pellet stove purchase confusion

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T

tonto

New Member
Nov 17, 2007
27
CT
i go thru this every year and say im going to get a pellet stove.last year was crazy,the stove i wanted was on back order and wouldnt be in until late january.last winter would have been a good time to buy considering the oil prices.well here we are today,oil is 2.38/gallon and pellets $300/ton.with that said pellet cost per million btu is 22.87 and oil cost btu is 21.83 per million btu.right now costs less for oil.do i have to think that oil will go up once winter hits?just thinking that i would once again like to get a pellet stove and save a little $$.with mornings like yesterday where it was a bit chilly,i would have fired up a stove vs turning on the oil heat.wood is not an option for me.
any comments? thanks in advance
 
Get off the fence, go green and quit paying "THE DESERT SAND RATS" to live in big fancy palaces...........................................................
 
tonto said:
i go thru this every year and say im going to get a pellet stove.last year was crazy,the stove i wanted was on back order and wouldnt be in until late january.last winter would have been a good time to buy considering the oil prices.well here we are today,oil is 2.38/gallon and pellets $300/ton.with that said pellet cost per million btu is 22.87 and oil cost btu is 21.83 per million btu.right now costs less for oil.do i have to think that oil will go up once winter hits?just thinking that i would once again like to get a pellet stove and save a little $$.with mornings like yesterday where it was a bit chilly,i would have fired up a stove vs turning on the oil heat.wood is not an option for me.
any comments? thanks in advance
Click to expand...

There is a tax credit available to new purchasers.

https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewannounce/38796_22/

If you do your homework and don't mind pellet shopping there are deals on pellets for around $250/ton. Granted they are not the Best pellets available, But you can find decent pellets.

Seeing as you are just starting out. I would not just get a pellet stove. I would look into a multifuel stove. Even if you don't plan on burning corn, grain or grass. The multifuel stove will handle the lesser quality pellets with ease. You will be able to burn cheaper grade pellets and some day there will be other fuels available.(Straw, Paper, and other Biomass pellets)

Why put money into a picky stove. Get a stove that will burn just about anything. You will not be cleaning it daily!

jay
 
Have you considered a coal stove ?
I burn in both my wood stove and pellet stove but the prices of pellets have me looking to coal.
The coal stoves I'm seeing are between 80-83% efficient and coal is simply more btu's per ton per dollar.

If pellet prices dont come down it will be seen on ebay.

You are in CT ? So even better situated to get coal at reasonable prices.

Most people think of coal as dirty...okay so they maybe it is but the modern stoves are very efficient and cost effective - especially the stoker models which are as automatic as pellet stoves less the auto start.

After viewing this sites fuel cost calc coal is certainly being considered by me!

-John
 
Get the pellet stove so you have an alternate heat source. Oil will go up again sometime and it's nice to have another option. My 1st choice was the Harmon XXV but it wasn't available so I got the Lopi Leyden; excellent stove and happy with purchase. Ran it this morning for an hour burning Barefoots!
 
jtakeman said:
....There is a tax credit available to new purchasers.

https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewannounce/38796_22/ ..........I would look into a multifuel stove. Even if you don't plan on burning corn, grain or grass. The multifuel stove will handle the lesser quality pellets with ease. You will be able to burn cheaper grade pellets and some day there will be other fuels available.(Straw, Paper, and other Biomass pellets)

Why put money into a picky stove. Get a stove that will burn just about anything. You will not be cleaning it daily!

jay
Click to expand...

I agree 100%...go multi-fuel right from the start.
 
jjs777_fzr said:
Have you considered a coal stove ?
I burn in both my wood stove and pellet stove but the prices of pellets have me looking to coal.
The coal stoves I'm seeing are between 80-83% efficient and coal is simply more btu's per ton per dollar.

If pellet prices dont come down it will be seen on ebay.

You are in CT ? So even better situated to get coal at reasonable prices.

Most people think of coal as dirty...okay so they maybe it is but the modern stoves are very efficient and cost effective - especially the stoker models which are as automatic as pellet stoves less the auto start.

After viewing this sites fuel cost calc coal is certainly being considered by me!

-John
Click to expand...

Some places are actually banning coal stoves. Due to the emissions. Even our Electric plants are wanting to get into a biomass fuel. Its carbon nutreul, And renewable too!

O'h never mind.
 
There's more to consider then cost. It doesn't matter which is cheaper but what is right for the environment (pellets).
Pellets offer a better heat than oil and you're buying an American product helping the U.S. economy.
 
rottiman said:
Get off the fence, go green and quit paying "THE DESERT SAND RATS" to live in big fancy palaces...........................................................
Click to expand...

