Advice on buying used pellet stoves

[TheLastDeadMouse]

I have a medium sized detached hobby woodshop that I'm looking for cheap heating for. A wood stove isn't ideal because I'm looking for something that I can hook a thermostat up to to make sure the shop stays at about 40-50 degrees at all times without a ton of baby sitting.

Right now I can't justify spending $1,500 on a new pellet stove and pipes, so I'm looking at used pellet stoves. I plan on researching models before I buy them in case there's issues with that particular model, but are there any other good rules of thumb I should keep in mind while buying a used pellet stove?

 

[the pony boy]

I have bought 2 used stoves over the years. Unless the seller tells me something is broke or I see it run in person most times they require a good cleaning and as the case with my first used stove purchase a window gasket. If your looking to warm your shop it's going to be tough to find a thermostat controlled unit in your price range. Rite now I have a almost 20 year old englander tank in my garage. I love it but it's manual lite and no thermostat. Good luck.

 

[Bioburner]

Trying to run a pellet stove in that low of temperature may not work well. Have tried with several stoves(4) to keep the shop from freezing. Problem is that the exchangers foul up because they can't get up to operating temperature with the incoming room air being so cold.

 

[3650]

I went to look at a used stove that didnt work. While there I tinkered with it and got it goin. The owner double the price after that. My advice is dont fix it on site lol.

 

[Pete Zahria]

If you get a small Englander, like a 55, if you have an average sized garage/shop,
you can just keep it on the lowest setting, and it will do what you want, ~50°.
I have a similar situation... garage is always >50°... 1 bag a day..

 

[TheLastDeadMouse]

I found someone with a nearby Englander 25-pdvc/55-shp10 for sale for $350. I have a wood stove but I'm new to pellet stoves and I'm having a hard time figuring out the how connecting a thermostat would work for this model. Would the thermostat turn it on and off completely, or would it just turn in down to a lower burn rate once it hits temperature?

 

[Pete Zahria]

I found someone with a nearby Englander 25-pdvc/55-shp10 for sale for $350. I have a wood stove but I'm new to pellet stoves and I'm having a hard time figuring out the how connecting a thermostat would work for this model. Would the thermostat turn it on and off completely, or would it just turn in down to a lower burn rate once it hits temperature?

turns it down to low setting. Does not turn it off.

 

[the pony boy]

My stove has the on/ off feature. But to my knowledge most go to the lowest setting. It's the main reason I got the one I did.