Hello, I'm a new member but have been reading reviews and old threads for a few weeks with gratitude for all of the great information here. I could use some advice on choosing a pellet stove for a 600sq ft condo in central Vermont that I purchased this April, and which is my primary residence.
The heat source is currently an anemic electric wall unit (that's my profile pic) with a baseboard in the bedroom.
The condo board doesn't allow propane tanks, so my options are to upgrade the electric heat or install a pellet stove, and I think pellet heat is the sensible long-term solution. The condo has one bedroom but is otherwise a high-ceilinged open living room-kitchen area with a small loft. I can vent through the exterior wall.
But.
I don't have a lot of money and I don't know anything about heating with wood/pellet-burning stoves.
I'm pretty handy, though, and I'm game to learn. I understand that any stove will need regular cleaning and attention and eventually maintenance, and that's absolutely fine.
So here's where I can use some advice. I can buy a Castle Serenity for 1k at a big-box store and then hire an installer. That would be the economical way to go, and I've read some quite positive reviews of the stove. I worry, though, that I would regret getting a low-end stove in the long run.
My local hearth store will sell me a new Enviro Mini for $2700 , plus installation, which will put me up near $3,500.
They also have a Piazzetta Monia for about the same price. I'm not sure how much more an Enviro P3 would be. And I've read that they can have issues, too. (Honestly, from reading this forum it sounds like the only stoves that don't really have issues are Harmans, but that's out of my price range).
I can do that $3500, but it would be a big hit to my savings at a time when I'm underemployed and transitioning from one career to another, so things are economically uncertain at the moment.
Oh, and one more question: I have an idea that I might get a Mr. Heater Buddy and keep it in the attic in case the power goes out. Good idea or terrible idea?
Thank you so much for all of your help!
VTSally
The heat source is currently an anemic electric wall unit (that's my profile pic) with a baseboard in the bedroom.
The condo board doesn't allow propane tanks, so my options are to upgrade the electric heat or install a pellet stove, and I think pellet heat is the sensible long-term solution. The condo has one bedroom but is otherwise a high-ceilinged open living room-kitchen area with a small loft. I can vent through the exterior wall.
But.
I don't have a lot of money and I don't know anything about heating with wood/pellet-burning stoves.
I'm pretty handy, though, and I'm game to learn. I understand that any stove will need regular cleaning and attention and eventually maintenance, and that's absolutely fine.
So here's where I can use some advice. I can buy a Castle Serenity for 1k at a big-box store and then hire an installer. That would be the economical way to go, and I've read some quite positive reviews of the stove. I worry, though, that I would regret getting a low-end stove in the long run.
My local hearth store will sell me a new Enviro Mini for $2700 , plus installation, which will put me up near $3,500.
They also have a Piazzetta Monia for about the same price. I'm not sure how much more an Enviro P3 would be. And I've read that they can have issues, too. (Honestly, from reading this forum it sounds like the only stoves that don't really have issues are Harmans, but that's out of my price range).
I can do that $3500, but it would be a big hit to my savings at a time when I'm underemployed and transitioning from one career to another, so things are economically uncertain at the moment.
Oh, and one more question: I have an idea that I might get a Mr. Heater Buddy and keep it in the attic in case the power goes out. Good idea or terrible idea?
Thank you so much for all of your help!
VTSally
![[Hearth.com] Castle Serenity vs. Enviro Mini](/talk/data/attachments/227/227307-427eb1940561c80e73220eaee046ea93.jpg?hash=nisCVZcKXw)
