Trying to pick out a pellet stove looking for advice

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Which to buy?

  • Harmen P43

    Votes: 13 52.0%
  • M55

    Votes: 12 48.0%
  • Warmland PS45

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    25
  • Poll closed .
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Joe789

New Member
Oct 21, 2012
8
Hello & first off thanks. Found this forum after searching for reviews, lots of good info.

I'm in the process of having my 1st home built. Grew up with wood heat, nothing like it but it's a lot of work. So have decided on a pellet stove (despite a friend trying to convince me to pay 5x as much for a heat pump), just trying to get an idea of which to buy.

My gut tells me Harman P43, but I like the look of the cast Enviro M55 & the classic warmland PS45 as well. I believe they're all able to burn mulit-fuel & BTU's as well as sq ft they'll heat are close

I figure I may have to look at this thing for 20 years if it works well, which is should considering the 3 I mentioned are all roughly $5k installed (Canadian funds). Just want to be happy, & want something easy to use that the gf can run if I'm away or working nights. Cleaning bi-weekly I have no probem with, but I'd rather feed rates etc all be auto.

Have done lots of searching & reading before posting. Will have to ask the dealer again about OAK's, that vent inside the chimney setup is slick.

Of the 2 local places selling these, 1 guy sells Harman & Enviro, another guy sells Pacific Energy/Warmland & Quadrafire.

Any & all advice or first hand knowledge appreciated!!
 
That's funny, those are the 3 that we were looking at. We went with a Cumberland mf3800 though, gets installed next Wednesday. Good luck!
 
I went Enviro because of the self cleaning burnpot. I don't touch(don't open the door at all) mine but once a week besides adding pellets. It can go far longer(I have burned 30 bags of so-so pellets) and it still kept chuggin along. But feel once a week is keeping the stove at its highest efficiency. I'd expect similar results with the PE warmland. P43 may need a daily swipe of the burnpot to keep the holes clear. Once you get into the routine its not a big deal.

What ever you choose, I'm sure you'll be happy! All 3 are good units.
 
Have you gone and seen these running? Ask about ease of cleaning, the noise factor, service, clearances, etc.
 
Yes . I agree. Pick a good stove from a good dealer who you hope will provide service when you need it.
That is , unless you are mechanically inclined. In that case you could save yourself $75+ everytime something goes wrong whether you buy a high end or a box store stove..
 
What's the price differance for upgrade to having the self cleaning pot of the pc45? Fill it up with a hopper extension and turn it on and not have to touch for days. GF not have to have you around but to bring in more pellets:)
 
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What's the price differance for upgrade to having the self cleaning pot of the pc45? Fill it up with a hopper extension and turn it on and not have to touch for days. GF not have to have you around but to bring in more pellets:)

The self cleaners do spoil ya! ::-)
 
Nort of da border don't ja know
 
I own an Enviro and love it. Weekly cleaning is all I do. No troubles *knock on wood* and it bruns anything.
 
Haha thanks for the replies & yes I'm from New Brunswick. Not a lot different then Maine scenery wise, but the people are nicer ;lol

Edited my spelling mistakes...touchy bunch, like my friends that ride those slowzuki Gixer motorcycles.

Both dealers are friendly, knowledgeable & professional so that's another reason I'm having trouble deciding. I have yet to even see the M55 but have seen both others running. Neither seems noisy, I do like the option of shutting the fan off & getting only radiant heat like a wood stove imagine this is common on them all.

If a self cleaning burn pot is good I'll ask how much more the PC45 is, I wasn't aware it had one. In the brochure I have it ony talks about it being able to burn corn/oats etc.

The guy who sells the Harman/Enviro's said parts are more expensive for the latter if something does go wrong. True or false?

Decisions decisons, lots of people saying go Enviro but the votes seem to be leaning towards the Harman
 
The Enviro and the 45 both have agitators (stir rod in the burn pot/ keepin things clean).

But the Harman does have a Very good heat exchange system.

Welcome to the Forums. No matter what one you choose....... Will be a solid choice. So good luck and post some pics.

We love pics :)
 
If you like to take off on a long weekend the self cleaning feature is worth it. 4 days without fossil fuel a month and I think one will get your $$$ in a couple seasons or less. Maybe I am wrong, but I used only 25 gallons of propane last season and the pilot takes alot of that in 6 months.
 
I am partial to the Harman, not only very reasonable maintenance but the ability to burn most any pellet automatically.
 
What parts is he thinking is more expensive? You have a good base of owners etc here to debunk or get you real world prices and suppliers.
 
Hello

I would buy a Hudson River Kinderhook! Best Bang for the Buck!

http://www.ventingpipe.com/hudson-r...stove-from-the-kinderhook-collection/p1840260

This stove has a large ash pan and a large hopper!

Features:
  • Ash Drawer
  • Digital Controls
  • 130 Lb. Hopper
  • Interior Steel Brick
  • Integrated Hearth Pad
Specifications:
  • Width: 28 Inches
  • Height: 44 Inches
  • Depth: 30 Inches
  • Fuel Type: Pellet
  • 59,000 BTU's
  • 84.7% Efficiency
  • 130 Lb. Hopper
 
There's pellet stove manufacturers other than Harman!?
 
Probably, but not as smart
 
I'm glad there's some support for the M55 as we like the look of that one most. Speaking of pics, anyone have any of one? Running/inside/outside? Watched some videos on youtube. Nice big flame when it's turned up, takes 6 mins! You'd need gas to have a fire in a wood stove that size that soon.

New to this, so you're saying there's an auger that moves the ashes? I thought the Harman had a good setup just pushing the ashes out the front, didn't seem like it'd clog up. I guess that's my main concern with several augers. Some threads on here about moisture causing clogging problems...

Fuel deliver is via an auger as well or just gravity? I noticed different stoves feed from the bottom/top. Out of the 3 I can't say I know what each uses or is better. Guess that's why I'm here, so you guys can tell me. Either works as long as you keep the 'dust' vacuumed from the hopper?

Bioburner you voted for the M55? Not quite sure what you're saying, but the stove will be unattened for a few days at times.

Not sure what he said would go, but I read they all have parts that wear & need replacing as does anything mechanical.
 
Well,I personally only have experiance with a Harman,I know of others that have other brands....and that is one reason I did go with a Harman.
I dont have to scrape my burnpot every day...when i do,only takes a minute and you dont have to shut it down....put on welding gloves to protect from the heat....scrape,then close the door.
This think will pump out the same amount of heat with 200$ per ton pellets as it does with 300$ pellets,the only thing is...the cheaper pellets dirty it up quicker.
But like others have said...very important to use a good dealer.
 
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