Harman p series size for my house

[mrmojo182]

OK, I'm thinking of making the switch from wood to pellets. I have heated my 1550 sqft L-shapped ranch with both and Englander 30 and an ideel steel. Both have been awesome, and both get so hot I have to close my bedroom doors to keep the temperature down. I always have the dampers in the stove completely closed during the few months I use the stove (Jan through mid march). I never use in the shoulder seasons, its too much heat. I've never used a blower either on the stove or in my doorways, heat seems to circulate just fine. The stove location is on the main and only floor, on one side of the L. I live on the cape in MA. I know many things can vary, but I'm curious to see who's heating their house with a harman p series stove, and what size is it. My wife and I prefer the house to be about 70 and the bedrooms to be 60 for sleeping. I'm leaning toward the p43 thinking it will really cover my needs and that a p68 is way too much. I really don't want to buy too much stove, and am hoping to keep pellet use to between 3 and 4 ton a year. Thoughts, opinions, suggestions are welcome. Thanks ahead of time.

 

[mrmojo182]

And I've realized the title sp mistake, so since I can't change it feel free to poke fun!

 

[Kennyz]

And I've realized the title sp mistake, so since I can't change it feel free to poke fun!

Ok... I'll bite. What temperature does your horse like his/her stall for sleeping?

Sorry...I just HAD to go there. But seriously, I would think a p43 should do it, but for the extra I'd go with the p68. The hopper is bigger, and if it gets real cold, no doubt you'll be nice and toasty.

 

[tsmith]

You can always turn down a stove that is too big if it gets too hot, but you can't make a smaller stove get any hotter than it's max if it's not warming the home enough for you.

 

[bogieb]

I would go with the P61a - better to have too much stove than not enough. Sure, the P43 would probably do okay most of the time, but the last two winters were brutal (at least for us further north) and it may not have kept up in Jan-Feb.

Living at the Cape, and having a fairly small house, I don't see a problem with staying within 3-4 tons per year. Set it on room temp, auto (with the igniter on) and you won't use many pellets. When it gets really cold, turn the igniter to manual (or go to stove temp).

 

[Cory S]

My vote for a P61A also.

 

[bags]

I have a P68 and a PC45. If I was in your situation I'd go with a P61 likely. I think the 45 would do the job but why not have the extra for those nasty cold snaps? Kinda like have a fast powerful car for merging into traffic and some gas pedal if needed. Not saying once you get up to speed cruise control is nice but if you want to slide right in you have that option.

That said, a pellet stove's heat can be regulated much like a central HVAC system. Wood stoves either pump all the heat or none in a sense. Yes, you can throttle them down some but there simply is not the set temp control like one has running a pellet stove. Let me put it like this: Can you get your wood stove to ramp up and throw massive heat and then almost instantly shut down to zero fire? Nope.

You could throw a bucket of water in it I guess.......

Point is to be on the safe side and go bigger so you have the extra BTU's as need and IF needed. You would do fine with a P68 too since you can control it and keep the inside temps within a degree or so of where you like it anyway. I think the 61 would serve you best but for me I would look at both the 61 and 68 and decide. The 61 should be less of a price tag too. I think the 61 is your answer.

Just a tid bit on my situation. Last winter which was brutally cold and nasty here I heated solely with the 68 all year. I did 2,350 SQ FT on two levels (fairly open and good air flow) with high vaulted ceilings and tons of glass windows and glass doors throughout. I honestly bought the 68 for shoulder seasons and to reduce wood consumption. The 68 heated my place well without issue,

For example the wife likes it 75*-76* warm at all times. The main areas and living room stayed there while the farthest bed rooms would be at about and average of 8* degrees less making them 66* to 68*. Just about right. I think the 61 would do this for you with what you are stating. There is a saying here: Go Big or Go Home! LOL! If you wanted to fork out a bit more cash the P68 would do it too and could be throttled down but in all honesty I feel the 61 is your stove. It is your call. Keep us posted and Good Luck!

 

[Jason845845]

My p43 could blast us out of our house at any time during the coldest days last winter. Similar size house, and I like temps in bedroom cooler and the living space warmer too. I used about 2.5 tons and roughly 25 gallons of heating oil last year.

 

[bogieb]

After cleaning both stoves today (this is the first time I've cleaned the P43 since I just set it up a month or so ago), I found the P61a easier to clean. There is more room for tools, arms, and even vacuum attachments. Also, the ash can is larger, so it can go longer between emptying. Not that the P43 was horrible to clean, just a bit cramped.

 

[Tonyray]

seems like most of us agree with the larger Harman for all good reasons including a huge Ash Pan..
You can always turn down a stove that is too big if it gets too hot, but you can't make a smaller stove get any hotter than it's max if it's not warming the home enough for you.
prob the number 1 reason right there to go bigger...
We have a P61 and heat blows up the steps to our 2nd floor...
we we're told we only needed a P43 but after burning 2 seasons, deff glad we went with larger..
probably would have had to run the smaller stove Full Boar all the time to keep the heat upstairs

 

[rcook430]

Just keep in mind. You said you have not used a blower on your current stove but a pellet stove uses blowers. The will be added noise.

