Convinicing my husband to buy a pellet stove

Hi,

I have a ranch home, 3000 sq w/finished basement, ranch style and completely open. I just started using a Harman P68 this season and so far I've been successful in heating the entire home with it - keeping the home at a constant 74F (I have a wireless thermostat hooked up to the stove). I have used zero propane. Mind you it is chilly (30F) but not cold yet and since I'm in Canada we get some miserable cold days (-0F and lower!). To assist with moving the heat around I have been running my HVAC fan on my furnace on low which helps with moving some heat upstairs and keeps the temps even across the house.

My basement is partially finished and I've left the ceiling open so some heat is able to make up through the floor joists. The majority of my heat makes it through the open stair way to the main level. I have a ceiling fan above the stairs pushing cold air down toward the basement, which forces the warm air to rise up over it. I'm also thinking about putting a free standing fan to move some more of the warm air toward the stair way.

I chose the P68 because I needed a high BTU heater for my square footage and being in the basement. I would have preferred to go with two smaller units on each level but I couldn't convince my wife so I settled for one big unit and I may add a 2nd down the road once I reach my return on investment. I also considered Enviro but went with Harman based on how easy it is to clean and how tolerant it is with pellets of questionable quality. If you can afford two smaller units, this is the route I would take. They are space heaters primarily. But if you want something to off set your propane costs, then a basement heater should do the trick especially if you have an open lay out.

Good luck. If you settle on the basement route, go with something higher BTU. Look at the Enviro Maxx line as well. Big heaters and a large blower to get that heat up to the 2nd level. If you plan to try to heat the 2nd level, be prepared to over heat the basement.

Jeremy

From my experience trying to heat that house with a stove in the basement will turn your basement into a sauna and the main floor will still be chilly. I tried it with my Eco 65 before I hooked up the ducts. In fact even with the duct kit hooked up my basement is still blazin hot but I get more heat up on the main floor. So I'd suggest looking at a stove that can be ducted, Drolet Eco-65, Enviro Maxx/Maxx M or Enerzon Euromaxx.

Only put the stove in the basement if that's where you really spend your time and need the heat. The idea that you will heat your whole house from the basement is not rooted in reality, in that your losses will require the use of dramatically more fuel. The losses are four concrete walls and a concrete floor, well heat-sunk to earth, and any insulation you have between floors. In this regard, a finished basement is much better than an unfinished basement, but still very poor versus putting the stove on your main floor. You may use less propane putting the stove on the first floor, and occasionally using propane to heat the basement when you're down there, unless you need to keep that basement at 70F all day everyday.

Pellets will run you about $11.80 per million BTU, whereas propane costs more than $25.00 per million BTU. There's the justification your husband needs. Many find that with a pellet stove going all day, they use near zero propane or oil, excepting extended periods away from home (vacations).

I live in a ranch home very similar to your set up. I too live in PA. I have a Harman P43 in my basement that I heat our entire house with. My only other source of heat is electric baseboard and I never want to find out how much that would cost me to heat my home. I have my P43 positioned very near my basement steps that lead upstairs to the main living space. Yes my basement is always warmer that the upstairs but it is not a sauna down there. We have ceiling fans on the main floor that help move the heat around. Even with the severe winter we had last year my P43 kept the main floor at 70-72 degrees. I used just over 4 ton of pellets last year just to give you a reference.

I can vouch that a basement stove does work

Keep in mind that these are really space heaters. With that being said I would put it in the place you spend most of your time. Personally I would go with the Harman, easy to use, easy to maintain, and parts are reasonably priced. Enviro is also a very good brand and has a loyal following so I wouldn't take that brand off the short list. I will mention that I had an enviro and while it heated great and was fairly easy to maintain, parts were quite expensive. I went thru at least 1 ignitor a year at $180 each. There were no aftermarket ignitors available either so I didn't have a choice but to pay up. Do lots of research by downloading the owners manuals for each brand you are looking at. That way you get to see what each stoves features and maintenance will be like. It's also worthwhile to check online for replacement parts to see what they will cost you and to see if they are readily available. Hope this helps.

You both need to visit a home with a running pellet stove, feel the even warmth throughout the house, find out how much they spent on pellets to stay that warm and that should convince him beyond all reasonable doubt.

mikkieup said:

Hi,

My husband and I recently built a new home. It is a ranch home- 2x6 outer walls. Approx. 1800 sq foot finished basement (open floor plan with enclosed close and bathroom), and 1800 sq foot main living area with 8 foot ceilings in kids room, cathedral ceiling living/kitchen/dining, and cathedral ceiling master bedroom. We currently heat with Propane- set at 68. Our propane bill averages about 2500 a winter and our house always feels chilly and our basement is always freezing. I want to buy a pellet stove and place in the basement- but if we are going to put out the money for a stove/pellets, I want to eliminate or minimize how much propane we will use. We are willing to put in some vents in the drop ceiling in the basement and even add some registers in the floor upstairs. All of our flooring upstairs is hardwood or tile- no carpeting. So it gets chilly!!

Right now I have talked to our local Harman dealer and he suggested a p68- because it was on sale compared to the smaller models- he had it priced at $3500 last I talked to him. I also found a local enviro dealer that is selling a floor model m55 for $2500. Can anyone help me out with some advice???

