Hartman p38 or p43

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J

Jasbolto

New Member
Oct 14, 2012
30
Manchester NH
I am looking at the p38 and p43 I would like to get the 38 because it is a little cheaper but don't want to find out that it is not big enough for my house. I have a 1400sq ft cape built in the 50s I just blew some extra insulation into the attic and the eves and I live in Bedford NH anyone's opinions would be welcome.
Jason
 
Will this be your main source of heat? Most of the advice I've seen given on this site is usually to go with the bigger stove because its better to have extra btus available in case you do need them and its better to run a stove at a medium setting than to run a smaller stove full-bore. I'm sure the experts will be along soon.
The P43 would also give you auto-ignition whereas the P38 is a manual-start stove. And some of us will gently tell you that it's Harman, not HarTman ==c
Good luck with your choice!

ETA: Oops, I guess Daksy corrected me on the BTU issue. I knew they were the same size but didn't know about the turbo on the P38. Learn somethin' new every day!
 
I have an 1100 sq. ft. cape built in 1930. I also blew in insulation. I'm very glad I have the P-61.
 
Jasbolto said:
I am looking at the p38 and p43 I would like to get the 38 because it is a little cheaper but don't want to find out that it is not big enough for my house. I have a 1400sq ft cape built in the 50s I just blew some extra insulation into the attic and the eves and I live in Bedford NH anyone's opinions would be welcome.
Jason
Click to expand...

It`s plenty big enough if your house is reasonably well insulated. The P-38 can really throw a lot of heat when you turn it up.
If you have doubts , just go for a bigger stove.
 
Keep in mind the P38 plus is about 43,000 BTUs on Turbo but you have to light it yourself. The P43 is about 43,000 BTUs as well but it has electronic ignition.
 
Jasbolto said:
Sorry about the Hartman that was the autocorrect on the iPad
Click to expand...

Lol, no problem. I just got to you before some of the other guys. Amazing how many different spellings come up for Harman ;lol
 
Both stoves have the same output. Harman did away with the "Turbo" setting a while ago. IMO, the turbo setting was a cheesy gimmick made to make consumers think it was some sort of afterburner. Look at it as a setting of 10....or 11 if you're a Spinal Tap fan.

The only difference between the stoves is the 43 has auto ignite. The 38+ doesn't. If you're in a warmer part of the country where you think the pellet stove on LOW will overheat your house, then the auto ignite may be for you. If you live in a well insulated home and don't mind the 2 min it takes to light the stove, save some $$ and go for the 38.

I highly doubt either of your choices would be undersized.
 
I don't think either if those will heat the way you are hoping. I would go with either the P61 or P68. Both are more expensive but will handle that house better.
 
I have a P38. If I had a choice of the two I'd go for the P43 because of the ignition and room temp probe. Not sure if either will totally handle heating your needs. Go to the Harman web site and sometimes they have a $100 off coupon. ..
 
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Go for the P43. Just having automatic ignition is worth it, especially if you ever want to add a setback thermostat in the future.

My P35i heats my 1900 sq.foot house just fine, so size wise you should be fine
 
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I had a similiar home and was a heat sink even after all the upgrades. I think you will need a bit more stove than the two stoves you are looking at. IMO.
My newer home takes less than 20,ooo when its cold,30,000 with -20 and 40mph winds
 
gfreek said:
I have a P38. If I had a choice of the two I'd go for the P43 because of the ignition and room temp probe. Not sure if either will totally handle heating your needs. Go to the Harman web site and sometimes they have a $100 off coupon. ..
Click to expand...

I believe the all the 38's ship with the room temp probe. Mine has it. I believe when Harman switched to the new style controls, that became a factory inclusion.

Interesting to see the difference of opinions in regard to BTU requirements.
 
Echoing what has been said, the 38 or 43 may do the job just fine; but it would be working pretty hard. Hit a cold spell and there's a good chance you won't have any more pedal left. I think I would go for the P68. I think it would be a better fit. I have both a P38 and a P68. I have an L shaped 2300 sq. ft. ranch. Because of the shape and where I had to put the 68, I needed the 38 to balance the heat. If you buy the 38 or 43, and then find that it doesn't do the job, you may have to supplement with oil. Easily you could spend another $1000 for oil. Which is about the difference in the 43 and the 68.