I kinda agree in general but you can pay the desert rats or the Chinks since so many stove castings are parts are made over there with more coming all the time .
So on either side of the fence lies a moat.
 
I was on the fence when I purchased my Harmon Accentra. I bought it when oil was $4.50 a gallon . It was a no brainer. I use it to take the chill out of the family room which is a finished basement. Where I save money is when the kids want it toasty downstairs and you don't need to turn the thermostat up to the oil burner. The heat from the stove makes it's way upstairs and the oil burner doesn't run much at all. In some cases it may be a luxury when you just enjoy a fire, but when oil is $4.50 a gallon, you will wish you had one. I DID. I can usually get pellets for under $250 a ton and I'm happy with that.
 
jtakeman said:
O'h never mind. . . .
Click to expand...

LOL :lol: Just don't have the energy to start down that road, huh?

True, there are better green alternatives to coal, but I doubt coal can be phased out in my lifetime. We sit on the worlds largest deposits of coal. Greenpeace website states that 71% of USA energy comes from fossil fuels, 53% is coal alone. We're pretty dependent on it.
Mike -
 
tonto said:
i go thru this every year and say im going to get a pellet stove.last year was crazy,the stove i wanted was on back order and wouldnt be in until late january.last winter would have been a good time to buy considering the oil prices.well here we are today,oil is 2.38/gallon and pellets $300/ton.with that said pellet cost per million btu is 22.87 and oil cost btu is 21.83 per million btu.right now costs less for oil.do i have to think that oil will go up once winter hits?just thinking that i would once again like to get a pellet stove and save a little $$.with mornings like yesterday where it was a bit chilly,i would have fired up a stove vs turning on the oil heat.wood is not an option for me.
any comments? thanks in advance
Click to expand...

i'm in ct also.

I actually sat down and totaled up everything from 07-08 (just my oil heat) and 08-09 (pellet stove as my main heat source, oil boler for my hot water and a few zones in the house that the stove doesn't reach) and came up with my break even cost per gallon of oil. Average Temperature according to my electric bill was about the same... just a few degrees warmer in the 08-09 season.

My break-even price was 2.04 / gallon if i just used oil vs what i spent on oil + pellets for the season. So, as long as oil is more than that, its worth it to buy the stove.

You can't just go buy the btu factor alone. You need to factor in time as well. The oil furnace will only run twice an hour or so where as the stove will be on constantly.

I used a bag a day. thats roughly $5-6 5-6x30 = $150-180 /month. Most of my friends spent $400 a month on oil. I spent $400 on a tank once for the whole season. If you have electric/gas hot water, then you need to figure out your cost for that unit too.
 
I saved approx $500.00 last year with my pellet stove as oil prices were low. As previously stated oil prices will go up from here and the savings will be greater and there is no comparison on the heat. Our house was warmer with the pellet stove.
 
thanks everyone for the replies.............so i have another question..........if the top of the line pellets cost 300/ton and home depot sells some for 209/ton,whats the difference?have to clean the pot more often? also i have a 1600ft cape and was leaning toward the harman xxv,a guy here at work says thats not enough and that the 50,000 btu output is when its on high therefore i should go with something with more btu output.your thoughts?
thankyou
 
I have an 1,800 SF cape and my 42.5K BTU Lopi Leyden is plenty, but it all depends on your floor plan and where you position the stove. It is an industrial sized space heater. No reason that a 50k btu unit will not heat a 1,600 sf Cape.
 
tonto said:
thanks everyone for the replies.............so i have another question..........if the top of the line pellets cost 300/ton and home depot sells some for 209/ton,whats the difference?have to clean the pot more often? also i have a 1600ft cape and was leaning toward the harman xxv,a guy here at work says thats not enough and that the 50,000 btu output is when its on high therefore i should go with something with more btu output.your thoughts?
thankyou
Click to expand...

It is better to over size the The stove to a degree. better to run a larger stove on medium that a small stove on high. Saves wear and tear on the stove. And you will have the extra punch when it get really cold with a bigger stove as a little stove wound not cut it!
 
briansol said:
tonto said:
i go thru this every year and say im going to get a pellet stove.last year was crazy,the stove i wanted was on back order and wouldnt be in until late january.last winter would have been a good time to buy considering the oil prices.well here we are today,oil is 2.38/gallon and pellets $300/ton.with that said pellet cost per million btu is 22.87 and oil cost btu is 21.83 per million btu.right now costs less for oil.do i have to think that oil will go up once winter hits?just thinking that i would once again like to get a pellet stove and save a little $$.with mornings like yesterday where it was a bit chilly,i would have fired up a stove vs turning on the oil heat.wood is not an option for me.
any comments? thanks in advance
Click to expand...

i'm in ct also.

