Yeah, might be interesting to have a meeting with everyone in one room. Unless it got too heated, of course.
Why did You Buy Your Pellet Stove ?
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I got my pellet stove to replace a wood stove, and not particularly to save money.
As I used to tell people, about the wood stove, yeah, I save money compared to the electric heat (which I use as backup), but I really do it for the mess and inconvenience.
The biggest problem with the wood stove, though, was that, a lot of time, it wasn't even giving enough heat, for all the work involved. For example, usually there was little to no heat for the first hour of starting a fire. And the wood stove wouldn't be able to burn overnight (unless I got up in the middle of the night to refuel), so I'd end up turning it down so that it produced almost no heat (but plenty of creosote) overnight.
Also, because I'm in an apartment building, I think it's more considerate to my neighbors to store pellets in the basement storage bin than wood.
As I used to tell people, about the wood stove, yeah, I save money compared to the electric heat (which I use as backup), but I really do it for the mess and inconvenience.
The biggest problem with the wood stove, though, was that, a lot of time, it wasn't even giving enough heat, for all the work involved. For example, usually there was little to no heat for the first hour of starting a fire. And the wood stove wouldn't be able to burn overnight (unless I got up in the middle of the night to refuel), so I'd end up turning it down so that it produced almost no heat (but plenty of creosote) overnight.
Also, because I'm in an apartment building, I think it's more considerate to my neighbors to store pellets in the basement storage bin than wood.
no pane said:
WET1 is simply posting the math -- the fact that it doesn't add up is the point -- and that points me to think the fellow saying he heats his house with so little pellet energy vs traditional fuel -- well could he be a dealer trying to sell you the stove off his floor plan?
jtakeman
Minister of Fire
countk
Feeling the Heat
Sting said:
Agree that it could also be a dealer trying to sell you a stove off his floor, but I also understand as a salesman that one can always make numbers work for them, on either side. IMHO, it just seems that some people perhaps gets a little obsessed about it. That's all, no big deal!
tjnamtiw
Minister of Fire
mandkj said:
Amen, mandkj, the 'proof is in the pudding'. You can apply all kinds of formulae, but reality is reality.
mandkj
Member
I think we'll all just have to agree to disagree. I must say, I'm somewhat surprised at the challenging attitude of some in this thread. I'm a fairly new member and have tried to contribute when I can but for future posts, I think I'll go back to my golden rule - when it comes to money or politics, keep it to myself.
mandkj said:
I'm new myself but I the discussions don't seem to me too disagreeable. I wouldn't be interested in arguments way off topic like national energy policy, politics, or stuff like that. But most have information worth reading. I can take them or leave them, since nobody can make me buy or not buy something. Up to you, but I would still post.
Guys, I honestly could care less how you heat your house, it's your money. What I do have a problem with is false, incomplete, or misinformation. We routinely get new folks that pass through here looking to save a buck or two and read some of these post and use this (mis)information as a basis for making significant investments. Dick and Jane then go out and spend $4000 or $5000 on a new stove, flue, hearth pad, installation, etc and then expect to save thousands a year on their heating bills... when in reality the payback is a VERY long time (if ever) given today's NG and oil prices.
I have no problem with someone saying they heat their 1650 sq ft home in New England all year with only 3 tons of pellets, plus the house is a toasty 5° warmer, and they are spending less on fuel on top of it. BUT, tell the complete story... such as three rooms in the house are now closed off and are not being heated, they are directly/indirectly supplementing the heat with something else (such as oil), far areas of the house aren't as warm, they bought their pellets two years ago at a significantly lower price than today's over priced pellet fuel, they are over estimating today's oil prices, the pellet stove is being compared to improperly operating antiquated central heating system, etc. Just disclose WHY it is the money is being saved, because in most areas NG and oil is significantly cheaper than pellets are if apples are being compared to apples.
As far as me working for an oil company, no I do not. But since I'm an engineer, have been burning pellets for nine years now, and own two pellet stoves (plus also have oil, NG, coal, K1, electric, and wood as my other fuel options), I do feel I have a pretty good handle on what's feasible and what's not. There's no doubt in my mind many of you can or do save money burning pellets, but the reason generally isn't because pellets are cheaper than oil today...
