harman p68 information possible newbie

NFI certified pellet specialist ... many in Maine but not sure of your city. Check here:
http://www.nficertified.org/pages_consumers/consumers-4.html

calvin shain said:

Non listed for Calais, Machias, Lincoln, Maine. nearest one I see is Brewer Maine, two hours from here.

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That's not fun ... You may need a permit for install (building or mechanical) so check with your local fire department or building inspector. A little reassurance on a proper install.

calvin shain said:

Im in the uninhabited other Maine Lake Girl, down here we consider southern Maine, a suburb of Mass.

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So you're in the boonies like I am Lots of empty space or blue spots (lakes) on the map near me. I'm 1/2 hr north of Emo, Ontario ... fishing and hunting resorts but few year-round residents!

Lake Girl said:

So you're in the boonies like I am Lots of empty space or blue spots (lakes) on the map near me. I'm 1/2 hr north of Emo, Ontario ... fishing and hunting resorts but few year-round residents!

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Holy cow, you aren't kidding! If you want another road besides 71, forget it Looks like you pick an island and put a house on it. Absolutely beautiful from looking at the photos on Google Earth.

I a not a certified installer and I put mine in. It's different because obviously I am going to look out for my own best interest. I probably did a better and neater job than many installers would have because it is mine.

I do not think there has to be a "certified" installer per see. As long as things are hooked up properly and everything is code compliant that is what matters. Particularly clearances and vent pipe work.

If you can get a pad for $200 or so go that route unless you are after a specific look with tile and such. It's a no brainer. Carry it in, set it in place and done! That is what I was eluding to in the beginning here. I would be fine notching the pad also. I do not see how it would mess it up in any way except for having a notch. Building a custom hearth pad is fairly easy but it does require time, labor, and money also.

As for the plywood bowing that would be not too likely. The Durorock and tile will weigh it down. Get a good sheet and not some bowed jacked up piece to begin with. Also you could use wood glue on the 1 x 2 trim to glue it to the edge of the plywood. This would somewhat serve as a 'beam' in a sense and make the edges rigid and unable to bow.

Yes, I cut tile and stone all of the time with a small grinder. Hold onto it tightly! It can and will want to get squirrelly on ya! I have tile saws and all types of equipment since I am a contractor so thing are a bit easier for me to do.

You can also take your marked pieces of tile you want cut to a tile shop or Lowe's and they might cut the several for you. Use a grease pencil or something water will not wash off running it thru the tile saw. Pencil lead doesn't work. You can also rent a tile saw. Just throwing some options out.

From your pad design you only would need to cut one piece of tile at the very front clipped corner. If you have a grinder 4" or 6" you are good to go. You will need a diamond disc blade to cut ceramic tile. Ceramic tile is harder to cut than stone. You can get a cheap one at Harbor Freight. But for one cut? ? ? Might be better to send that across a tile saw being the front piece.

A $200 or so pad is the way to go if you can live with the look or color of it. If it's metal or a paintable surface you could pick your color and spray it.

Just FYI: Harman is offering a $100 off coupon on their website so you can save $100 off of the price. I paid $3,950 for my new P68 (stove only) after the $100 deduct. Altogether it was $4,681.83 and that includes the Harman $250 OAK and vent in one kit, 3" air intake ridged flex pipe, exhaust vent pipe and fittings, high heat silicone, appliance adapter for vent pipe, etc; and 5 bags of pellets that were $24 total.

I showed you this pricing so you have a reference. I didn't need a pad and did my own install.

Good Luck! You will like your pellet stove. Trust me! Much easier. Not much of a chore but more of a hobby for me. Are you going to be picking up your own pellets or have them delivered?

That's a good deal. I had just under $4,700 in mine and I had to pick it up and I did the install myself.

I got 2 - P61a-2 instead of one P68. One stove is for backup.

Don't forget the Selkirk Direct Temp venting that warms the burn air and makes the stove 10% more efficient. It works great with a Harman!
I luv it, Not much caked ash in the burn pot in the cold damp NE weather!

Yes the 5 bags of pellets were $24 of the $4,681.83 so I paid $4,658.00 for the stove and install parts. So you are getting it delivered and installed for less than $150 bucks if you look at it that way.

