A dealer is saying that fake logs screw up the burn ( P68 etc)

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I agree with your wife...and the Harman Dealer's advice. We had the Accentra insert and LOVED the look of it. That said, it simply was not built for really cold weather. We became frustrated by how often we had to monitor the pellets in the hopper (small hopper, so it would be very close to empty when waking up in the morning), and how frequently we had to shut the stove down to empty the very small ash pan. That was enough for me to not even consider another insert when we moved into our new house. Even though I still prefer the looks of the Accentra over any free standing stove, the heat output and conveniences of the P series was FAR more important to me. Not to mention, if you get the nickel trim kit and a decorative tile, you can make the P series look quite nice. The other major difference I noticed is that the Accentra absolutely had to be cleaned once a week, and it was not negotiable. I noticed that we would start losing heat/efficiency about 5 days after we cleaned it. With our P68, it only gets cleaned once per month, and I've noticed no heat loss, at all. This thing is a fire breathing dragon, whether clean or not! I also agree with your dealer that the P series is definitely easier to clean than the Accentra insert was. Good luck with your decision.

Another confirmation for the P68 ! Incidentally, the wife doesn't care for the nickle trim but likes the slate insert or one of them anyway. Actually so do I. Still looking but it most likely will be either a P61a or P68 for it's added insurance regarding heat capability. I don't want something that looks pretty on the hearth but barely heats the living room !
 
Another confirmation for the P68 ! Incidentally, the wife doesn't care for the nickle trim but likes the slate insert or one of them anyway. Actually so do I. Still looking but it most likely will be either a P61a or P68 for it's added insurance regarding heat capability. I don't want something that looks pretty on the hearth but barely heats the living room !

Let us know what you end up with. I'm nowhere near the expert that many on these boards are, but I do have one rule for any pellet stove purchase. I will only buy a Harman and I will only buy the largest stove they sell. As I've said before, I've yet to meet a single person who wishes they purchased a smaller stove, or a smaller TV. If Harman made a P90, that's what I would have purchased over the P68.

John
 
They do look cool but call me old fashioned. I like my contemporary look on the p35i and told my wife that I thought the silver and log set would ruin the look. Thank god she agreed:)the dealer even said it's a waste when my wife mentioned it.
 
They do look cool but call me old fashioned. I like my contemporary look on the p35i and told my wife that I thought the silver and log set would ruin the look. Thank god she agreed:)the dealer even said it's a waste when my wife mentioned it.
I told my wife what everyone here has been saying about the log set, she just sat there, didn't say a word. Continued knitting. What in hell is that supposed to mean, comment-less woman you got to be kidding me ! That's like a car race with no roar. Ya I know, I've been married to her for 40 years, if I don't know nobody does ( get the log set, toss it out later).
 
Yes!!!! I agree with you 100%. Those 30-50 degree days (especially with a dampness) become so pleasent with a pellet stove cranking away on heat level one!! I grew up with a coal stove and my house would be unbearable on those days (we kept it running). AND the pellet stove handles the frigid days just fine.

Know the feeling back in the early '80's , xmas day it was a rare 60's outside, went to a party at my uncles, he had a coal stove we all sweated to death, also before I bought my pellet I burned wood, you couldnt stay in the basement too long it was over 90 degree's
 
I told my wife what everyone here has been saying about the log set, she just sat there, didn't say a word. Continued knitting. What in hell is that supposed to mean, comment-less woman you got to be kidding me ! That's like a car race with no roar. Ya I know, I've been married to her for 40 years, if I don't know nobody does ( get the log set, toss it out later).

Take the money you would have spent on a log set and buyer a gift certificate to her favorite knitting store......
 
Take the money you would have spent on a log set and buyer a gift certificate to her favorite knitting store......

Great idea....beyond that I would change the conversation about how much a pain in the neck the log set is to how pretty the flame looks on its own....because at least in my opinion,it does.
 
I told my wife what everyone here has been saying about the log set, she just sat there, didn't say a word. Continued knitting. What in hell is that supposed to mean, comment-less woman you got to be kidding me ! That's like a car race with no roar. Ya I know, I've been married to her for 40 years, if I don't know nobody does ( get the log set, toss it out later).
When a wife says NOTHING, she's saying A LOT! AND YOU BETTER LISTEN! Let her clean the stove for a month and those logs will be nothing but a memory!
 
