Decision time, Harman P43 or Lopi AGP

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canuck_22

Feeling the Heat
Feb 4, 2014
259
Ontario, Canada
God evening all, new here from eastern Ontario Canada, home of the highest electricity rates in Canada and maybe north america. Needless to say I'm fed up and going to do something about it. I have a 20 old year raised bungalow, well insulated, new windows, 1100 sq ft or so. So far I have looked at 2 models as mentioned in the title, I want to make the best decision possible so feel free to bring up another brand. My criteria, 1)naturally reliable 2) lowest noise level 3)lowest/easy maintenance 4)good warranty 5)efficient 6)nice features without being overly complex 7)manufacturer reputation. I am going to install it in the basement, ceiling fan in the split entrance to pull the hot air up. Yes I want the moon;) Looking forward to your guidance, as I said, anything better please bring it up.

Thanks
 
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I love my Harman. I have a few relatives with P43's and they love them. Set it and forget it operation. Reliable. Easy maintenance.
It will certainly be enough for your home. Our XXV is 50k btu, and it keeps our 13 year old 1900 sq ft house warm when it is down to -25 outside.
I think it uses around 180 watts when running, so we haven't really seen much of an increase in our electric bill. I think we pay around $60/ month during the winter.
Good luck.
 
Ill second the P-43. Mine is on second year, and going strong.

Installed a used P-38 ( a 43 with no auto ignite) in my brothers house. He is saving a Ton on oil with a similar house to yours ( still on his October fill up !! ) We just replaced a dying exhaust motor, very easy to work on. Don't even have to move the stove to replace any major components. Cant say that with a lot of stoves.
 
P-43 fo sho!
 
Hello

The APG had some initial problems with the cutter auger for the rotary discs getting jammed. The mod was a more powerful motor. Not sure if I like that design for longevity?
 
Don2222 said:
Hello

The APG had some initial problems with the cutter auger for the rotary discs getting jammed. The mod was a more powerful motor. Not sure if I like that design for longevity?
Click to expand...
Was advised to get a P43 BUT i wanted to push warm air to 2nd floor so went with P61A...
Harmans Rock.. pricey, 3700.00 but well worth the cost. hooked up my own OAK..
maint cleaning is so easy my grandkids could do it if shown..
 
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Thanks folks for the good info. I have read about the issues early on with the AGP and while it looks good and sturdy my fear is that it might be a bit too mechanical.
I want to install mine in the family room in the basement, take care of the dampness as well, for the heat to reach the main floor I was going to put a ceiling fan in the stairwell running in reverse to draw the warm air up, anyone done this or should I go bigger than P43?
 
canuck_22 said:
Thanks folks for the good info. I have read about the issues early on with the AGP and while it looks good and sturdy my fear is that it might be a bit too mechanical.
I want to install mine in the family room in the basement, take care of the dampness as well, for the heat to reach the main floor I was going to put a ceiling fan in the stairwell running in reverse to draw the warm air up, anyone done this or should I go bigger than P43?
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I would go with a bigger BTU like the 61A.. Doesn't have to run full throttle as u can always back it off..
I usually run mine around half of it's capacity and it's more than enough. Harman P61A..
 
Tonyray said:
I would go with a bigger BTU like the 61A.. Doesn't have to run full throttle as u can always back it off..
I usually run mine around half of it's capacity and it's more than enough. Harman P61A..
Click to expand...

Is there not a danger of it getting dirtier when the flame is lower like that on a big model? I always hear about being careful not to oversize for the house, in my case 1100 sq ft (2200 if I include the basement)
 
I actually looked up your stove. Says "burns all grades of pellets" That's important. I know nothing more and don't have any personal experience with that stove. If it were me , I would research the crap out of the Lopi AGP. because the Harman kinda speaks for its self. List the pro's and con's of each stove.... see what is important for you....then buy the Harman;)
 
Don2222 said:
Hello

The APG had some initial problems with the cutter auger for the rotary discs getting jammed. The mod was a more powerful motor. Not sure if I like that design for longevity?
Click to expand...

Sort of like, Get a BIGGER HAMMER :)
 
canuck_22 said:
Is there not a danger of it getting dirtier when the flame is lower like that on a big model? I always hear about being careful not to oversize for the house, in my case 1100 sq ft (2200 if I include the basement)
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No Danger..I have not run mine [P61A] more than half it's throttle power since I got it...even during the Polar Vortex it was a constant monster heat.[Stove Temp mode.] [sounds like a science fiction movie."the Return of VORTEX"
Anyways, same amount of ash and minimal burnpot scraping when I do 7-10 day full clean..I burn decent pellets too so that helps to cut down on those hard deposits BUT running your stove at half throttle is not doing any damage.I'm at feed rate 3.5/ half speed fan/ Stove Temp#4/ auto.
.my car runs fine at 60mph even though it can do 120Mph
 
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iceguy4 said:
I actually looked up your stove. Says "burns all grades of pellets" That's important. I know nothing more and don't have any personal experience with that stove. If it were me , I would research the crap out of the Lopi AGP. because the Harman kinda speaks for its self. List the pro's and con's of each stove.... see what is important for you....then buy the Harman;)
Click to expand...
BINGO!!
 
The Harmans also run even better on the Selkirk DT that warms the burn air. The ash is so light and fluffy, there is no black carbon to scrape out of the burnpot. Also very little ash falls into the bottom of the burn pot! ! ! A well proven and powerful combination! I like it. :)
 
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2200 for the p43 might give it a workout during a vortex. The 61 will handle that better, IMO.
 
Don2222 said:
The Harmans also run even better on the Selkirk DT that warms the burn air. The ash is so light and fluffy, there is no black carbon to scrape out of the burnpot. Also very little ash falls into the bottom of the burn pot! ! ! A well proven and powerful combination! I like it. :)
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Heating incoming air does help efficiency (hotly contested topic around here) Heck the OAK is not fully accepted and should be accepted as necessary....just saying.
 
Hoot23 said:
2200 for the p43 might give it a workout during a vortex. The 61 will handle that better, IMO.
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Agree. Similar square footage with a p43. Bought the stove as supplemental heat. Wish I went with the p61.
 
Hi I own a p 43 love it my house is 1200 sq feet .. That being said buy the biggest harman you can afford set it forget it .. It does require some work but nothing im sure you cant handle .. I was running nothing but oil thermostat on 68 and cold .. With my harman i run 75 nice and warm very happy .. good luck !
 
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The Maniac said:
Hi I own a p 43 love it my house is 1200 sq feet .. That being said buy the biggest harman you can afford set it forget it .. It does require some work but nothing im sure you cant handle .. I was running nothing but oil thermostat on 68 and cold .. With my harman i run 75 nice and warm very happy .. good luck !
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Same here, ran the oil at 66. I don't know what churned more or longer, the oil burner or my stomach. I froze my living butt off but supplimented with coal( tons of ash, a lot of hands on, dirty cloths all the time). Coal took the curse off though. Then we got the p61. The oil burner hasn't been on since, the house we keep at 73 with ease. 2 bags of pellets a day thus far.

We looked ay a lot of stoves and brands. Ease of cleaning and reliability sold us on the p61a. No more dirty cloths every day, no more grinding.

Incidentally. By sq ft the 43 should heat the house (1800) but the 61 does fine in warm and cold weather. Ash looks about the same for a given pellet. No creasote on the burn pot etc.
 
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If you're going to put it in the basement, and especially if it's uninsulated, I'd go bigger than the P43, as others have mentioned. Better to (insert cliche here).
 
Someone just posted about harman doing a 10% sale plus they can use a coupon. Check it out.
 
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