With the temps dropping, to the low 20s at night and upper 30s during the day, I can finally run my Englander CPM full time. The on off cycles and low heat settings cause way too much ash. Now running on heat level 4 to 5 and maintaining a very comfortable 70 degrees. At this setting my CPM eats a little more than a bag a day. I just opened my second ton for the season. I'm about 40 bags under last year due to the unusually warm November and December. This is my 5th season and I have saved almost $20K in propane. I haven't replaced any motors yet. I'll probably do a overhaul in the spring just for piece of mind. Anyone else having a great pellet season?
Temps dropping
- Thread starter Indiana
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SidecarFlip
Minister of Fire
5 years, I'd be looking at the drives especially if you haven't opened the gearboxes and relubed them, CA fan bearings and RA fan bearings will be suspect too. Probably time to regasket the door as well and maybe the view glass.
Mine runs remote so I never fiddle with settings. It's wide open all the time, I let the remote t'stat throttle the heat output as necessary.
Mine runs remote so I never fiddle with settings. It's wide open all the time, I let the remote t'stat throttle the heat output as necessary.
LordmetalZ28
Minister of Fire
I have to turn mine off at night to let the furnace-cycle and put some heat into the basement . Basement is staying at 50 degrees during the day
SidecarFlip
Minister of Fire
Not an issue here, the central furnace blower is on a timed 5 minute run every 15 minutes and the main cold air return is in the room the stove is in so everything stays pretty much the same temperature, I actually keep the heat vents closed in the basement to keep it cool enough to store vegetables. An added plus is the furnace filter mitigates most of the dust the stove generates. I usually have a loadef filter every month. I just buy a 12 pack yearly.
woodmakesheat
Feeling the Heat
My CPM is also running full time now; it barely goes into low mode during this cold snap. Glass stays cleaner than normal due to running so hot. I used a bag in 9 hours today verifying the maximum advertised 4.5 lb/hr input rate (36 - 41k BTU/hr).
13 degrees last night and I had to crank it to 9/9 to get the temperature to maintain 67 degrees overnight, which I was very happy about. To be able to do this with a device with 1/3th of the heating capacity of my oil furnace is very satisfying. For reference I typically used 800 gallons of oil per year and the 100k BTU/hr input furnace would have trouble maintaining a 62 degree temperature when it got below zero outside. So to get a 52 degree delta T with a 25k BTU output space heater is quite satisfying. Obviously I'm not heating the basement and extremities of the house with the pellet stove, but it's actually warmer in here than it's ever been - where I actually spend the majority of my time.
13 degrees last night and I had to crank it to 9/9 to get the temperature to maintain 67 degrees overnight, which I was very happy about. To be able to do this with a device with 1/3th of the heating capacity of my oil furnace is very satisfying. For reference I typically used 800 gallons of oil per year and the 100k BTU/hr input furnace would have trouble maintaining a 62 degree temperature when it got below zero outside. So to get a 52 degree delta T with a 25k BTU output space heater is quite satisfying. Obviously I'm not heating the basement and extremities of the house with the pellet stove, but it's actually warmer in here than it's ever been - where I actually spend the majority of my time.
Chrisnow86
Minister of Fire
SidecarFlip
Minister of Fire
I'm always amazed at how well my 'space heater' holds the ambient house temperature. Admittedly, it is struggling a bit today holding 69 (set point 70) but the HX is in need of cleaning but I'm just too sick to do it. My pup is happy and content, sleeping in her bed in front of it. All that counts far as I'm concerned. Hopefully, I'll feel good enough to clean it tomorrow. today has been an exercise in just existing. Damn flu is wicked.
Haven't been tracking fuel usage because I run 50/50 corn-pellet, I'm using a bit though.
bogieb
Minister of Fire
I suggest a Temp Guard (or if you are handy, you can set up your own timer system). Went on vacation and had the pet sitter dump pellets into the Harman for heat. Turned on the temp guard to run the FHW 3x/day for 10 minutes each time to ensure pipes would stay clear. It just turned on a little while ago (I kept in on since it is in single digits and the garage, where pipes run, only stays about 10 degrees warmer).
h2ochild
Member
Very Similar for us as well. Have burned 18 less bags compared to last year so far, no oil or propane. I need to fire up oil burner for a short spell this month just to be sure it works. No new parts on the 2 PDVC's since their purchase.
funflyer
Burning Hunk
Yep, even out in Arizona our temps have been down to the low teens at night. We had a good snowstorm yesterday that was supposed to go through today but the weather guy lied to us and it quit early after only 5 inches of snow. The Englander has been using a bag per day keeping the house at 73 degrees.
I've been building a workshop out back and just got the roof on and papered in time for the storm. Will be looking for a small stove for it by next year, don't need much as it's only 400 SF.
I've been building a workshop out back and just got the roof on and papered in time for the storm. Will be looking for a small stove for it by next year, don't need much as it's only 400 SF.
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Did a gasket replacement beginning of the season. You are right about bearing noise. Starting to notice it this year. A feel a spring teardown in my future.
Wilbur Feral
Minister of Fire
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