors follow the manufactures book on the stuff as far as clearances and such.

Many of the older stoves can be a great deal.

My advice is to stay away from models that were short lived (company folded quickly) although many of these stoves were built like tanks and used standard off the shelf parts, and can be fixed up easily to provide years of good service.

Just because a particular make is no longer built does not exclude them from consideration.

The whitfield for example, was well built, came in many sizes and styles and work great.
Most all needed repair parts are still available.

When buying a contemporary stove thats still produced today, I worry about why someone is selling it.

There are many reasons that folks sell a stove, did not work right, did not like pellet heat, bought a bigger/smaller unit.

The list of reasons that folks sell stoves is almost without end.

One I have was bought to heat an older home during the fall while a remodel of the home was winding up and the central heat system had not yet been completed.

The other stove had been in a Mobile Home and the owners passed on and the Estate was being sold off.

You have lots of choices, some of which can be tedious and others that are easy.

The troopers here at the forum have a combined experience that just can't be beat anywhere and will certainly give you plenty of great advice.


The nicest parts of a used pellet stove is the ease of swapping it out for a different one, should you want to upgrade in a year or two.

Its not like installing a fireplace or a heat pump or hot water boiler, where you are pretty well stuck with it.

An afternoon, a few buddies, some simple tools, a handtruck and maybe call for a Pizza and you can swap in a different stove.


A stove install party can be great fun.


I asked a friend over to help me install my big Whitfield.

We carried the stove inside in pieces and reassembled it in place on the new raised hearth.

A few well checked measurements, some hole cutting in the wall, a little vent install and within an hour or so it was time to lite a fire.

Ohhhh Yessss a Pellet stove install can be a rewarding time.

Have fun and you MUST post some piccy's after you get yours installed :cheese:

Snowy

I bought my Heritage for $1200 used, 2 years old. I'd find what you want, and then like a car, look for a gently used model that has depreciated some. Between my stoves, I bought my Hearthstone for $1600 less than list and my Woodstock for $1250 less than list buying a factory demo. That's almost $3,000 savings. I don't go for pellets only because if things get really rough, you can always scrounge up some wood or barter for it if you don't have land. Generally, the only way to get pellets is cash out.

mr cob said:

Take a look at the Bixby Maxfire, multi-fuel, solid build, heat monster, and easy maint.

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I'll second the Bixby. I have had them for 6 years and did any maintenance myself. You can buy a new one for 1500 to 2000 and that is about half price.
There is money to be saved buying a used stove but be aware that there is a reason it is for sale. Maybe the owner wants a newer larger stove with more convenience. Maybe it is a obsolete antique. Maybe the owner wanted a newer stove that is more efficient. Some stoves push a lot of heat out the exh and others are much more efficient at capturing the heat and pushing it into the house. Sometimes people just don't like the stove and want a better one. One important thing to remember is when you run that stove wide open trying to get as much heat as possible you will be sending more heat up the exhaust then if it were running 75% of the capacity. So it is better to buy a stove that is rated a little bigger rather then to small.
Some stoves require hand lighting and cleaning everyday. Others are made to run unassisted using a thermostat and can run 24-7 as the owner needs only to dump the ash bucket and add fuel and that can be done with the stove running. Then once a month do a monthly cleanup which takes 15 minutes and you are back running.
A true multifuel stove is a good purchase as you can burn many fuels in it. They are designed for that purpose. A pellet stove can burn a blend of pellets and grain but isn't designed for grain or other materials. Look for a stove that allows you to adjust the feedrate and exh fan speed to your needs. Some stoves don't have that feature and that will restrict your fuel choices.
Watch for stoves that were the first of a new model because usually there will be problems with a new model and sometimes the improvements weren't done to a older model.
Any stove will have problems and most of the time there is a learning curve in running one. Keep in mind most of the problems will be operator error and once you get used to "it" they will seem simple.

Buy used. Save some cash. Just make sure you see it burning. Most any problem you encounter can be remedied through the help on this forum.

Buying a used stove is like buying a used car. If you are informed and know what you are looking for and kick the tires etc. You can had a great deal.
I always to try to buy used on most items. There are exceptions.

I just cant see paying an arm and a leg on something when there are so many great deals out there on previously owned stoves.

My first was a used one. Saved a few bucks and had no issues. Make sure they run before you drag them home.

Those AM/FM stoves are also a heck of a deal.

j-takeman said:

Those AM/FM stoves are also a heck of a deal.

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X2.... Thats where my unit came from.

Cumberland, its multifuel, great features, cheap, easy to clean, really throws heat.

how well your home is insulated is the key to heating your home WELL and CHEAP with pellets.

jdempsey said:

j-takeman said:

Those AM/FM stoves are also a heck of a deal.

Click to expand...

X2.... Thats where my unit came from.

Click to expand...

X3 That's where I bought mine too.