Everyones Input on Buying a New Stove

[JoeP]

Ok I've own a Englander 25PCV Pellet stove since 2005. Pro's Great Customer Service, Good Heat warms the one floor home, burns any pellet not picky, only 2 problems ever Auger motor & needed reset. Con's Little noise, wish hopper was bigger, no ash pan self clean. I took great care of it but at the end of last winter the Control board went as per Diagnostics. I feel I got all one can expect out of it, would need about $300 plus put into it by fall. Weighing If its Time to go New, with all the stoves out there I need some input Good & Bad. I could Just buy the same stove for easy hook up but would like to see what you here think. Thanks

 

[killie11]

Well first what is your budget? For me I picked up a Harman P61a because I am away far to much and did not want my wife to worry about a stove for a couple of week or more.

 

[JoeP]

Budget I'd like to stay under $1500- $2000.00 The Area I want to heat his 1500sq ft.

 

[quietcorner dad]

JoeP,
if you'd consider the option of sticking with your current stove--of sinking in the $300 and seeing if you might get at least two more years with it before replacing--

consider posting a new thread and getting input from owners of your stove about how long theirs lasted, how expensive repairs were towards the end of the stove's life, and/or just ask whether it's time to replace your Englander 25PCV…I suggest you put "Englander 25PCV' into the title so you attract folks who can share personal experience w/ the same or similar stoves. you could add the # of tons you burn in a year to help people compare the load they've put on their stove w/ what you do….

You know all the reasons why you're considering a new stove. in my book, simply wanting to try a new toy would be enough to tip the balance on a tough call…. but if you're seriously considering replacing it w/ the same--or a pretty similar--stove, as your last line suggests, that $300 investment to fix what's broken might be worth it…I've gathered, from reading on here, that Englanders are well-made and tough stoves for those who don't mind being a little hands-on, as you must have been to keep it running this long.

Best wishes!
tom

 

[killie11]

I would also look around for a used one. My dad picked up a really nice one that was only a couple of years old for 500. I can not remember the name of it but its original price was about 3000.

 

[JoeP]

Tom, Every year Englander runs an early bird special on tune up kits & parts. I get what I need and clean it good, grease the bearing & augers check everything over. I think that's what kept it going good all these years. I'm at the point where if I put $300 and the blower goes than I'm into it for more than I want top be. In a rough winter I use 3-4 tons depending on night time low themp's -0 & below or those -0 days (Mild 3 bad 4). The up side to buying the same one new is I'll have a Parts stove in an Emergency LOL. Killie11 I was think about a used one, but want it to be not to old or little use or someone moving south. I know use or new there is always a chance of a break down. I've been looking GL and local just in case a good deal comes along. I don't know much about other stoves because I started out with the 2005 Englander and never used another. I may have gotten lucky or maybe others last long to without much replacing of parts and are worth the price, I don't know what are you guys using and are you happy with them, How much do the burn, last winter I was burning about a bag every 18hrs give or take.

 

[doghouse]

I have the 25-PDV. Had it since 2005. Pushed 49 tons through it. Up until last years burn season, during the coldest part of the year, it ran 9/9. Temps can get as cold as 30 below here in Caribou. I've replaced 3 augers and 2 combustion motors. Heating a well insulated 2200 sq. ft. The older Englander designs are simple and easy to fix. Spent the $300 to fix it. Homes in up-state NY usually have a basement. Save your money for a year or two. Then buy your new stove and put the Englander in the basement.

 

[Pete Zahria]

.........The up side to buying the same one new is I'll have a Parts stove in an Emergency LOL...

Except the part that finally goes on your new one,
more than likely will be the one that went on the old one..

Dan

 

[rona]

Ok I've own a Englander 25PCV Pellet stove since 2005. Pro's Great Customer Service, Good Heat warms the one floor home, burns any pellet not picky, only 2 problems ever Auger motor & needed reset. Con's Little noise, wish hopper was bigger, no ash pan self clean. I took great care of it but at the end of last winter the Control board went as per Diagnostics. I feel I got all one can expect out of it, would need about $300 plus put into it by fall. Weighing If its Time to go New, with all the stoves out there I need some input Good & Bad. I could Just buy the same stove for easy hook up but would like to see what you here think. Thanks

No ash pan- no self clean- Small hopper- 300.00 to fix it. Sounds like you want to update to something a little more convenient. You have had that stove for 15 years and it doesn't owe you anything. Harman has the name of reliability and most models accept a hopper extension plus with good quality pellets they will burn a ton before you need to clean them as they have a large ash bucket. They also feature electronic ignition and either room temp or thermostat control. They are more expensive then a box store stove but hold their value very well and are owner friendly as they are easy to service.
It sounds like you do all your own service work so you are not at a dealers mercy. The Harman stoves are easy to diagnose and are a proven design. I know several people that have had theirs for 10 years and no problems but as we all know things will wear out no matter what the brand.
My own thoughts are I would look for a stove that is more efficient at saving the heat for the home rather then out the exh pipe. The btu of stoves are measured by the amount of pellets burned in a given amount of time. I would like to see how many btus end up in the room rather then out the exh pipe.
Truth be known I burn a Bixby which I consider a top of the line stove but they don't make them any more.

 

[stovelark]

1500-2000 is a tough price to find new. The best choices are probably a new Englander like you have or an Eco-choice pellet stove by Heatilator, if you're looking for a dealer brand. US stoves make a number of stoves in that price range also. Napoleon has the Timberwolf line that is available as well.

 

[JoeP]

Thanks for all the advice I have to think on it this month.

 

[JoeP]

Update: I bought another Englander, Reasons: My old stove was going to cost $435 to fix, New stove cost me $989 with discount. I went to TSC and the stoves there seemed very light weight and they are picky as to pellet size. I went with Englander because easy to install the same stove, The Customer Service is 2nd to none, The little stove eats anything you put in it, It works for the area I need to heat, Hey the old one I have lasted along time. So the search is over Thanks everyone. I have 4 tons of pellets and a new stove so if I Keep it maintained it will last years to come, for a fraction of what I could of Spent.

 

[bags]

Hey Joe,
Sell your old stove cheap and honestly because there are buyers for the fixer uppers. Even if you only get $100 that still reduces the cost of your new one plus someone will haul it off.

 

[MCPO]

Good decision ! With good pellets hovering at $300+and oil at $1.99 a gal I`d not consider an expensive pellet stove either . The Englanders are not top shelf or high end stoves nor are they advertised as such but they are affordable , built well , and dependable. They put out plenty of heat , and they are easy and cheap to fix.