I'm going to buy my first pellet stove. I have been on this site getting as much info as possible. Thanks for all the expertise. My main question was is it worth paying thousands more for a Harman stove vs an Englander? Are Harmans that much better than Englanders to pay 2 to 3 thousand dollars more. I don't need an artistic masterpiece, just a stove that does its job providing heat and not causing problem after problem. Please help. I'm new at this and don't want to spend more money than necessary but also don't want to waste my money. Thank you for your help.
Buying first pellet stove
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ChandlerR
Minister of Fire
I wish I could afford a Harman. They seem to be very well made and work well. The realities of it is I just can't. I will say that if or when I am in the market for a new stove, Englander is at the top of my list. Two reasons. Affordability and customer service.
Woody1911a1
Feeling the Heat
please let us know what your situation is . ie : how big is your house or space you wish to heat ? how well is it insulated ? etc......
MF friend has a Harmon xxv and a p68. I like them both. They look great and put out fantastic heat. I was going to buy a p68 but need more time to save. I was having issues about spending over $4k on a stove. What if I don't like the inconvenience? What if it doesn't heat like I want It to?
I stumbled upon AM/FM energy web
site online. After careful thought I ordered A refurbished multi fuel CPM. 4 seasons burning now and I couldn't be happier. It has more than exceeded my expectations. I still like the Harmon stoves, but I love my Englander.
I stumbled upon AM/FM energy web
site online. After careful thought I ordered A refurbished multi fuel CPM. 4 seasons burning now and I couldn't be happier. It has more than exceeded my expectations. I still like the Harmon stoves, but I love my Englander.
I can't tell you anything about owning an Englander stove. I personally think spending the extra on a Harman is worth it. My father owns a Harman as well as another brand of stove. Even after two years, the Harman has already been worth the extra investment over his second stove.
I could not be happier with my XXV. And I love the fact that it is made in the USA. (as is the englander)
Not having experience with Englander, I cannot commend on reliability. But I do know that Harman's are known for reliability.
No matter how great customer service is, you still don't want to be dealing with them all the time.
If you can afford it. You won't regret spending the extra money.
I could not be happier with my XXV. And I love the fact that it is made in the USA. (as is the englander)
Not having experience with Englander, I cannot commend on reliability. But I do know that Harman's are known for reliability.
No matter how great customer service is, you still don't want to be dealing with them all the time.
If you can afford it. You won't regret spending the extra money.
IHATEPROPANE
Minister of Fire
Try to figure out how much stove you need to heat with.
The Englander stoves are the best bang for your buck in my opinion. The EP and CPM are good models....the EP has a better heat exchanger but the CPM offers a little less maintenance with its pot stirrer.
One thing to consider if you go with a Harman is they hold their resale value very well
The Englander stoves are the best bang for your buck in my opinion. The EP and CPM are good models....the EP has a better heat exchanger but the CPM offers a little less maintenance with its pot stirrer.
One thing to consider if you go with a Harman is they hold their resale value very well
I have an older three story home with blown in insulation. My goal would be to place in the dining room and heat the first floor( 3 rooms). The layout is open so I would hope some heat would go to the 2nd floor( 3 rooms). I didn't measure the exact dimensions of the rooms. I don't expect to use this as a replacement to my oil but to help lessen the load on the oil. The 3rd floor attic is used primarily for storage. I was thinking about the Englander 10 cpm or the Harman P 68. I really liked the look of the harman but the added expense is what I am considering. If I can get a stove that puts out the heat and is dependable, thats more important than what it looks like. The Englanders I looked at were not that bad looking. I would like to thank everyone who replied for their input. The more info I have the better decision I can make.
jack kunicki
Member
There are a lot of nice looking and nice performing stoves out there. That said, go harman if you can. A lot of great features. Other than finding good quality pellets, heating with the harman is a "no brainer".
2011 GT/CS
Member
I have a Harman p43 and a Englander Pdvc 25. Nothing wrong with an Englander but the Harman is one of the. Best purchases I have ever made..
Bioburner
Moderator
Maybe saying what you want to heat will help us help you. Some stoves are better at heating differantly. Can't use a Harman to heat a garage at lower room temps because of the ESP wanting to keep things warmer. Do you mind weekly cleaning or more for once a ton-month? Access to quality pellets or limited to a couple of box store fodder.
