two wood stoves, or one wood - one pellet

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AKSHADOW

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Sep 30, 2010
67
Fairbanks, AK
Just finished up the first year on my new Blaze King King that I got last November and I was nothing short of impressed. But as the winter is coming to a close, I have decided that I need to do away with one of my oil-fired Toyostove space heaters. I have two, one big and one small that basically serve as back-up/auxiliary heat. They don't put out very much, and are too costly to run for my liking so I'm either going to replace one of them with another wood stove, or a pellet stove. Also considering a coal stove but I think I'd have to come across one cheap to put that in as we only have sub-bituminous coal up here (however it's rather clean burning for a soft coal).

I really would like the flexibility of having two different cheaper-than-oil fuel sources, and the fact that I could just by pellet fuel on a whim. Whereas, I can't just go cut and split more wood and have instant dry wood to burn. One part of me thinks, if I'm already processing the wood, why not just process a little more? If I went with another wood stove, I think I'd get a Princess, Scirocco or Chinook. I also like the automation of a pellet stove, but then again, the Blaze King is pretty easy to run too. The main thing that's stopping me from getting a pellet stove is the high cost of pellets up here and and the high cost of the stove itself.

Thoughts, opinions? Anyone running a wood stove and a pellet stove? I've read quite a few threads from people here running two wood stoves but haven't seem to come across running both pellet and wood. Maybe I'm not paying attention enough though...
 
Personally, I'd go the wood stove route. You already have the tools to cut wood, so yeah, why not cut a little more. Besides having to buy pellets, you also have to be able to work on the stove yourself, or pay someone to do it. There's lots of electronics and augers and blowers and stuff in a pellet stove. While they don't break constantly, you'll need service at some point. Wood stoves are pretty simple, pellet stoves are pretty convenient.
 
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I'd go with a wood stove instead of a pellet stove. You mention cost of fuel as one of the factors in your decision, and the cost of pellets could go up. I'd try to make a push to get a few years ahead on wood, and after that you'll have dry fuel ready for the second stove when you want it.

I will add that as much as I like running one wood stove, I don't think I would want two. Have you considered electric heat as a backup? how are electric rates in Fbks? Electric heaters are cheap and cheap to install. If you aren't going to use the backup heat a lot then the cost per BTU might not be as important as the cost of installation.
 
I am running both. I much prefer the wood stove and if I had it to do all over again I'd go that route.

We have a very nice pellet stove and it is convenient but there are far more moving parts and things to clean. The wood stove is just so darned simple - and quiet - in comparison.

I will say though that the pellet stove will run 24 hours (mine more like 18 but our insulation is lacking) on low on a bag of pellets, which can at least keep pipes from freezing when you're away for more than 12 hours. And it's nice if you're starting cold, to just turn it on and walk away.

So the pellet has its positives but I much prefer wood. :) Hope that helps!
 
Just finished up the first year on my new Blaze King King that I got last November and I was nothing short of impressed. But as the winter is coming to a close, I have decided that I need to do away with one of my oil-fired Toyostove space heaters. I have two, one big and one small that basically serve as back-up/auxiliary heat. They don't put out very much, and are too costly to run for my liking so I'm either going to replace one of them with another wood stove, or a pellet stove. Also considering a coal stove but I think I'd have to come across one cheap to put that in as we only have sub-bituminous coal up here (however it's rather clean burning for a soft coal).

I really would like the flexibility of having two different cheaper-than-oil fuel sources, and the fact that I could just by pellet fuel on a whim. Whereas, I can't just go cut and split more wood and have instant dry wood to burn. One part of me thinks, if I'm already processing the wood, why not just process a little more? If I went with another wood stove, I think I'd get a Princess, Scirocco or Chinook. I also like the automation of a pellet stove, but then again, the Blaze King is pretty easy to run too. The main thing that's stopping me from getting a pellet stove is the high cost of pellets up here and and the high cost of the stove itself.

Thoughts, opinions? Anyone running a wood stove and a pellet stove? I've read quite a few threads from people here running two wood stoves but haven't seem to come across running both pellet and wood. Maybe I'm not paying attention enough though...
Shadow I run both a Harman XXV pellet and a Vermont Castings Encore wood. I was pimarily burning pellets until last winter(a cold one) the pellet stove is at one end of the house an open sunroom and kitchen area and did a great job maintaining temps in that area (house is about 2,800 + sq. ft.) but at the other end which has the family room and the upstairs were still a little chilly. Wife said to me why don't you put a stove in the fireplace which seemed to make sense, we experienced a few power outages which rendered the pellet stove useless because I am still researching generators and back-up. The wood stove (which was run through the evenings mostly) not only toasted up the family room but we also reaped heat benefits upstairs. Just my experience I thought I would pass on to you, pellet consumption last year was 3 tons while the wood was 3 cords. This year burned 2 tons and 2 cords.
 
