which pellet stove insert to buy ????

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

domenick

Member
Oct 9, 2013
16
I have been saving and researching a pellet insert for my useless fireplace lol. A few brands i have been looking at is Harman, Enviro, and napeolean. I own a ranch style house approx 1500-1700 sq ft. I desperately need advice as this would be my first pellet stove. Paying 300-500 a month in oil is starting to get to me. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
I have been saving and researching a pellet insert for my useless fireplace lol. A few brands i have been looking at is Harman, Enviro, and napeolean. I own a ranch style house approx 1500-1700 sq ft. I desperately need advice as this would be my first pellet stove. Paying 300-500 a month in oil is starting to get to me. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

It's going to come down to a matter of preference. For me I have the Harman Accentra and love it. But I'm sure you'll hear from others who swear by the Enviro and Napolean. I think the Harman is top of the line and so far I am very happy with my purchase!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lousyweather
I'd personally go with a harman. The 52i? I like my quad but loved my harman.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lousyweather
I had an Enviro M55 cast insert installed last year. I live in an 1,800 sf raised ranch with electric heat. Last winter I was able to heat the whole upstairs (1,500 sf) with just the stove. I burned about 3 tons of pellets. I'm very happy with the stove. I've been thinking about getting a smaller Enviro for the finished basement.
 
Harman Accentra!! Love it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lousyweather
i see a lot of people pointing toward harman accentra. im gonna narrow it down to either the Enviro m55 or the harman accentra. its gonna be a tough decision
 
I had the Harman Accentra insert in my last home and couldn't recommend it more. Outstanding build quality, and outstanding stove. It's also very attractive, aesthetically. Good luck with your decision.
 
Last edited:
I had an Enviro M55 cast insert installed last year. I live in an 1,800 sf raised ranch with electric heat. Last winter I was able to heat the whole upstairs (1,500 sf) with just the stove. I burned about 3 tons of pellets. I'm very happy with the stove. I've been thinking about getting a smaller Enviro for the finished basement.

We have an Enviro M55 cast insert too.
Heated 2000 sq ft (including upstairs) on 3.4 tons of Thurmans
Wife ran the stove all winter, including weekly cleans.
Its a great stove.
 
  • Like
Reactions: roadrunnermoore
I just bought by accentra insert 3 weeks ago and couldn't be happier. I ended up finding a 2012 left over at a local dealer and got 20 % off bringing it down to $3300. I love it! Easy to clean and bottom feed auger and temp probe system is awesome! Hurry up and make your decision so can start the real fun....trying out different pellets!
 
i see a lot of people pointing toward harman accentra. im gonna narrow it down to either the Enviro m55 or the harman accentra. its gonna be a tough decision

M55 all the way! Advantages over Harman Accentra - 6lbs per hour vs. 5 lbs per hour, 60 lbs hopper vs. 47lbs hopper, better heat exchanger = more efficient heat transfer with less particulate output, operation is less noisy (a very quiet machine), and you can use a conventional thermostat! All this and it's probably less money...
 
  • Like
Reactions: roadrunnermoore
Not positive, but, the M55 should be the same as the Vistaflame that I have. (you guys can correct me if Im wrong) I can say that I'm very happy with it. Got a pretty good deal on it and it's been perfect for me. I heat a 1000sf ranch with it and it have pleanty of kick left. I hardly ever have to use more that level 1.
 
Anyone know how the M55 or Accentra compare with a Harman Invincible as far as blower noise level? My Invincible is just too damn loud.
 
I don't know how loud the other inserts are, but the M55 does not seem that loud to me. It's right under the TV in my living room, and I only have to tuen the volume up a notch or two when the stove is on. I think the humidifier makes more noise.
 
This is a loaded question because everyone has there opinions. I bought an Enviro Milan insert 3 years ago, this will be my 3rd year with it. I love it, but I also made the mistake of going to small. It does a good job heating my 2300 sq.ft. colonial. I still need to use oil but doing the math I burn half the oil I used to burn since the pellet stove ( I'll get back to this). Like you I was looking at Harmans and a few other brands. I ended up going with the Enviro because of customer service. It is second to none!!! When I was deciding I came across posts about bad customer service but every post about Enviro customer service was good. CS is important to me. My dealer sells all brands and told me the same thing, that they love dealing with Enviro and that there is no BS. They actually stopped carrying some other brands because of the headaches with customer service. It's going to come down to what you like.

