Debating if I should purchase a pellet stove

[CCW495]

Hello all,

This is my first post. I have been reading the forums in here a ton lately though and just wanted to get people’s opinion.

I own a manufactured home (on a crawlspace) and it’s 2400 sq ft. It’s a very open floor plan. I currently have a mini splits on a hyper heat heat pump system that I use for AC and heat in the winter. Each room has its own mini split head except bathrooms and closets. I had a regular forced air system, but the home foreclosed on and as it sat for 3-4 years vacant the flex duct they use for the HVAC was absolutely destroyed, so I replaced with mini split hyper heat system and did away with the duct work.

Since switching to the heat pump I have noticed the heat in the winter just isn’t…. Warm? It heats the house but it’s not a comfortable heat. I also think when the temp dips into the teens-twenty’s the system has a hard time keeping up even though it’s rated for well below those temps. I have looked at pellet stoves for years and year. I always come back to the Harman P68. From what I understand, this would be capable of providing heat for the entire home especially with a few fans to assist with distributing the heat I’m sure. I have not seen many P68’s used, so I have been contemplating new just because I believe it would comfortably heat my house. I have seen some Harman XXV’s used for half the price of a new stove, but am concerned that or a P43 would just not be enough to heat the entire house as I would hope. I am really looking for some input if you guys believe a pellet stove is worth it to begin with and if so… With SQ FT should I bite the bullet and get a new P68 or maybe settle for a smaller stove?? Any input would be great. I am SW PA.

Thank you!!

 

[bogieb]

I would go with the largest output stove that you have budget, room and clearances for (both for the stove and the exhaust). It is easy to throttle down a big stove, but very difficult to get more out of a smaller stove.

Mini splits are good, but since they have to defrost, many times are blowing cold air too.

As anyone will tell you, a pellet stove is a room heater. However, many of us heat our entire houses with pellets. It is certainly easier to accomplish when there is an open floor plan.

Siting of the stove is very important when trying to heat auxiliary rooms like bedrooms and bathrooms. Even just the angle the stove sits at can be the difference between needing lots of fans, or few/no additional fans. Ideally, if possible, the stove would be situated so the airflow is pointed down a hallway. You might want to give us a sketch of your layout and where you were thinking of siting the stove.

 

[zrock]

Best thing i put in my modular home. Keeps it nice and warm and keeps the gas bill low.. IF i were to install it again i would have put it so it was facing the back of the trailer my living room is in the front, this way it would help heat up the back a little quicker. Get the biggest stove you can afford.. Like said above you can always throttle it back but you cannot add heat if its to small..

 

[EbS-P]

How many days a year do you need it? 10? How much do you want radiant heat? How much are you willing to spend?

My thoughts you have a good hyper heat system. You don’t need max output. You need something that can be delivered/installed by December 31 to get a tax credit (if you are eligible). It won’t be cheaper operating the pellet stove. The up front cost will never be made back in money savings, only comfort.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Hello all,

This is my first post. I have been reading the forums in here a ton lately though and just wanted to get people’s opinion.

I own a manufactured home (on a crawlspace) and it’s 2400 sq ft. It’s a very open floor plan. I currently have a mini splits on a hyper heat heat pump system that I use for AC and heat in the winter. Each room has its own mini split head except bathrooms and closets. I had a regular forced air system, but the home foreclosed on and as it sat for 3-4 years vacant the flex duct they use for the HVAC was absolutely destroyed, so I replaced with mini split hyper heat system and did away with the duct work.

Since switching to the heat pump I have noticed the heat in the winter just isn’t…. Warm? It heats the house but it’s not a comfortable heat. I also think when the temp dips into the teens-twenty’s the system has a hard time keeping up even though it’s rated for well below those temps. I have looked at pellet stoves for years and year. I always come back to the Harman P68. From what I understand, this would be capable of providing heat for the entire home especially with a few fans to assist with distributing the heat I’m sure. I have not seen many P68’s used, so I have been contemplating new just because I believe it would comfortably heat my house. I have seen some Harman XXV’s used for half the price of a new stove, but am concerned that or a P43 would just not be enough to heat the entire house as I would hope. I am really looking for some input if you guys believe a pellet stove is worth it to begin with and if so… With SQ FT should I bite the bullet and get a new P68 or maybe settle for a smaller stove?? Any input would be great. I am SW PA.

