Harman P-68 in Basement..Run Stove Temp or Room Temp?

My dealer noted that on colder days (sub 20's) it is more efficient to run the stove on stove temp rather than room temp. I have the XXV which has the same controls as your stove and I primarily use room temp. I personally found this to be the most efficient way. You should try experimenting a little and see what you get, the efficiency varies with the set up. We have our stove in the living room and keep the stove at around 72 (room temp) and on average burn a little over a bag a day (I'd estimate around 50lbs).

I have a P68 in the basement (unfinished). Room temp for the shoulder months (like now) and then stove temp when you need the good/constant stove heat in the cold months. Worked extremely well last winter.

IMHO, 3 bags a day is too much. I would use 2 bags of the good stuff (Okies, Spruce Point, Dragons etc) to heat 1600 SQ of a 2 floor cape. 1st floor would be 65-68, second floor cooler, but that is only bedrooms there. On the coldest of days...1 bag in the morning, 1 bag at night.

Last night was my first burn and used a full bag of Greene Team overnight. Started the stove around 6PM, first floor was 59. By the time I went to bed, 1st floor was almost 70. Room temp, set around 80.

Bear in mind, untl I get into 24/7 burning and the basement gets and stays nice and toasty, I use more fuel. Once everything stabilizes, outside gets cold and stays cold, change to stove temp, and I bump up to better pellets...fuel usage goes down. Cutting a few vents in the 1st floor will lessen that this year for me. Basement insulation will lessen that even more.

My XXV is in my finished basement. I run it on room temp during the shoulder
seasons only. I run it on stove temp during the winter.

Keeps the house at a more consistant temp and less wear and tear on the ignitor.

3 bags a day is ALOT.
I have never gone over 2 bags a day heating roughly 2800sqft (2 floors).

3 bags a day sounds like a lot. But being unfinished might have something to do with that. Insulating the cement walls did wonders for my basement install and heat savings. Capping the attic insultation was also a big improvement. This is usually the fastest payback you can get for your buck. I shaved about a full ton off my winter usage with just doing those 2 items. Next is these draft windows. Plastic is working for now!

Please discribe the amount of insulation or lack of?

i agree with above poster. insulating the basement walls is a great investment. plus then you can finish the basement and have more living space. of course the best reason is to save heat loss in the cold seasons.

Went to a Harman seminar last year.
The tech for the Northeast said that room temp was more efficient.
The first year I decided to use room temp mode so the room temp would be constant
regardless of outside temp. I did try stove temp for awhile but went back to room temp.

My $.02

room temp = shoulders stove temp = serious time.