Newb Has a Few Questions...

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VanderLaan

Member
Jul 13, 2011
26
Central IL
Been lurking for a while trying to soak up all the information I can. I am in the process of building a 24x36 addition. It is one room with a vaulted ceiling (14' at the top). My thought is to find a simple and reliable pellet stove to heat this area (and maybe have a bit of overflow to the rest of the house). All that said, I have a few questions about stove features and installation.

(1) I am interested in a refurbished Timberridge from an e-bay dealer. I note that several people on here have had good success with the Englanders. I read a few posts warning about the bottom auger design. Does anyone know if these are bottom auger or top feed style? Is there a date when they changed the design? Is there a key somewhere that details what features all of the models have?

http://shop.ebay.com/amfmstoves/m.html?_trksid=p4340.l2562

(2) My addition has a 9' tall wrap around porch. If I went out the wall and through the soffit, I would still have to run the pipe to the top of the peak, so I am thinking of just running a pipe straight up through the roof. I would like the stove to sit in the middle of the room along one wall, so by the time it clears the roof, the pipe would be at least 18' long. Assuming that I have one elbow out the back of the stove, will I need 4" pipe or can I get away with 3" pipe? My thought is to go with 4".

(3) Are there all-in-one OAK & vent pipes or will I need to install separate pipes for the vent and the OAK? If you use an all-in-one, do you have to seal off the back of the stove or does the pipe have a "y" at the end? Any recommendations for brand of pipe?

(4) What kind of draw do these stoves have? Will a 20 amp fuse be enough? My thought is yes, but I cannot find a definitive answer.

Thanks in advance for the time and effort to educate me on these matters. I am your sponge, so pour on the knowledge...

Best-

Bill
 
Vanderloan: You said, ".............My thought is to find a simple and reliable pellet stove to heat this area.........."

That's your FIRST mistake.

If you have noticed any of the threads I've begun, or contributed to, (not to be so vain as to consider my thoughts or threads worth anything), you know that I'm not an advocate for Pellet Stoves.

Consider all the mechanical things that can go wrong, and often need annual or bi-annual replacement. Consider the fact that you'd better have a backup generator if the power goes out. Consider the lack of the visual gratification that a "campfire" with wood, brings to the heart, (and that of the wife, family, etc...). Consider storing and hauling a skid of 50 lb. bags around.

I'm sure that my comments will receive counter comment, as this is usually a hot topic in here. I know that going in. I respect my fellow alternate-heat source friends in here who chose a Pellet Stove for their homes. I just don't agree with them, is all. They can come by and have a beer with me anytime, and I'll keep them warm with my splits while they are here.

-Soupy1957
 
The question comes that what do you do when age and health prevents you from grabbing the axe and heading out to the back 40 to make your wood?
 
There is pros and cons to each heating method. I myself got tired of waking up at night to re load the woodstove. I also got tired of the really bad wood dealers in my area that would lie about the quality of the wood etc. I have electric heat and I definately dont want to use that. So I decided a couple years ago to go with a pellet stove. It doesn't crank out the same heat as the woodstove, but the woodstove would get it too hot in here. The pellet stove goes and goes and its dependible. In the busy season sure I have to clean it good once a week, but thats 1 hour a week of due maintenence...I'm glad I have my pellet stove and would buy one again.
 
Pellet stoves definitely have their place. I would have to buy wood to burn, so I may as well buy pellets and have the ease, cleanliness, and convenience of a pellet stove.

To answer the OP's question: Most pellet stoves seem to have an internal fuse @ 5 amps. A 20 amp circuit is more than adequate, but a good surge suppressor is strongly recommended.

Pellet stoves are more complicated than wood stoves, but they are simpler to use, and anyone can pour some pellets in. Cleaning varies from model to model, but most are easy and quick to clean. They are easier to adjust the heat output on, and many will work with a thermostat, shutting off and relighting automatically.

Pellets are easy to store, but should be stored out of the weather.

There are thimbles that have both exhaust and OAK in one.

Somewhere on this forum is a calculator for the diameter vs. length/bends for exhaust pipe, I don't remember just where it is, though.

That's my 2¢.
 
I'll comment on a few of things you asked about.

The seller, "AMFMStoves" is a VERY good seller......that is who I bought my Englander stove from, and he was great to work with.

The stove you mentioned is a bottom feed design. Englander added some newer top feed designs starting in '08, the Multi-Fuel 10-cpm (which I bought), and the EP series.....both are good stoves based on "reviews" on this forum. But IMO, go with the top auger design....the 10-cpm if you want multi-fuel capability (can burn pellets, corn, cherry pits, grass, etc, etc.), or the EP series if you will only be burning wood pellets:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Timber-Ridge-55...ltDomain_0&hash=item20b21e4bee#ht_3315wt_1047

If you need answers to your questions, refer to the Englander web site www.englanderstoves.com

As for the 3" or 4" question, with 20' of vertical and one 90degree elbow. your EVL (Equivalent Vent Length) would be right at 15....that is the max for 3" pipe. But since you have so much vertical pipe, I don't think you'll have any issues. If you have any doubts, and also have the extra $$ for 4", then go that route.

BUT, running up an interior wall makes getting an OAK installed MUCH more of a chore. Fortunately, there are exhaust systems that have a built-in OAK system. The manufacturer name escapes me right now, but i'm sure another forum member will chime in with that.

And yes, a 15 amp breaker will be fine. These stoves draw the most on start-up when the blower & ignitor are both going.

Oh, and welcome to the forum!!
 
imacman said:
BUT, running up an interior wall makes getting an OAK installed MUCH more of a chore. Fortunately, there are exhaust systems that have a built-in OAK system. The manufacturer name escapes me right now, but i'm sure another forum member will chime in with that.

