Is it time to get rid of the pellet stove?

We purchased our present home in December of 2006. The only source of heat available to us (so we thought) was propane gas. It didn't take very long to figure out that we were going to go broke trying to heat our 3,800 sq/ft home with propane so in December of 2007 we installed a Mt. Vernon AE Insert.

This stove had every imaginable problem that the early Mt.Vernon's encountered. Although our dealer was fantastic even he got to the point he didn't want to see us anymore and pulled the stove in 2010 and replaced it with a brand new Mt. Vernon AE. The new stove has been fantastic in fact the only issue to date has been an igniter going bad and that was even under warranty!

Here is my dilemma. When the cable company was digging in the front of the house a couple of years back I noticed that they had put out some yellow flags as markers. Not certain if this is the same everywhere but yellow flags in these parts mean Natural Gas! I called my local utility and found out that NG was in fact in front of my house and had been there since another sub-division went in years ago. Needless to say we had the NG run to our home and never needed to deal with the propane company again however this is where the problem lies. The price of NG is so low that it really makes no sense at all to run the stove. I still run it but I know it is actually costing me more to do so.

So here is the question:

Do I pull the stove and re-install a gas insert or just keep the stove in the event that NG goes up in price?

I really don't think NG is going up anytime soon and I am a bit concerned that the stove is going to start costing me for replacement parts and maintenance items.

So what would you do?

I say keep it. Nice to have two different sources of heat, and if you aren't using it much then parts won't be wearing out to fast.

I say keep it also. With such a low market price for NG it is perfectly concievable that energy companies will start scaling back production and investing those resources in more profitable projects.

Keep it. If there is a power outage, and your main heating system is rendered inoperable because the controls have no power, you can run your pellet stove with a 12V battery.

Pellets and natural gas... That's what dreams are made of

Keep it.

Both. When the economy breathes it's final breathe, who know what sources of energy will be available for heat. I am looking at picking up a small wood stove just to hedge my bet.

Do the flames look nice? Is it quiet? I bet a gas insert would be both. You'd just be using it for the atmosphere. Is the fireplace still functional?

yes , where can i pick it up

Exactly what I have.....paradise.....

Do you need to remove the insert to free up the fireplace to install a NG stove? Or did you install a NG furnace already?

I need to remove the stove to free up space to install a NG Insert.

The house originally had an insert and I removed it. that was before i knew we had access to NG.

We have a whole house generator so we can run the furnaces.

Only problem is the wife likes the fire so we are going to run it anyway.

Oh by the way, GO RAVENS!

sucks rooting for the losing team , but you can dream

Love the juxtaposition of the OP and the first to respond.....we shall see on Sunday night...hopefully the PATS are Bayou Bound GO PATS

Should be a good game, can't wait. Go Pats!

Are you Happy and one other thing Pellets never have gone KBOOM !

I have always dreamed they would find a NG line in front of my home. I even verified with the NG companies in the area to make sure my dream was not a reality. Consider yourself a lucky man... keep the stove..

NG is good cheap safe heat at the moment but they are hooking up homes and factories at an incredible rate. I feel when enough people are hooked up and hooked on NG the price will rise to about the same as LP or oil. The stoves in, keep it, the oil companys greed will show up shortly.

Funny. I just mentioned to my wife not long ago that our next house is going to have natural gas. By the time that happens gas prices will probably be through the roof again.

I'd keep it. Heating with wood and pellets is a sickness you can't ever get over.

There's the whole renewable resource/green benefit of burning pellets...but that may not be a factor for someone with a 3800 sq/ft house

I'd say keep it also.

One never knows what the future holds...

Plus, you may want just a "little" heat in that room every now and then?

If you sell it, post it here (For Sale section). The stove will get a good home, from a user who understands it..

Definately keep it!! This is the exact same situation I am in. I have had NG for 20 yrs. and when I replaced my woodstove this year I wanted pellets. I like 2 types of heat...never know what is coming next around the block

Get rid of it. I ll pick it up tomorrow . 100 bucks right