Anyone want to give advice on an Accentra insert

[Trickyrick]

New to this forum but want to first thank EVERYONE for running this and posting. I have been reading this for weeks now.

OK here is the situation:

1880 SQ foot colonial near Albany,NY

Currently has Electric heat and is consuming 9,800,000 BTU per month just in heat for deep winters.

This averages 330,000 BTUs per day and I have every room on its own programmed thermostat.

Here are the Stats of the install:

Putting in a Harmon Accentra insert as a zero clearance instal with the zero clearance box, 3 inch pipe, OAK, and dog house on the outside of the home . Install will meet all code and has been approve by Building Inspector.

Accentra can feed 40,000 BTUs and I'm considering a thermostat just to rig the stove with the set back option detailed in here. I would set the stove to manual and let the thermostat kick it into low(error) mode.

Am I doing anthing glaringly stupid here?

I love the look of the Fireplace and the surround and this is going on one end of the house but will blow across the entire first floor. Once I get a better idea of heat I can Vent directly into the bedrooms upstairs but that is Phase 2....

 

[camdids]

I dont have the Zero Clearance Install but dont believe that will be of issue. I have mine installed in the Living room at the end of the house. Two story open plan. 1100sf on each floor. I set the on stove thermostat at 75.This usaully gets the living room up around the 80f mark. Using a small floor fan pointed at the living room from down the hall, the rooms at the furthest point will reach 74-78f. I use another fan to help the heat go upstairs. 3 bedrooms get to around 64-68, depending on the outside temp of course. Never went below the 64 last winter.
Your specs of 1880 might just be a little too much. It would all depend on how well sealed and insulated the house is. . My second floor is only 5 years old, and the rest of the house is new windows..
I wouldnt think the main floor would be a problem heating, but getting enough upstairs may be.
Good Luck anyway

 

[hossthehermit]

If it was me, I'd really try to find something with a little more heat output, unless you're sure you can get REALLY good pellets.

 

[Lousyweather]

New to this forum but want to first thank EVERYONE for running this and posting. I have been reading this for weeks now.

OK here is the situation:

1880 SQ foot colonial near Albany,NY

Currently has Electric heat and is consuming 9,800,000 BTU per month just in heat for deep winters.

This averages 330,000 BTUs per day and I have every room on its own programmed thermostat.

Here are the Stats of the install:

Putting in a Harmon Accentra insert as a zero clearance instal with the zero clearance box, 3 inch pipe, OAK, and dog house on the outside of the home . Install will meet all code and has been approve by Building Inspector.

Accentra can feed 40,000 BTUs and I'm considering a thermostat just to rig the stove with the set back option detailed in here. I would set the stove to manual and let the thermostat kick it into low(error) mode.

Am I doing anthing glaringly stupid here?

I love the look of the Fireplace and the surround and this is going on one end of the house but will blow across the entire first floor. Once I get a better idea of heat I can Vent directly into the bedrooms upstairs but that is Phase 2....

well, one thing glaringly stupid would be to use 3 inch pipe when the Accentra insert has a 4 inch outlet......

The insert has a smallish output, but ANYTHING will help supplement your situation......a freestander, say a p68, can put out 68,000 btu's per hour.....

 

[minnow]

I have an Accentra insert in a cape-cod about the same Square footage as yours. Exhaust goes up the chimney via stainless steel 4" pipe. We use fans to blow air around. Stove does a decent job of keepong downstairs warm. Upstairs is a different matter. Usually around 62 degrees or so. If your not sold on an insert there are other free standing models that pump out more btu's than the accentra.