I'm running 2 Wood stove but 90 percent of the time I just need one stove burning and the other to just take the chill off. I'm strongly considering a gas stove for my basement that I can set on a thermostat and just turn up for more heat as needed. I have considered a pellet stove in the past but it takes electricity and pellets cost just as much or more than gas.
 
One of each for versatility. You already have a wood stove that gets the job done, no reason at all for two.
 
I can't see a pellet stove really gaining anything for you. Unless you are making your own pellets, you are going to be paying for them, just as you are now for fuel oil. The second wood stove would be my choice if you really need the extra heat capacity. Make extra effort to get ahead on your firewood at the start, then maintaining the woodpile in the future will be easier.

I would however be hesitant to sell both oil heaters, as I would want a backup to wood in case you have to be away from the house for an extended period of time, or health prevents you from feeding the stove, it would be nice to have something with a thermostat to turn up for a few days without having to feed the stove.
 
Thanks for all the replies everyone, Jeff -T: you make a good point, I think the weekly maintenance cleaning on a pellet stove would get old. I definitely get away with more than a week on the King.

Wood Duck: the price going up is exactly what I'm afraid of. And with only one local plant its kind of a monopoly. Unfortunately electric heat isn't a great option as our electric prices are sky high.

Mfglickman: I agree, love the simplicity and no moving parts on the wood stove, makes me feel comfortable that if something broke and I couldn't buy it, I could most certainly weld it.

Defiant: sounds like even though you run both, you like the wood stove more for its reliability without power and heat output, I feel the same way

Todd: Pellets only need to go up another 100 bucks a ton to reach oil prices so...starting to look like a not that great of idea

Highbeam: your post gets me motivated to just spend my efforts tightening up the house first and seeing where I stand after. I have really good insulation everywhere, my problem is the previous owner/builder did not do a good job sealing the envelope. lots of cold air leaks

daleaper: I wish I could make my own pellets, seems like a lot of money on the front end, and a lot of hassle after. Thank you for the post, I think this pretty much solidifies what my gut was telling me.

Thanks everyone!
 
I run both.. Wood is cheaper, but between seasoning time, work involved, and equipment..... Pellets are much easier.

I love both. But if I had to choose, Pellets win hands down. Although pellets here are about $180-$220 a ton avg. Even using just pellets, its $800 a yr to heat the house. This yr we used $400 in pellets and about 3 cord of wood. Used to spend about $3,800 in LP...

Wood heat is nice. But a pellet stove needs filled once a day and puts out steady, hot heat. The time for maintenance on the weekends is the same time you will spend tending another stove throughout the week. So the time thing is a crap-shoot.

If its still cheaper than oil, I say pellet. Run it on a t-stat and it will operate just as a furnace does.

Pellets normally go on-sale a couple times a yr around here. I try to stock up when they are on sale. Got 9 ton last yr, w/ most being around $177/ ton.
 
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I have a wood stove (10+ years old) downstairs, & a pellet insert upstairs. Unless it's really cold at night, I won't even bother using the wood stove. I use to go through 3-4 cord of wood & 2-3 bottles of Ibuprofen. The pellet stove is easier, cleaner. Last winter, I heated my house with 4 tons of pellets. Not bad $1,000 to heat my house for the winter.
 
We have two stove, one wood and one pellet. We have a relatively small house, appx 2200Sq. Ft and both stoves run for most of the winter. Wood is pretty accessible to me for free and we loose power very often so its pretty self reliant. We also have a pellet stove which is very easy to operate. Both my kids and wife like the ease of use. I personally prefer the wood stove but i like the flexibility of having both.
 
I run both.. Wood is cheaper, but between seasoning time, work involved, and equipment..... Pellets are much easier.

I love both. But if I had to choose, Pellets win hands down. Although pellets here are about $180-$220 a ton avg. Even using just pellets, its $800 a yr to heat the house. This yr we used $400 in pellets and about 3 cord of wood. Used to spend about $3,800 in LP...

Wood heat is nice. But a pellet stove needs filled once a day and puts out steady, hot heat. The time for maintenance on the weekends is the same time you will spend tending another stove throughout the week. So the time thing is a crap-shoot.

If its still cheaper than oil, I say pellet. Run it on a t-stat and it will operate just as a furnace does.

Pellets normally go on-sale a couple times a yr around here. I try to stock up when they are on sale. Got 9 ton last yr, w/ most being around $177/ ton.
X2, never put your eggs in one basket.:cool: Just a suggestion
 
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We have two stove, one wood and one pellet. We have a relatively small house, appx 2200Sq. Ft and both stoves run for most of the winter. Wood is pretty accessible to me for free and we loose power very often so its pretty self reliant. We also have a pellet stove which is very easy to operate. Both my kids and wife like the ease of use. I personally prefer the wood stove but i like the flexibility of having both.
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I spent 3 hours this weekend picking up, & stacking a few tons of pellets. Another hour (2 tops) & I'm set for next winter. 5 hours with wood - you're not even close. I agree, without power, no pellet stove. Unless you have a generator. Just make sure you put a surge protector between the generator & the stove. I had a friend who fried a motor.
 