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Know the feeling back in the early '80's , xmas day it was a rare 60's outside, went to a party at my uncles, he had a coal stove we all sweated to death, also before I bought my pellet I burned wood, you couldnt stay in the basement too long it was over 90 degree's
One good thing about the modern stoker coal stoves is that they can be better regulated for heat output than the hand loaded ones. They work on a thermostat. Back in the 70's I had a top feed Franco Belge and my house was always in the high 70's to 80 in Pa. No control other than draft. At least with the stokers, they slow down the feed rate. Even some of the top loading Keystokers have thermostat control. They've come a long way from Grandpop's ugly monster in the basement and the big grate in the dining room floor that I remember standing over to get warm. Those grates would make wonderful wall decorations now. Hmmmm.
 
I also considered them when I got my stove. Glad I didn't- I'm sure I would have pulled them out by now. Seems like more trouble than they would be worth.

I was told that they don't last long either. The dealer told me one day I'll be cleaning the stove and they'll disintegrate. Way too expensive for that.
 
I told my wife what everyone here has been saying about the log set, she just sat there, didn't say a word. Continued knitting. What in hell is that supposed to mean, comment-less woman you got to be kidding me ! That's like a car race with no roar. Ya I know, I've been married to her for 40 years, if I don't know nobody does ( get the log set, toss it out later).
That silence means she is finished with the questioning of the logs purchase conversation. It seems you have no choice at this point ;)

Put em in there and if something "happens" to them down the road, take em out and just say sorry honey, we tried. My guess is she's gonna be thrilled with just the stove and forget about the logs altogether.

Also, make sure you're out of knitting needle range in the future.
 
I was told that they don't last long either. The dealer told me one day I'll be cleaning the stove and they'll disintegrate. Way too expensive for that.
How long they last depends on how rough you treat them. Mine are two years old and have one chip that I did on the first cleaning. They haven't suffered any damage since.
They aren't that hard to clean either. I put a brush on the ash vac and go over the top of them to collect the loose ash. Then I move them out of the insert so that I can clean it. Added time, about 40 seconds.
 
That silence means she is finished with the questioning of the logs purchase conversation. It seems you have no choice at this point ;)

Put em in there and if something "happens" to them down the road, take em out and just say sorry honey, we tried. My guess is she's gonna be thrilled with just the stove and forget about the logs altogether.

Also, make sure you're out of knitting needle range in the future.
Ya,I'm leaving it at that, like you I know when to quit! I'm just glad she came on board with the p68 after the insert desire passed. She likes the P68 and so do I.

To the poster about coal stokers. I've thought about them, like the concept. However I believe out here there is one source for rice coal, comes out of Boston. I don't care for the concept of a sole source of fuel.
 
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How long they last depends on how rough you treat them. Mine are two years old and have one chip that I did on the first cleaning. They haven't suffered any damage since.
They aren't that hard to clean either. I put a brush on the ash vac and go over the top of them to collect the loose ash. Then I move them out of the insert so that I can clean it. Added time, about 40 seconds.

Oh - I was under the impression that the heat/flame would eventually ruin them.
 
Oh - I was under the impression that the heat/flame would eventually ruin them.
They are made of basically the same stuff as fire brick. I suppose they will wear out eventually, but at over two years I have seen no changes in them.
 
Ya,I'm leaving it at that, like you I know when to quit! I'm just glad she came on board with the p68 after the insert desire passed. She likes the P68 and so do I.

to the poster about coal stokers. I've thought about them, like the concept. However I believe out here there is one source for rice coal, cones out of Boston. I don't care for the concept of a sole source of fuel.
I can't blame you for being afraid of the once source dilemma for coal.
 
I can't blame you for being afraid of the once source dilemma for coal.
I'm getting nut coal pretty consistently now but rice would be the problem. That guy goes belly up and I have a nice high priced hearth ornament. Not to mention the added delivery charge from Boston ( $35, don't know if that is flat out or per ton). I was looking at Reading Stokers ( 85,000 btu), the stove itself is a great concept if you live in coal country with a ready supply of rice coal near by.
 
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I told my wife what everyone here has been saying about the log set, she just sat there, didn't say a word. Continued knitting. What in hell is that supposed to mean, comment-less woman you got to be kidding me ! That's like a car race with no roar. Ya I know, I've been married to her for 40 years, if I don't know nobody does ( get the log set, toss it out later).
Well it sounds like ou have no choice now lol.like you said at least she's on board and excited about the p68.get some pics when you can!
 
Well it sounds like ou have no choice now lol.like you said at least she's on board and excited about the p68.get some pics when you can!
I will but it's a ways away, hoping to do this next month but by then why open up the present setting to the cold weather ? It's burning fine on the cold days of winter ( the coal stove). Might as well wait till march, it would be in for the shoulder season then.

