Need some help before we buy our 1st pellet stove

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

Pappy

New Member
Nov 17, 2012
5
Trying to decide which pellet stove would be the best for us. Have never used one before.
I have read thru so many of the posts on this forum & it has helped. So far I am thinking of either the Enviro M55 cast or the Lopi Leyden. The Lopi has been in the store for a while & they have discounted it. Guess they will not be selling Lopi at this store after these are gone. Neither one of the units are set up in the store so we can’t see them run at this time. Working on the manager about that.
We live northern Arizona (elevation 5200) so we don’t get too cold but cold enough that our propane costs about $1,500 a year to run just the heaters so thought a pellet stove might help.
Will it be worth it in your opinion?

The house is 2700 square feet (
1700sq ft on the 1st floor & 1000sq ft on the 2nd floor)
My main concern is heating the down stairs especially the family room & kitchen. Are the units I mentioned too small or too large? There is only one wall in the family room that we can install the stove because of all the windows. Thanks so much for any help you can give me.

I have attaced a copy of the down stairs floor plan if that helps

1st floor plan.jpg

 
Actually there are two walls, would need measurements and an outdoor plan or picture to verify.

Where are the second floor walls in relation to the first floor ones. If there is an open area on the second floor level above the family room there is also a straight up vent that can be done.
 
The second floor is directly above so we need to direct vent out the wall. That is the only wall that will give us the 4 foot clearance away from a window.
I will attach a photo of the room. The stove would go against the wall where the couch is. Hope that helps.

DSC_0299b.jpg
 
I think that total sf might stretch the capacity of the enviro. I have the insert style with 2000 sf. I like the stove a great deal, and they are real popular here. It is only rated to like 2300. If your house is well insulated you might have a chance, but you will stil be running through pellets quickly.
 
Whats the cost of pellets in your area. Propane here went down to 1.39 this fall. I know pellet prices in some areas is as unrealistic as the price of propane. What is averge mean temp. Here where I live its around 45. Yea, I have to heat Octoberrr thru April. Not as bad as Alaska I know.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SmokeyTheBear
Some stoves can be vented closer than 4' when an OAK is used. You need to take that into consideration when deciding on the stove to buy. The beside and below clearances can change to 18" or so, the above clearance is 12".

My request for the second floor information was to see if a straight up was possible, some houses have offset floors and directly above a room can be open to the underside of the roof. The M55 will have no trouble with that area, I haven't looked at the Leyden's numbers. The upstairs won't benefit much from the stove and the other downstairs rooms are somewhat blocked off from the area you want to heat with the stove.

At your elevation any vent other than straight out will require 4" vent, then here comes a big question does the prevailing wind slam into either of the family room outside walls? Venting into prevailing winds can be a problem and has to be planned for.
 
I think that total sf might stretch the capacity of the enviro. I have the insert style with 2000 sf. I like the stove a great deal, and they are real popular here. It is only rated to like 2300. If your house is well insulated you might have a chance, but you will stil be running through pellets quickly.

He is looking at just the kitchen and family room which would be a breeze for the M55.

ETA: The Leyden should be able to handle the family room and kitchen area as well.
 
Whats the cost of pellets in your area. Propane here went down to 1.39 this fall. I know pellet prices in some areas is as unrealistic as the price of propane. What is averge mean temp. Here where I live its around 45. Yea, I have to heat Octoberrr thru April. Not as bad as Alaska I know.

Don't you have some of that global warming yet, those flamingos must be solid by now if you haven't.
 
Our home depot has a pallet for $244 but it is a blend of hard/soft wood. Have no idea if these are good or not. Just now learning about pellet stoves from all of you here.
We use the heater for about 4 to 5 months BUT not the whole time. The propane here is $2.59 a gallon (not including tax & all the other extra fees).
As far as wind goes....every side of the house gets slammed with wind. The house sits on the side of a mountain so we have no protection from the wind & it gets VERY windy!! So would it be best to run the vent pipe up the outside of the wall past the 2nd floor to the roof? Lots of extra money but I do not want soot all along the side of the house either.
Just not sure if the pellet stove will save money & that is why I wanted to get your opinions.

Here is a photo of the ourside of the wall. The vent would need to come out near the ac unit

DSC00113.jpg
 
If the vent is not into the prevailing wind you can go straight out with standard horizontal terminations If it is into the prevailing winds (prevailing winds is the normal wind direction during the heating season) you need a jet cap termination or a wind shield located away from the vent and such that it blocks the prevailing wind. A section of fence for example or evergreen shrubbery placed outside the clearances to combustibles.
 
I think you would be very happy with a pellet stove. It's not going to do much for heating upstairs, but you can always use space heaters in bedrooms to take the chill off when needed. The pellet stove will easily heat the downstairs.

One thing you mentioned...they won't be selling Lopi after they get rid of the ones they have? You might want to stick with a brand that they will continue to sell, especially if you don't plan to do your own maintenance on the stove. My cousin heats his home in Flagstaff with a pellet stove and is really happy with it.
 
Looks like you could consider a second stove in the pool room on the opposite end of the house. Love the layout!

ADDED: You would also stand a better chance of getting heat up the steps to the second floor.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jjs777_fzr
You also go central AC, if all the duct work spreads throughout the entire house and you are worried about total coverage, a pellet furnace would be the best choice for function. Aesthetics I would go with a regular stove and deal with the temp differences through the home. Tell you the truth you live in the sunbelt of America, how about solar heating?
 
My guess the stove, in it's location, would heat the family room, kitchen and entry way. The study, pool table room and dining room would not be as warm.

Tom C.
 
Just another 'i love your layout' post here. It's a great design.
 
Got a little more info from the dealer today.
Lopi Leyden - they have a few in stock & have marked down the price to get rid of them $3,200 installed. But the manufacture date is 2/07 so it is almost 6 years old. Does this matter????
Enviro M55 cast - $4,400 installed
 
As long as they have kept up with any of the manufacturer's updates it shouldn't matter that it is a 2007.
 
My stove is an 07 build... it still runs fine and it's ben used. If its been in the box and isn't all rusty, i don't see why not.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.