I have no problem with someone saying they heat their 1650 sq ft home in New England all year with only 3 tons of pellets, plus the house is a toasty 5° warmer, and they are spending less on fuel on top of it. BUT, tell the complete story... such as three rooms in the house are now closed off and are not being heated, they are directly/indirectly supplementing the heat with something else (such as oil), far areas of the house aren't as warm, they bought their pellets two years ago at a significantly lower price than today's over priced pellet fuel, they are over estimating today's oil prices, the pellet stove is being compared to improperly operating antiquated central heating system, etc. Just disclose WHY it is the money is being saved, because in most areas NG and oil is significantly cheaper than pellets are if apples are being compared to apples.
As far as me working for an oil company, no I do not. But since I'm an engineer, have been burning pellets for nine years now, and own two pellet stoves (plus also have oil, NG, coal, K1, electric, and wood as my other fuel options), I do feel I have a pretty good handle on what's feasible and what's not. There's no doubt in my mind many of you can or do save money burning pellets, but the reason generally isn't because pellets are cheaper than oil today...
mnkywrnch
Minister of Fire
I agree with wet1 ,my house is an older cottage decent insulation and newer windows my forced hot air furnace is only 5 years old and well maintained,the kicker is theres no direct heat to my second floor just grates in the floors,with hho I would have to set my thermostat at 80* just to get some heat upstairs all this with about 800 gallons per year,Ive replaced that with about 4 to 4.5 tons of pellets,my oil company is at 1.94 so 800x1.94=1552 I already bought 3 ton from pelletsales for 239.90 per ton plus 99 for delivery for a total of 818.70 I still need two more ton which will probably cost another 600 for a grand total of 1418.70 and a savings of 133.3 not much but my second floor isnt freezing anymore and my first isnt a sauna,thats without closing off any rooms.If oil goes any cheaper I lose,but will be warmer which to me has a value.
mandkj
Member
Wet1 said:
This whole response is quite offensive to me and its this type of arrogance that makes new members move on to somewhere else. I clearly stated that my burning season is 7 MONTHS, not 12. Why would I burn my stove all year long when, for several months, I need A/C? My numbers are from my burning season, again, clearly stated.
countk
Feeling the Heat
Wet1 said:
Wet1, good job clearing up any misconceptions I might have had as to your intentions!
It just seemed to me that you were taking some of the joy away from people who had their reasons for burning pellets. I completely agree that ALL things being equal, a good efficient heating system, tight house, etc., that for most of us oil is now cheaper! As I stated earlier I have an old drafty house and an inefficient heating system, so I still prefer pellets with the addition of oil.
What would end this debate, would be if pellets dropped down to around $200 a ton. One can only dream, maybe some day, but I doubt it.
JustWood
Minister of Fire
mandkj said:
Naaaahhhhhh! This type of banter draws them in to find out how the end of the "story" turns out. Go to the can, unwad your panties, unknot your crossed hairs and get over it. Wets pointing out some good/relevant info .
My intention was not to argue about it. My living area is warmer because of my pellet stove. Sure, my basement is colder because the furnace isn't kicking on every 30 minutes and blowing heat down there, but when I do refinish it, I'll have to figure out a way to heat it. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. For now, the areas of my house that I live in are warmer and I'm spending less then I would only using oil.
Next thing on my list that will help me burn even less oil is a new HE washer and dryer. Less hot water means less oil burned.
Next thing on my list that will help me burn even less oil is a new HE washer and dryer. Less hot water means less oil burned.
I turned my hot air oil fired furnace into a space heater this year and it worked just like my pellet stove. I closed all the dampers to every other room in the house except for the living room (where the pellet stove is). My living room was toasty warm, just like my pellet stove, the rest of the rooms were cool, just like my pellet stove, and I saved on oil too! My ducts are made from fiberglass, not sheet metal so heat transfer is great.
The only thing I don't get is a fire to look at. That is if I stop playing the DVD of a roaring fire on my flat screen!
The only thing I don't get is a fire to look at. That is if I stop playing the DVD of a roaring fire on my flat screen!
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