Keep in mind, at least with me, when buying an insert you can expect to have to clean the ash pretty much every night, maybe you can wait 2 nights if your lucky depending on the pellet you use. My ash pan is so small, only about an inch below the burn pot that a nightly ash cleaning is in order. I've learned to deal with it though, if I had to do it all over again, and it was possible, I would have gotten a free standing stove because it can hold much more ash.

As for the oil I use, and money I save, everyone is different. At the end of the day I probably saved $800 - $1200 a year. Which is a lot of money but nothing that drastic. The difference is I am still paying for oil and saving some money but I'm warm and comfortable in my house!!! Before the pellet stove I was paying money to be cold. The heat was never above 65 in the house and I was freezing. The stove keeps the house (upstairs) at about 67 and the downstairs at about 73. Good luck

The short answer to your question is Enviro because of customer service.
 
This is a loaded question because everyone has there opinions. I bought an Enviro Milan insert 3 years ago, this will be my 3rd year with it. I love it, but I also made the mistake of going to small. It does a good job heating my 2300 sq.ft. colonial. I still need to use oil but doing the math I burn half the oil I used to burn since the pellet stove ( I'll get back to this). Like you I was looking at Harmans and a few other brands. I ended up going with the Enviro because of customer service. It is second to none!!! When I was deciding I came across posts about bad customer service but every post about Enviro customer service was good. CS is important to me. My dealer sells all brands and told me the same thing, that they love dealing with Enviro and that there is no BS. They actually stopped carrying some other brands because of the headaches with customer service. It's going to come down to what you like.

Keep in mind, at least with me, when buying an insert you can expect to have to clean the ash pretty much every night, maybe you can wait 2 nights if your lucky depending on the pellet you use. My ash pan is so small, only about an inch below the burn pot that a nightly ash cleaning is in order. I've learned to deal with it though, if I had to do it all over again, and it was possible, I would have gotten a free standing stove because it can hold much more ash.

As for the oil I use, and money I save, everyone is different. At the end of the day I probably saved $800 - $1200 a year. Which is a lot of money but nothing that drastic. The difference is I am still paying for oil and saving some money but I'm warm and comfortable in my house!!! Before the pellet stove I was paying money to be cold. The heat was never above 65 in the house and I was freezing. The stove keeps the house (upstairs) at about 67 and the downstairs at about 73. Good luck

The short answer to your question is Enviro because of customer service.
I had an Enviro M55 cast insert installed last year. I live in an 1,800 sf raised ranch with electric heat. Last winter I was able to heat the whole upstairs (1,500 sf) with just the stove. I burned about 3 tons of pellets. I'm very happy with the stove. I've been thinking about getting a smaller Enviro for the finished basement.
If i go with the m55 insert will i need an oak.How would i do that in a brick chimney. I was thinking of running a 4" stainless liner to the top but not sealing at top.Make a dampner blocking plate insulate on top and have the oak go up a couple feet.through it. Would that work. Also would it be a pain because its not built in the frame system.
 
i see a lot of people pointing toward harman accentra. im gonna narrow it down to either the Enviro m55 or the harman accentra. its gonna be a tough decision
Where are you located?

Also, do you have a clean out in the bottom of the fireplace? Many people just run the oak into it and seal it with fibreglass.
 
Where are you located?

Also, do you have a clean out in the bottom of the fireplace? Many people just run the oak into it and seal it with fibreglass.
No cleanout its just a fire brick floor. I live in westchester ny
 
Enviro M55 here. Love the stove. Had it installed last week of Jan this yr. Ran really well for the remainder of the Winter.
Stove is relatively quiet. Like 1 other poster said I only turn the tv which is right near the stove up a notch or 2.
Puts out plenty of heat. Can't go wrong with this stove.
 
If i go with the m55 insert will i need an oak.How would i do that in a brick chimney. I was thinking of running a 4" stainless liner to the top but not sealing at top.Make a dampner blocking plate insulate on top and have the oak go up a couple feet.through it. Would that work. Also would it be a pain because its not built in the frame system.

I don't use an OAK so I can't help you with this one.
 
Go Harman. Love my P35i, Easily heats my 1700sq ft. colonial.
 
If you go Harman make sure you have a good dealer with a good service department. I bought mine and then Harman took away the ability for them to sell or service them due to the place changing owners. Needed the Weldment replaced due to a hole that burned threw it and ended up spending close to $400 for labor to get it repaired when it was still under warranty.
 
P35i. I now have 2 as I liked my first so much.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.