Tom C.
 
I wouldnt think of the 38 because of the manual ignition....I have a Accentra insert which is 42,500 btu,and when it gets down to the single digits with a wind...it struggles to heat my 1000 sq ft ranch.
Lucky i have a Harman mark3 coal stove in the basement for those nights.
I would get the p61
 
I believe the all the 38's ship with the room temp probe.
Click to expand...
Forgot new P38 has this..but still would do P43..
 
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P38X2 said:
Both stoves have the same output. Harman did away with the "Turbo" setting a while ago. IMO, the turbo setting was a cheesy gimmick made to make consumers think it was some sort of afterburner. Look at it as a setting of 10....or 11 if you're a Spinal Tap fan.

The only difference between the stoves is the 43 has auto ignite. The 38+ doesn't. If you're in a warmer part of the country where you think the pellet stove on LOW will overheat your house, then the auto ignite may be for you. If you live in a well insulated home and don't mind the 2 min it takes to light the stove, save some $$ and go for the 38.

I highly doubt either of your choices would be undersized.
Click to expand...

I just started selling Harman yesterday does the highest setting on the 38 plus put it at 43,000 Max BTU's? I just wanted to make sure.
 
moburns said:
I just started selling Harman yesterday does the highest setting on the 38 plus put it at 43,000 Max BTU's? I just wanted to make sure.
Click to expand...
IMG_2012102342729.jpg

Photo is from an older P38+ brochure.

The new stoves are 7K-43K BTU's. Its not rated from 0 because it doesn't have auto ignite.

I'm heating a 2400sq' colonial. Admittedly, I got the stove around late February but there were plenty of low teen nights and I never saw the stove running close to WOT. I had the same concerns as you regarding the size of the stove and was told by 2 different people at the dealer that it would be more than adequate. So far it has been. I kept saying idk, idk, I think I should go with the P61 and they said the 38+ will be fine. They just as easily could've told me otherwise to make the extra $$$ but they didn't.
 
I have an older P38 in a 4 bedroom ranch and love it. I added one in-the-wall fans and one corner fan for the hallway. That corner fan throws heat to the end of the house with no issues. Simple lighting trick is to use some hand sanitizer on the pellets (evenly coat them first), light with torch for 1-2 min and done. Never had a problem lighting that way...
 
I have an 1800 sq. ft ranch that I'm heating with a P61A and suspect it may be too much stove for my needs (this is my first season with it so we'll see soon enough). I live way up near Watertown, NY (The North Country as we call it) and experience very cold, windy winters. I'd go with a P43 given you have a relatively small area to heat. At the most maybe a Harman XXV or P61A but certainly would avoid the P68 as that is far more stove than you need.
 
Chain said:
I have an 1800 sq. ft ranch that I'm heating with a P61A and suspect it may be too much stove for my needs (this is my first season with it so we'll see soon enough). I live way up near Watertown, NY (The North Country as we call it) and experience very cold, windy winters. I'd go with a P43 given you have a relatively small area to heat. At the most maybe a Harman XXV or P61A but certainly would avoid the P68 as that is far more stove than you need.
Click to expand...
That stove should be perfect for your needs. I would stay away from the XXV though.
 
a5t1 said:
I have an older P38 in a 4 bedroom ranch and love it. I added one in-the-wall fans and one corner fan for the hallway. That corner fan throws heat to the end of the house with no issues. Simple lighting trick is to use some hand sanitizer on the pellets (evenly coat them first), light with torch for 1-2 min and done. Never had a problem lighting that way...
Click to expand...

I actually just tried using hand sanitizer the other day. Worked very well and is cheaper than starter gel. While not as flammable due to being only 63% alcohol and the rest water (I think) it actually worked better than the gel because the water broke down the top pellets into sawdust that ignited easier than formed pellets. Just hit it with my trusty zippo, did the door open for a minute routine, and off she went.
 
Was just in local building store and they were closing out liters of hand sanatizer that was 70 percent booze for $3. Next isle was gel starter quarts for $7
 
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