My husband is on board with researching, but I'm the internet person- he's been talking to some buddies.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

My vote is for a pair of P43s or something similar in the Enviro line if you need heat in the basement and in the living area of the house. You won't over work either unit. But hey with a ranch and with a pellet stove and blower maybe it will work better than I think with one large stove in the basement.. I own a cape and one stove in the basement doesn't work for me, I tried it with coal back in the Jimmy carter years. In my case I first installed a stove in the living room where the pellet stove is now. Then one in the basement. I tried the basement stove alone now and then, didn't work as soon as the cold weather came in in earnest and started creeping into the walls etc.. This time of year you can heat a house with the kitchen range so it's no comparison to heating with stoves in cold weather. You start hitting single digits for nights on end with little break in the day and it's another whole situation. never mind 0 and negative numbers with a 40 MPH NW wind. 0 I find to be a magic breaking point, that's when things start breaking down, not keeping up etc. Car batteries give up, you name it.

I have a 28x48 Ranch and my P68 is on the main floor. Heats the entire house. I love the savings with the pellet stove. You won't go wrong with a Harman. Check out consumer reports.

Our three bedroom log home is heated by a Harman XXV on the main floor! It does a great job Buy the Harman you will not be disappointed year after year it does a great job !

Waterworker123 said:

I have a 28x48 Ranch and my P68 is on the main floor. Heats the entire house. I love the savings with the pellet stove. You won't go wrong with a Harman. Check out consumer reports.

Click to expand...

1344 sq ft with a P68 on the main floor ? I hope it heats it !! Are we catching the concept that the lady is trying to heat 3600 sq ft total between the basement and the main floor folks ?

P68, yes that is a great stove, I agree. Relevance ?

alternativeheat said:

1344 sq ft with a P68 on the main floor ? I hope it heats it !!

Click to expand...

It will I have no doubt about it. Great investment!

Waterworker123 said:

It will I have no doubt about it. Great investment!

Click to expand...

Of course it will, so would a P35, P38, P43, Accentra free standing etc..

MtDew said:

I live in a ranch home very similar to your set up. I too live in PA. I have a Harman P43 in my basement that I heat our entire house with. My only other source of heat is electric baseboard and I never want to find out how much that would cost me to heat my home. I have my P43 positioned very near my basement steps that lead upstairs to the main living space. Yes my basement is always warmer that the upstairs but it is not a sauna down there. We have ceiling fans on the main floor that help move the heat around. Even with the severe winter we had last year my P43 kept the main floor at 70-72 degrees. I used just over 4 ton of pellets last year just to give you a reference.
I can vouch that a basement stove does work

Click to expand...

X2

Have a raised ranch with a enviro maxx in the down stairs. Just under 2000SF. Stove heats the whole house. Downstairs is hot about 76-82. main floor is 68-74. Bed rooms upstairs at end of hall are about 8-12 cooler then rest of house. Wife loves it like that. I love my enviro but also have a friend that just had a p61a installed an that is a nice stove!! both will work good for you. Even with an install and pipe charge the return on investment is 3-4 years on average. I have been burning pellets since 1997 an have saved lots of money with pellets.

If he is on the fence take him to see a pellet stove in action. Just seeing a pellet stove run may sway him. My wife was on the fence and she saw the XXV in action and that was it.

mikkieup said:

...and have considered putting it upstairs, but then that leaves our basement freezing (like it is now) and we have our large tv and all the kids toys down there, so I would love to be able to use it year round.

Click to expand...

If you'll be spending your time in the basement, then by all means, put it in the basement. My reply, and I suspect others, were aimed at the common situation of someone trying to heat their upstairs from a basement they don't really use. It can work, but it's definitely not ideal. However, if you're actually spending time downstairs, then that's where you want the heat, and that's where your stove should go.

Stoves are a space heater. Like Bro'Bart said, tho... "the space I'm trying to heat is my house."

I wood only consider a multifuel for options.
Burps in pellet supply's are going to be a norm for quite a few years.

oliveone said:

Have a raised ranch with a enviro maxx in the down stairs. Just under 2000SF. Stove heats the whole house. Downstairs is hot about 76-82. main floor is 68-74. Bed rooms upstairs at end of hall are about 8-12 cooler then rest of house. Wife loves it like that. I love my enviro but also have a friend that just had a p61a installed an that is a nice stove!! both will work good for you. Even with an install and pipe charge the return on investment is 3-4 years on average. I have been burning pellets since 1997 an have saved lots of money with pellets.

Click to expand...

Thanks for posting this. We have the same style house; just about the same size. And the pellet stove we're putting in has a similar output to yours. Glad to know we can plan on being toasty for many winters to come.

JustWood said:

I wood only consider a multifuel for options.
Burps in pellet supply's are going to be a norm for quite a few years.

Click to expand...

Just don't wait until Fall to purchase your supply and you should be fine... at least around here.

Technically, fall has been here for a month!

Exactly... should already by relaxing by the fire stress free

I cant do both relaxing by fire and be on the computer at same time LOL fire is downstairs and the computer is hook to a big screen TV upstairs.

Fire is warm Life is good

Polar Bear said:

Just don't wait until Fall to purchase your supply and you should be fine... at least around here.

Click to expand...

I still wouldn't consider anything but a multifuel. In the near future there will be lots of options for pellets. They just won't be all wood.