ZBrooks
Burning Hunk
Lake Girl
Moderator
What is the footprint of the house so total square footage can be figured out? How is your attic space insulated (floor or ceiling) and how well? Newer windows? Basement or crawl space and insulation in that area?
There are some members that are heating houses over 100 years old (some over 150 years) - each present their own challenges so the more we know the better the advice.
There are some members that are heating houses over 100 years old (some over 150 years) - each present their own challenges so the more we know the better the advice.
BigJohnfromCT
Feeling the Heat
Very roughly speaking, each ton of pellets you burn will reduce that by 100 gallons or so... and even more if the pellet stove heats the room you live in and you keep the rest of the house cooler.
I am not aware of any Englander that is close to the heating capacity (ie BTUs) of the bigger Harman stoves. I think you would need two 10CPMs to equal a P68.
mik_kane
Feeling the Heat
Take a look at Craigs list, there is always someone selling their Harman stove. You will find better deals in the spring if you can wait.
Good luck
Good luck
9 degrees out and 69 degrees inside. My CPM is keeping up wonderfully. My furnace hasn't been on in 4 years. That's by choice. I chose pellets over propane. I'm saving 1500 gal of propane a year. My home is 2500 Sq ft and the only complaints are when the temperature dips below 68. That's only because I took it off hi/low with a thermostat. Good luck with your decision.
mik_kane
Feeling the Heat
jdinny
Burning Hunk
I was going to buy a Quad Classic Bay, till I saw a Harman P43 run.
I went with the P43.
Awesome heat, very easy to clean
I bought it to heat 1200 sq ft of my 2100 sq ft cape chalet, surprised me, it's heating the whole house
I went with the P43.
Awesome heat, very easy to clean
I bought it to heat 1200 sq ft of my 2100 sq ft cape chalet, surprised me, it's heating the whole house
mik_kane
Feeling the Heat
I'm debating this same situation. I've got a 3000+ sq ft house, currently running a POS Thelin that came with it. It's been the biggest pain, so I want to replace it this summer. Debating the same thing is the Harman worth the extra $2k+? I don't mind spending big money on something that will work very well, but I don't want to throw money away either if the Englander will do the job. House is decently insulated. Basically I want the pellet stove with the most output possible with minimal maintenance (I've spent enough time over the past 3 years wrestling with the Thelin, that I don't mind paying for something good. Also would be nice if I could clean out the ash while it runs, or at it can hold more than 12 hours of ash without almost catching on fire.
ports did you decide yet?
ports did you decide yet?
Bioburner
Moderator
Had another Thelin insert owner throw in the towel on his stove. Now is getting a 35i as a replacement. Minimal effort is what the Harman can be. Load, plug in and turn up the heat. Once in a while pull the ash lip off and monthly ash bin dump and stove cleaning that take a very short time and straight easy. You tube cleaning videos to see how easy. Not many stoves with that minimal effort.
John Fortier
Feeling the Heat
- Sep 29, 2013
- 450
That would be me
The Harman is on the way as I type. Delayed by one day. Soo looking forward to watching the Thelin go out the door. Will post photo later...just hope Im not dreaming and this all goes down without a hitch.
Clay H
Feeling the Heat
I'm debating on the 35i and the 52i. Price difference is almost a grand but not sude if the 35i can heat my house as well as the 52i. 1800' and well insulated with new windows. I have an older St. Croix now and its going on 10 years old. Its loud and hard to clean so I want something else.
Any insight?
acammer
Burning Hunk
The Englander 25-IP has a BTU output of 35k, just a little better than the Harman P43. But that's the most output of any current Englander stove that I'm aware of. The 25-IP is nearly half the price of the P43. If you've gotta have major output, the P68 is the way to go with ~50K output that should easily roast you out of just about any home. For me, I think the Englander is a fine way to go. If money is no object the Harman does offer an edge in quality, fit and finish, and major output on the big stoves. But, you really got to shell out for that, and for me the whole pellet fuel concept was about value, and so I applied those principals and went with an Englander personally. No regrets.
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