I live in Central Massachusetts. Our house was built in 2003 and it came with a propane insert fireplace. The thing is basically useless, puts out no heat and because propane is not our primary fuel (we're oil), it costs a fortune to use. I think last year we paid $6 / gal, believe it or not.
We decided on a pellet stove to supplement the oil heat especially downstairs. We have about 1500 sq. feet downstairs. Pretty open plan. We looked at the Harman Accentra and Quadrafire Mount Vernon AE inserts.
In the end we have decided on the Mount Vernon, for noise level and automatic control. It's not cheap and probably not a fast payoff on it, but we also like the aesthetics and the fact that it's closer to a carbon neutral way of getting a warmer home, so there's an intangible value also.
Thanks in advance for any help and I promise to post pics pre and post installation.
We decided on a pellet stove to supplement the oil heat especially downstairs. We have about 1500 sq. feet downstairs. Pretty open plan. We looked at the Harman Accentra and Quadrafire Mount Vernon AE inserts.
In the end we have decided on the Mount Vernon, for noise level and automatic control. It's not cheap and probably not a fast payoff on it, but we also like the aesthetics and the fact that it's closer to a carbon neutral way of getting a warmer home, so there's an intangible value also.
- The one thing I cannot seem to get a good solution for is that I want the downstairs fan to come on at high point, say 75F and auto switch off at lower point in order to even the temperature across the zone. The family room where the stove will be has the main downstairs t-stat. I have read about t-stats that will run the fan every 20 mins for 10 mins (circulate mode), and that might work, but I don't think I'd want that happening ALL the time. Does anyone know of device that either acts like cool mode (fan only, no A/C mode) in addition to regular H/C modes. Or one that can circulate on schedule? I do want to fall back to oil heat during the overnight and unoccupied day time, so I am probably asking a lot.
- I also have a concern that maybe what I expect to happen, i.e. moving warm air through the existing air ducts WON'T work. That as the air as it gets moved it will cool more. So doing nothing at all and letting natural convection spread it around may be better?
- The exterior of Mount Vernon with the decorative casting has 45" width, and our mantlepiece wood to wood is 45 3/4". That doesn't leave a lot of space between the casting and the wood. Any thoughts on whether that would look OK, or even work at all? The installer said they can custom make a surround, but we like the casting look.
- I read some reviews of the Mount Vernon and it seemed like some people experience a lot of problems with them. A lot of these reviews are older I hasten to add. I read through this forum and other serious forums and don't see anything to be concerned about. I guess my last question is, was this a good choice from reliability standpoint?
Thanks in advance for any help and I promise to post pics pre and post installation.