Thank you!!

One thing to consider is maintenance and cleaning - pellet stoves need regular cleaning, and there are lots of controls which might require someone to fix. If you are handy with some electrical skills, you could do it yourself. Otherwise you might need help getting it fixed if it breaks down.

 

[Turbo89]

Sounds like you’re a good candidate for a pellet (or wood) stove. Is your area prone to power outages, if so so a pellet or wood stove could help with power outages too.

I’m interested in your comments on how many days you “need it” as I’m debating converting to mini-splits as my primary heat (with wood stove backup).

 

[jackman]

Welcome to the forum. I agree with all of the previous comments. I would like to add that the pellets do require some manual labor. They weigh 40 pounds per bag so lifting may be a challenge for some. You'll need to decide on how you purchase them. I buy 2 tons for the entire season when they are on sale during the summer. This then requires having a dry convenient place to store them preferably near the stove.

 

[EbS-P]

I’m interested in your comments on how many days you “need it”

Think how many days a year the high never gets above say 20F.

I just asked AI for the number of days last year where the high was below 20F in Worcester. It was 2! 99% sewing temp is 6F. And 99.6% is 1F. So we can assume the average temp was 0F. A properly sized system will provide design capacity at the design temp. By the average one would spend 35 hours a year below 1F!

I argue you are spending money on comfort and reliability if adding backup heat to a heatpump for less than 10 days a year. Possibly less 2 days a year! Would resistive electric add comfort for really cheap? Yes. What do you do when you loose power? That’s another question but related.

 

[Turbo89]

Think how many days a year the high never gets above say 20F.

I just asked AI for the number of days last year where the high was below 20F in Worcester. It was 2! 99% sewing temp is 6F. And 99.6% is 1F. So we can assume the average temp was 0F. A properly sized system will provide design capacity at the design temp. By the average one would spend 35 hours a year below 1F!

I argue you are spending money on comfort and reliability if adding backup heat to a heatpump for less than 10 days a year. Possibly less 2 days a year! Would resistive electric add comfort for really cheap? Yes. What do you do when you loose power? That’s another question but related.

Thanks! The power loss issues is the bigger concern for me (we loose it 2-5 times per yr), off course you could just add a whole house generator if you have another $20-30k laying around. But practically speaking a wood stove is a good is a good way [for me] to save heating costs, as I have access to a lot of “free” wood.

 

[EbS-P]

Thanks! The power loss issues is the bigger concern for me (we loose it 2-5 times per yr), off course you could just add a whole house generator if you have another $20-30k laying around. But practically speaking a wood stove is a good is a good way [for me] to save heating costs, as I have access to a lot of “free” wood.

Do you have AC now?

 

[Turbo89]

Do you have AC now?

No, which is why I’m considering mini-splits (MA has big tax credits if you convert to mini-split heat, and I get AC).

 

[EbS-P]

No, which is why I’m considering mini-splits (MA has big tax credits if you convert to mini-split heat, and I get AC).

In that case it’s a no brainer. Add a value oriented wood stove for backup heat.

I have heatpump (and solar) and wood. It’s a great combination. I’m not a slave to the stove. And heatpump is relatively cheap when is above freezing.

 

[zrock]

How many days a year do you need it? 10? How much do you want radiant heat? How much are you willing to spend?

My thoughts you have a good hyper heat system. You don’t need max output. You need something that can be delivered/installed by December 31 to get a tax credit (if you are eligible). It won’t be cheaper operating the pellet stove. The up front cost will never be made back in money savings, only comfort.

No Idea what Mini splits cost to operate, but i know in my situation when i picked up a used stove what i saved in the first 2 years over running my furnace i could have went out and purchased new and had it installed and recouped all the costs. When i had to replace the control in it 2 years ago i had no issue ordering another as it would pay for itself really quick.

Not to mention the heat is so nice compared to gas, for someone like me with arthritis that acts up when its cold and damp the dry heat really helps