Selkirk direct temp. It only comes in 4". I am installing on an interior wall and I will be using that pipe.
 
soupy1957 said:
Vanderloan: You said, ".............My thought is to find a simple and reliable pellet stove to heat this area.........."

That's your FIRST mistake.

If you have noticed any of the threads I've begun, or contributed to, (not to be so vain as to consider my thoughts or threads worth anything), you know that I'm not an advocate for Pellet Stoves.

Consider all the mechanical things that can go wrong, and often need annual or bi-annual replacement. Consider the fact that you'd better have a backup generator if the power goes out. Consider the lack of the visual gratification that a "campfire" with wood, brings to the heart, (and that of the wife, family, etc...). Consider storing and hauling a skid of 50 lb. bags around.

I'm sure that my comments will receive counter comment, as this is usually a hot topic in here. I know that going in. I respect my fellow alternate-heat source friends in here who chose a Pellet Stove for their homes. I just don't agree with them, is all. They can come by and have a beer with me anytime, and I'll keep them warm with my splits while they are here.

-Soupy1957

I have owned both. I had the wood stove for over 15 years as a primary source of heat. I've had my pellet stove going on my 4th year now. I'll make a comparison. Having a wood stove is like have 3 kids all under 10 yrs. old. Having a pellet stove is like having a grandchild that goes home after a few hours. You should be committed to both, but there is a difference!
 
Have to disagree a little with the analogy. Having a woodstove is more like having a couple dogs, over 2 yrs old. The difference being, they are a lot quieter than the grandchild.
 
soupy1957 said:
Vanderloan: You said, ".............My thought is to find a simple and reliable pellet stove to heat this area.........."

That's your FIRST mistake.

If you have noticed any of the threads I've begun, or contributed to, (not to be so vain as to consider my thoughts or threads worth anything), you know that I'm not an advocate for Pellet Stoves.

Consider all the mechanical things that can go wrong, and often need annual or bi-annual replacement. Consider the fact that you'd better have a backup generator if the power goes out. Consider the lack of the visual gratification that a "campfire" with wood, brings to the heart, (and that of the wife, family, etc...). Consider storing and hauling a skid of 50 lb. bags around.

I'm sure that my comments will receive counter comment, as this is usually a hot topic in here. I know that going in. I respect my fellow alternate-heat source friends in here who chose a Pellet Stove for their homes. I just don't agree with them, is all. They can come by and have a beer with me anytime, and I'll keep them warm with my splits while they are here.

-Soupy1957

Hi Soupy

You have a good point and I am sure your wood stove works well for you. I had a Dutchwest wood/coal large cat for 19 years and ran it for 3 years. In my area wood splits are harder to come by and not cheap. I have a friend around here that burned 2 cords that he got for $175 a cord so he only needed $900 dollars of propane.

So I sold the stove and got an Avalon wood pellet stove with a 7 year warranty! My neighbor bought an Englander 25-PDVC. We had ours both for 2 seasons and with a good annual cleaning they both are still in good running shape.

I was a little disappointed with the convection air output on my wood stove, but the the pellet stove is fantastic!! On my Astoria wood pellet stove I have measured the temp of the air blowing out to be consistently from 150 degrees F on low to over 600 degrees on high! This heats my whole house to over 70 degrees!!

So Soupy, just curious but does your stove blow heat and if so what does the temp vary from and to?

I suggest the Selkirk DV for the oak and vent
An OAK does bring in cooler air and damper air. However it does keep the house much more comfortable than not having one and bring air in from all the cracks! Simply because when it pulls cooler outside air across your body from cracks, the room you are in feels cooler to you and it makes the room cooler!

Cooler air has more oxygen so it burns quite well. However the damp air from the shoulder seasons seems to be more of an issue when burning the pellet stove on a low feed rate. The dampness can make the pellets stick and clog in the burn pot. You can adjust the air and feed rate to compensate. Some stoves like the Avalon and Lopi have an opening in the OAK plenum inside the stove to mix the outside air with heated inside stove air to rectify this dampness issue.

The best solution I have seen is using the SelKirk venting system that brings in the outside air thru a double wall in the pellet flue vent. This system dries out the OAK air and warms it up also. That is the way to go if possible!!!

Hope that answers your question.
 

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Thanks everyone for all of the responses.

Don222 - A picture is worth a thousand words.

The Selkirk DT sounds like just what I need. Who has the best prices?

BVL
 
rona said:
The question comes that what do you do when age and health prevents you from grabbing the axe and heading out to the back 40 to make your wood?



You BUY wood from a reliable source, and call the son-in-laws or some good friends, to help you stack it up.

-Soupy1957
 
So Soupy, just curious but does your stove blow heat and if so what does the temp vary from and to?


I don't require or want heat to be "blowing" from my stove. I like the gentle transfer of air. The only "blowing" that takes place in my heating plan, is when I utilize the blower unit in my forced hot air system, to balance out the heat in the whole house.

Temps in the stove range are (as much as possible) kept at around 650º±50ºF, and approx. 550º±50ºF in the flue pipe.
Temps in the house are (as much as possible) kept at 75ºF±10ºF on the main floor (where the stove is located), 80º±10ºF upstairs, and 65ºF±10ºF below grade.

The key for me has been "balance" and "continuity." Keep it going, and keep it level (burn and temps).

-Soupy1957
 
I am committed to a pellet stove. Lived with a fireplace for over ten years. Quickly tired of dealing with the wood and the mess.

May need to send in Seal Team 6 to free my thread from the highjackers...
 
Consider storing and hauling a skid of 50 lb. bags around.
-Soupy1957[/quote]

Shucks, I got jipped! Someone took 10 pounds out of every bag of Okies that I have!

Earlyman
 
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