Avalon Astoria Bay - New to pellet stoves

[aatal]

I'm purchasing a new home and inheriting an astoria bay insert. I'm not really a stranger to wood burning stoves, I grew up with a freestanding non-cat and an insert with a cat. I'm just not familiar with pellet stoves. Since this comes with the house, I might as well try it for a season or two and then decide if I want to switch to a wood stove. I'm not sure of the year on the stove, but it looks like it's in good shape.

The house is 3100 sq ft in MA, built in 1977. Fireplace is centrally located in an open floor plan with an open loft to the upstairs bedrooms. 600 sq feet is in the back of the house and unlikely to be heated effectively, but the unit seems adequately sized and is supposed to be efficient. It will not be a primary heat source. If I do switch it out for a wood insert, there is a second fireplace upstairs that I may think about relocating the pellet stove to.

So, my questions are:

Is this insert worthwhile to keep around?
What should I be looking for?
I intend to hire someone to inspect it and the fireplace, but any suggestions in the Stow area of MA? (I stopped by a few places in the area and had a really good experience with woodstove fireplace and patio shop in Littleton - service is $250 - I'll likely use them)

Also, lots of great info on here. Love reading here.

 

[rockettmantoo]

I'm purchasing a new home and inheriting an astoria bay insert. I'm not really a stranger to wood burning stoves, I grew up with a freestanding non-cat and an insert with a cat. I'm just not familiar with pellet stoves. Since this comes with the house, I might as well try it for a season or two and then decide if I want to switch to a wood stove. I'm not sure of the year on the stove, but it looks like it's in good shape.

The house is 3100 sq ft in MA, built in 1977. Fireplace is centrally located in an open floor plan with an open loft to the upstairs bedrooms. 600 sq feet is in the back of the house and unlikely to be heated effectively, but the unit seems adequately sized and is supposed to be efficient. It will not be a primary heat source. If I do switch it out for a wood insert, there is a second fireplace upstairs that I may think about relocating the pellet stove to.

So, my questions are:

Is this insert worthwhile to keep around?
What should I be looking for?
I intend to hire someone to inspect it and the fireplace, but any suggestions in the Stow area of MA? (I stopped by a few places in the area and had a really good experience with woodstove fireplace and patio shop in Littleton - service is $250 - I'll likely use them)

Also, lots of great info on here. Love reading here.

The Astoria is an older top feeding pellet stove. Was always reliable. It needs a really good pellet thought, don't scimp. Also dont go longer than 5-6 days between cleaning. Check the burn pot daily.

 

[aatal]

Thank you. I'll definitely start reading up on pellets.