I run a wood stove at the one end of our house and a wood cook stove at the other, in an open room facing our kitchen. Worked out perfect! Nice heat and at the same time the cook stove is ready to use. A win-win situation in my eyes.
 
In the original message you mention a coal stove. I run a wood insert in the main living area and a coal stove downstairs. Either stove is enough to keep the house warm on our "normal" winter days. When we get a spell of sub-freezing highs with strong winds we need both stoves.

As with pellets, coal is easy but you are at market whims. I normally tend my coal stove about every 12 hours but have left it alone for as long as 36 hours. It is a radiant stove that puts out a good constant heat. The only drawback with coal is that it takes a little while to get the fire started, in my case about 2 hours from cold stove to steady state burn. Once it is started it requires very little tending and is simple to keep going. It can burn for weeks on end, load coal from the top, shake down, and remove ash from the bottom.

As I have said before, for me coal is easy and wood is cheap.

KaptJaq
 
I would be all over coal if we had anthracite! I burnt coal two winters ago and it went alright, just hard to find a stove that burns bituminous well. It sure is cheap though!
 
Personally, I'd go the wood stove route. You already have the tools to cut wood, so yeah, why not cut a little more. Besides having to buy pellets, you also have to be able to work on the stove yourself, or pay someone to do it. There's lots of electronics and augers and blowers and stuff in a pellet stove. While they don't break constantly, you'll need service at some point. Wood stoves are pretty simple, pellet stoves are pretty convenient.


+1


If it were me I'd stick with wood, bite the bullet and get another Blaze King-King Classic....;)

Reasons being....You know how the stove works, no BS if You loose power, no electric use needed $$$, can have standard back-up parts on hand, run on "1" for some long burns, and if You need it there's a major back up source of heat (You live AK for cripes sakes;lol)


Depending on Your floor plan You maybe able to turn down the T-stat on Your current stove?

Always go for overkill or more than you ASSUME You will need....(That's My Motto)

Also I have to assume You only have soft/medium wood?

If You go with the Princes You will be loading Twice as much....so figure that into the equation? PITA

If You can get pellets in Your region, You might look into getting some "Bio-Bricks" for extra super dry back up fuel? Might even be cost effective if they are made from hard wood?

I have to assume anything is cheaper than Fuel Oil?

Just my $.02
 
I'm with the idea of tightening up those leaks first. You have a big stove, how many square feet are you heating? If you know the place is leaky, a couple grand spent on seriously addressing leakage and maybe some insulating shades (panels or curtains) for the windows will pay back every year. Have a leakage test and energy audit done on the house and then get it sealed well addressing the areas pointed out by the audit. That's free heat with no moving parts!

PS: Is there a functioning primary heating system in the house that you can use as fallback?
 
Personally, I'd go the wood stove route. You already have the tools to cut wood, so yeah, why not cut a little more. Besides having to buy pellets, you also have to be able to work on the stove yourself, or pay someone to do it. There's lots of electronics and augers and blowers and stuff in a pellet stove. While they don't break constantly, you'll need service at some point. Wood stoves are pretty simple, pellet stoves are pretty convenient.

A couple of things - yes, a wood stove is a simpler way to heat than a pellet stove. But how about priorities? Would you rather spend a weekend cutting, splitting, stacking wood OR spending that time with friends & family (i guess that depends on the family). Most pellet stoves only have 3 motors & 1 auger. If it's a good, dependable stove (like Harman), they only need to be serviced once a year at a price somewhere around $150 - preventative maintenance. Sort of like a service contract with the oil company.
 
I went with multiple wood stoves.

My reasons:
  • More control over the price of the fuel.
  • Works without power.
  • Less maintenance and on-going costs.
  • If anything brakes on a wood stove I can fix it myself cheaply, easily, and quickly.
  • I have limited space for indoor/dry storage for pellets.
I did look into coal due to its low fuel costs, long burn times, and easy storage of the fuel. But I read too many problems that I could relate to which prevented me from going in that direction. I still would like to try a coal stove for one winter, though.

If you are going to get a second wood stove, I strongly suggest you think about burn times. Long burn times when running multiple wood stoves is very important.
 
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Thanks for more replies guys. We have spruce for soft wood and birch for medium-hard wood. I burn mostly birch for the btus, but I much prefer handling spruce (I really enjoy the smell). I had an audit done last summer so this summer is my last chance to button everything up that needs addressing (we get a massive energy rebate - $10,000). I really am tempted to get another wood stove, but not sure if I'll need it after I go after the leaks with a vengeance. I've dumped the pellet stove idea. Like has been said, I already do wood, whats a little bit more (if at all). I had two cat stoves i'd probably burn both on low rather than one on high! Hiram has a good point about another king for time between loads, but the new scirocco and chinook would fit very well where the potential second stove would go. To answer BeGreen - I'm heating 1800sqft, two levels. My biggest problem is keeping the heat downstairs.
 
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