My next series of questions will be on installation if I do it myself. That depends on finances and if I can get my son-in-law, a mason, on board with me. I'd love to just say ok guys you install it and it may just go that way yet . One stove shop gave an arbitrary figure of $500 labor plus materials. The other said $1000-$1500 including labor. He charges $150 for an installation analysis that roles into the purchase when you go through with the sale. Nobody has spoken yet of component quality etc. And we know that's as important as the choice of stove, if not more. But I'll be posting on all this along the way.
 
I will but it's a ways away, hoping to do this next month but by then why open up the present setting to the cold weather ? It's burning fine on the cold days of winter ( the coal stove). Might as well wait till march, it would be in for the shoulder season then.

My next series of questions will be on installation if I do it myself. That depends on finances and if I can get my son-in-law, a mason, on board with me. I'd love to just say ok guys you install it and it may just go that way yet . One stove shop gave an arbitrary figure of $500 labor plus materials. The other said $1000-$1500 including labor. He charges $150 for an installation analysis that roles into the purchase when you go through with the sale. Nobody has spoken yet of component quality etc. And we know that's as important as the choice of stove, if not more. But I'll be posting on all this along the way.
I agree hold of if you can. Here in Connecticut there are only 2 harman dealers near me the first place guy was rude and was charging $1250 for instal the second place night and day difference was charged $850 got a better price and $200 for my trade In .that includeds everything.good luck
 
I agree hold of if you can. Here in Connecticut there are only 2 harman dealers near me the first place guy was rude and was charging $1250 for instal the second place night and day difference was charged $850 got a better price and $200 for my trade In .that includeds everything.good luck
That was a great price IMO. In my case the first guy is nice enough but he has this air of assumption about him that he "will be" doing this install. It's almost as though you feel bad to ask if you can just buy the stove from him. The other guy is nice too but totally opposite the first. The attitude in this case is the install is easy, in fact you could do it yourself. The first guy though, stocks most of the Harman line and several others but says he has never sold a P68 and doesn't stock that one. He has the P61 and about every other stove made I think. The second guy displays them all but stocks none. You order from him , he says it takes about a week to get in. The first guy says any Harman he has will heat our space but he hasn't looked at our space yet ! The second just simply feels bigger is better than too small but recommends to us either the P61 or P68. If we have any doubts, the P68 will certainly do it.

What we know is we want to do this once and for all, the last stove we get. Retirement is very close at hand, we want it all in and in place for our retirement years. Feed it pellets and vac out some antlers and things necessary too !!!!!
 
That was a great price IMO. In my case the first guy is nice enough but he has this air of assumption about him that he "will be" doing this install. It's almost as though you feel bad to ask if you can just buy the stove from him. The other guy is nice too but totally opposite the first. The attitude in this case is the install is easy, in fact you could do it yourself. The first guy though, stocks most of the Harman line and several others but says he has never sold a P68 and doesn't stock that one. He has the P61 and about every other stove made I think. The second guy displays them all but stocks none. You order from him , he says it takes about a week to get in. The first guy says any Harman he has will heat our space but he hasn't looked at our space yet ! The second just simply feels bigger is better than too small but recommends to us either the P61 or P68. If we have any doubts, the P68 will certainly do it.

What we know is we want to do this once and for all, the last stove we get. Retirement is very close at hand, we want it all in and in place for our retirement years. Feed it pellets and vac out some antlers and things necessary too !!!!!
Lol that reminds me of what I went through. I decided after the cheap used stove I bougt a year and a half ago that I wanted I good stove.after doing research I found that I wanted a harman.Now for insert I was debating between the p35i and the accentra.accentra was $1000 more and kinda to fancy for me. The p35ivwas just what I wanted but was afraid that the smaller stove 7thousand btu Less I think. Well I decided on the p35i and knock on wood is even higher than my expectations.Love it and very happy I trusted my gut and went with this over the larger accentra.Also to the fact I liked the p35i look the way it is no silver or Anything.So take your time and trust your gut :)
 
The first guy though, stocks most of the Harman line and several others but says he has never sold a P68 .

The guy is a Harman dealer and has never sold a single P68? Really? Am I the only one who finds this VERY odd?
 
My Invincible definitely burns better with the firebrick installed and the logs in the closet.
 
The guy is a Harman dealer and has never sold a single P68? Really? Am I the only one who finds this VERY odd?
Well too, I don't know how long he has been in business. The second guy has been around for 35 years or more, though the kids run the business now. I believe the first place is pretty new at it but has all the flash over the other. Fancy install truck with Harman plastered all over it etc.
 
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