Harman doesn't actually give an R value but rather a K value of not less than 3/8" rated at .84k which equals out to and R value of .45

r value of common building materials.

http://www.archtoolbox.com/materials-systems/thermal-moisture-protection/rvalues.html

Pulled it from an old p61 manual but the p series stoves all require the same hearth R and K values.

R values and K values and now to convert, explained.
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/articles/k_values_what_does_it_all_mean

Don2222 said:

I got 2 - P61a-2 instead of one P68. One stove is for backup.

Don't forget the Selkirk Direct Temp venting that warms the burn air and makes the stove 10% more efficient. It works great with a Harman!
I luv it, Not much caked ash in the burn pot in the cold damp NE weather!

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Curious how you can claim a 10% MORE efficiency. What test are you using? Afaik Harman has never released their efficiency numbers. Is that a 10% across the board? Start up? High burn? Maintenance burn? In all possible listed installations types?

That's some bad ass venting. You mean that for every 10 tons through the machine it's like getting a ton for free. Really?

calvin shain said:

With oil now a out $3.09 per gallon and pellets here about $279. a ton doesn't seem to be a big savings at this time. I wonder how long oil price will stay down, seems pellets keep going up, shouldn't they follow the price of oil down?

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There isn't a pellet futures market that I am aware of

calvin shain said:

With oil now a out $3.09 per gallon and pellets here about $279. a ton doesn't seem to be a big savings at this time. I wonder how long oil price will stay down, seems pellets keep going up, shouldn't they follow the price of oil down?

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Only if those who burn pellets go back to burning oil, and then it would take quite some time to see a difference in the market since most people have bought (or pre-paid) for this season's pellets. Around here, there is still a perceived pellet shortage, so prices are fairly high. The only way the price will go down is if there is a glut and people aren't buying. Oh yea, and then there is the futures thing to as SM mentioned.

smwilliamson said:

Curious how you can claim a 10% MORE efficiency. What test are you using? Afaik Harman has never released their efficiency numbers. Is that a 10% across the board? Start up? High burn? Maintenance burn? In all possible listed installations types?

That's some bad ass venting. You mean that for every 10 tons through the machine it's like getting a ton for free. Really?

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That certainly would be nice huh? But doubtful..... Remember, Don SELLS Selkirk DT so of course he is going to hype it up.

calvin shain said:

I'm sure most people burning pellets still have their oil fired system. Have been burning chord wood for several years and using less than 1 tank of oil for the year for the not cold enough for a wood fire season and hot water. Just finished cutting up and splitting next years firewood. But its a lot of work, 63 and not getting younger. I don't believe my area has of season deals on pellets unless I was willing to travel a couple hours to pick them up. which wouldn't produce a savings hauling them that distance in a pick up. Anyone around using co-op to buy there own pellets in bulk?

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Lots of good stuff here. Got my Harman almost six years ago even though I have ten acres of wood to draw on. Not sorry. Can vouch for the problems my friends have had with cheaper units. My Harman sold a few replacements for sure. Go with the 68. As someone said the throttling capacity is great and your winters are cold! As for the pad just follow the mfgr recommendations. Easier to get insurance if you plan to tell Flo or the Lizzard you got a pellet stove. No matter what you're gonna love it. I kept my oil for backup and bedroom heat on cold nights (It's zoned.) but the next purchase will be a Harman pellet boiler in tandem with the oil. I'm sold on the relianility and capabilities of the brand and the economy of pellets. Now all you need to do is find a reliable supply of good pellets and enjoy!

F4jock said:

Lots of good stuff here. Got my Harman almost six years ago even though I have ten acres of wood to draw on. Not sorry. Can vouch for the problems my friends have had with cheaper units. My Harman sold a few replacements for sure. Go with the 68. As someone said the throttling capacity is great and your winters are cold! As for the pad just follow the mfgr recommendations. Easier to get insurance if you plan to tell Flo or the Lizzard you got a pellet stove. No matter what you're gonna love it. I kept my oil for backup and bedroom heat on cold nights (It's zoned.) but the next purchase will be a Harman pellet boiler in tandem with the oil. I'm sold on the relianility and capabilities of the brand and the economy of pellets. Now all you need to do is find a reliable supply of good pellets and enjoy!

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That sums it up nicely!