How long can you leave it unattended?

  • 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.

Superglyde

Member
Sep 19, 2013
58
So I go to va for thanksgiving and Christmas. I set my cold pump to 50 on emergency that is full electric while I am gone four or five days so the pipes don't freeze.
Now that I have a new harman 52i, can I fill her up with pellets and set it so it lasts 4 or 5 days?
 
I'm off to VA also for thanksgiving. Don't think you can go 4 days. Gonna run outta fuel. You can turn the feed and temp down and maybe get 2 days.
 
It would make a lot more sense, and cost less, to set the heat pump at sixty or sixty five and let is do what it does most efficiently after the pellets run out. Instead of the resistance heat having to hold the temp. Just let it decide when the emergency resistance is needed.
 
So I go to va for thanksgiving and Christmas. I set my cold pump to 50 on emergency that is full electric while I am gone four or five days so the pipes don't freeze.
Now that I have a new harman 52i, can I fill her up with pellets and set it so it lasts 4 or 5 days?


I would say that there probably aren't many pellet stoves built that would last close to four days without having to re-fill the hopper. I know the hopper on my P68 is quite a bit larger than that on the Accentra and I doubt I could go longer than 2 days. I would imagine some hopper extensions could buy you some more time if the stove you own has that as an option to purchase.
 
Our pc45 with factory hopper extention goes three days. But heating 3k sq/ft
 
  • Like
Reactions: rayttt
Back in March of this year we went down to the Caribbean on a cruise and I set my oil burner at 55 while we were gone. It must have barely kicked on. On the day of our return, my in-laws come in and set the pellet stove to 72, so all was warm before we got home.
 
Pay a neighbor kid $20 to look after the place and dump a bag in every night.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rastallama
It would make a lot more sense, and cost less, to set the heat pump at sixty or sixty five and let is do what it does most efficiently after the pellets run out. Instead of the resistance heat having to hold the temp. Just let it decide when the emergency resistance is needed.
+1

I bet the "cold pump" puts out 62-66 degrees at the registers, so keeping it off of emergency heat and not using the stove until your return makes more "cents" to me also.
 
Last edited:
You must live in a warmer climate to have a heat pump, dont see any homes around the NE heated with Cold Pumps
 
I can go weeks! 1500lb bulk hopper:cool:
 
I also have a "cold pump" (pretty accurate given that it cools better than it heats) but unless it's so cold that it uses emergency strips I think you'd be better off at 50-55 or so and NOT on emergency than with pellets. May be a little chilly right when you get home but your stove will resolve that soon enough. Takes way less energy to maintain 50-55 than mid 60s-70s because it's much less difference vs outside temps. Even at $4 / bag pellets are likely more money if you keep house warmer.
 
You must live in a warmer climate to have a heat pump, dont see any homes around the NE heated with Cold Pumps
I'm in Connecticut and use my heat pump all the time. Even when it goes into aux mode I find it not too expensive. I went on vacation for a week in February set the heat pump at 66 and it worked out well.
 
You must live in a warmer climate to have a heat pump, dont see any homes around the NE heated with Cold Pumps

<----- Has a "cold pump" loves it... Although mine is ground source which is far far different then an air source heat pump. Was putting out 98F air when it was 12F the other night.
 
So I go to va for thanksgiving and Christmas. I set my cold pump to 50 on emergency that is full electric while I am gone four or five days so the pipes don't freeze.
Now that I have a new harman 52i, can I fill her up with pellets and set it so it lasts 4 or 5 days?
Ditto the other replies. I can stretch to roughly three days on 80# of pellets in my Integra. If you have a reliable fallback, I'd go with that.
 
Unless you have one HUGE hopper, 4-5 days would be close to impossible
 
Status
Not open for further replies.