I actually sat down and totaled up everything from 07-08 (just my oil heat) and 08-09 (pellet stove as my main heat source, oil boler for my hot water and a few zones in the house that the stove doesn't reach) and came up with my break even cost per gallon of oil. Average Temperature according to my electric bill was about the same... just a few degrees warmer in the 08-09 season.

My break-even price was 2.04 / gallon if i just used oil vs what i spent on oil + pellets for the season. So, as long as oil is more than that, its worth it to buy the stove.

You can't just go buy the btu factor alone. You need to factor in time as well. The oil furnace will only run twice an hour or so where as the stove will be on constantly.

I used a bag a day. thats roughly $5-6 5-6x30 = $150-180 /month. Most of my friends spent $400 a month on oil. I spent $400 on a tank once for the whole season. If you have electric/gas hot water, then you need to figure out your cost for that unit too.
Click to expand...

Just curious, did your figures include the cost of the stove? That seems to be where my payback numbers go out the window. Don't get me wrong, I love the lower monthly costs, just can't seem to justify the purchase on a payback basis. The way I look at it, if I throw the initial purchase cost out the window, then I am more comfortable for less money per month. With the cost of the stove, liner, and install, my payback seems way out there. I am admittedly not the number crunching type.
 
The comments touch most of the bases and you can figure out the basics from them. But you have to find your own personal satisfaction. Consider going to a couple of dealers for a demonstration.
 
thanks guys.i spent a lot of time at a few dealers over the last 2 winters so i have my choice.i havent considered the cost of the unit into the cost factor when i did the fuel comparison but with the tax credit this year i was just going to jump on it and just do it.another thing i thought of is i could get pellets for 209/ton and 300/ton but i know with the cheaper pellets i would have to clean it more often
 
tonto said:
thanks guys.i spent a lot of time at a few dealers over the last 2 winters so i have my choice.i havent considered the cost of the unit into the cost factor when i did the fuel comparison but with the tax credit this year i was just going to jump on it and just do it.another thing i thought of is i could get pellets for 209/ton and 300/ton but i know with the cheaper pellets i would have to clean it more often
Click to expand...

I was on the fence for the past few years too. Last years oil prices pushed me, but getting a quality stove was tough to find. I was also anticipating the higher tax credit with the new man in office...that came true.

Same reasoning to as you to pull the trigger this year for the tax credit. With the tax credit, I was able to get the stove I wanted for the basement and I'm not looking back. JT may have a point on the multifuel for the future, but that does not seem too promising in the NE at this time.

Do your homework: find a reliable dealer for service if needed, and get a fair price. I was not willing to pay full retail, but also realize that they need to stay in business too.
 
I go for the best pellets I can find locally. Remember, it's not just the cleaning of the burn pot. The crap pellets make way more ash so you'll need to do a full cleaning of the stove much more often. Also the crap pellets have a lot of fines, or dust, so you (or your wife) will be cleaning the house more often. Throw in the fact that the crappy ones usually produce less heat, and well...get the good ones :)

I cheaped out on a couple pallets of junk from the box stores last year. Not worth it at all. More ash, dirtier glass, much more frequent cleanings...bahh humbug.
 
Groundhog said:
Just curious, did your figures include the cost of the stove? That seems to be where my payback numbers go out the window. Don't get me wrong, I love the lower monthly costs, just can't seem to justify the purchase on a payback basis. The way I look at it, if I throw the initial purchase cost out the window, then I am more comfortable for less money per month. With the cost of the stove, liner, and install, my payback seems way out there. I am admittedly not the number crunching type.
Click to expand...

No, this does not include the cost of the stove.

I figure i'll be even in 3 years as long as oil stays where its at or more. Plus, it puts less wear/tear on the furnace which is a huge expense to replace should it die.

Plus, there's the environmental factor to consider.

Simply put, the heat from the stove is soooo much nicer and cozier in the house than the constant rise/fall of the furnace running/standing by.
 
tonto said:
......i could get pellets for 209/ton and 300/ton but i know with the cheaper pellets i would have to clean it more often
Click to expand...

Tonto, just curious....what were the brand pellets that were $209/ton?
 
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