 

[Jason845845]

Great arguments for the p61, If you have the extra $700, go for it!

 

[mrmojo182]

Thanks guys for all the replies. I'm going to mull it over a few days longer. @Jason845845 how big is your place? You seem to be due west of me on the map,I'm assuming climate is pretty similar. Have you ever wished you had the larger stove? Where you running it all out on high the last two crazy winters?

Those with the p61, you really can turn it down nice and slow? It sound like thats the one to get.

 

[bogieb]

Those with the p61, you really can turn it down nice and slow? It sound like thats the one to get.

Those with P61's don't just run them in the dead of winter. I've been running mine for a couple of weeks keeping the basement at 65*. It goes on a couple times a day, except yesterday and today) since I have it set at room temp. Oh, and I only have 650 sq/ft of basement that shares a standard wall with the under-house garage, so you know that I don't utilize very much of it's heating ability. (I used to try to heat the hole house but circumstances wouldn't allow it so put another stove on the main floor). In the dead of winter I set it to room temp, but turn the igniter to manual so it doesn't shut down, it spends a lot of time idling without any difficulty.

 

[Tonyray]

Thanks guys for all the replies. I'm going to mull it over a few days longer. @Jason845845 how big is your place? You seem to be due west of me on the map,I'm assuming climate is pretty similar. Have you ever wished you had the larger stove? Where you running it all out on high the last two crazy winters?

Those with the p61, you really can turn it down nice and slow? It sound like thats the one to get.

P61 can be turned down to 60 degrees.not that u would and very low fan speed..
can't go wrong with harman... theP61A is a no brainer..

 

[bags]

The 43 is a great stove too and I was looking at them new for $2,900 for a second stove for another area of my house along with others like the Cab 50 until I found the used PC45 on CL at half the price which is the same platform / size as the 61. The PC45 can also push more than 45K BTU's since it is a multi-fuel. These are no longer made and older models.

It really boils down to what you need to heat, your budget, and how air tight your place is. Many factors so don't rule out the 45 necessarily because it would likely do the job but as stated above the 61 would offer more BTU's and power. The 61 can offer a bit more but that comes with an increased buy in cost. Is it worth it to you? Factor in the added warmth insurance also but on the flip side $700 bucks is a decent little chunk of change.

Look at it this way. For a 43K BTU P43 you pay $3,000 or you pay $69.77 for every 1,000 BTU's. Now a P61 = 61K BTU's and a P43 = 43K BTU's. The difference = 18K BTU's. At an additional 18K BTU capacity you are buying those at $38.89 per 1,000 BTU's if the P61 is $700 bucks more than the P43.

 

[wildbill]

sounds like your running two stove's ?, If you are I'd be looking at a 68,pellet doesn't seem to radiate as a wood stove does constantly, its more controllable, so it doesn't run you out of the room its in like wood, like everyone said a bigger stove idling a long with the extra btu's on tap is a lot better than a smaller one running full bore. I almost bought the 61 but for the extra 200 bucks I opted for the 68 and I'm glad I did. A friend has a similar house as mine with a smaller stove and his is running a lot more than mine , fan constantly on and burning more fuel, so bigger is better. Its not like a wood stove where bigger would cook you out. Over all I'm glad I made the switch from wood to pellet I'm sure you will be to, let us know what you end up with,,,

 

[PelletPirate]

I would go with the p68, the hopper is bigger and you have the ability for higher BTU. Plus it looks nicer...

 

[Tonyray]

I would go with the p68, the hopper is bigger and you have the ability for higher BTU. Plus it looks nicer...

hopper size for the 61 & 68 I believe are both 78lbs...
both have same Xtra large Ashpan... a winner either stove..

 

[bags]

sounds like your running two stove's ?, If you are I'd be looking at a 68,pellet doesn't seem to radiate as a wood stove does constantly, its more controllable, so it doesn't run you out of the room its in like wood, like everyone said a bigger stove idling a long with the extra btu's on tap is a lot better than a smaller one running full bore. I almost bought the 61 but for the extra 200 bucks I opted for the 68 and I'm glad I did. A friend has a similar house as mine with a smaller stove and his is running a lot more than mine , fan constantly on and burning more fuel, so bigger is better. Its not like a wood stove where bigger would cook you out. Over all I'm glad I made the switch from wood to pellet I'm sure you will be to, let us know what you end up with,,,

Not running two but I have two. The 68 did the job as a stand alone. I was surprised but now have another angle as to where the 45 will reside.

 

[bags]

The 61 would be fine. Question is: Ya want a pop up camper or a Cousin Eddie Winnebago? Chitters full! ,, Clark.

 

[jackhammer]

I would go with the p68, the hopper is bigger and you have the ability for higher BTU. Plus it looks nicer...

My p61a is new this year, so I have no experience with it but....I went with the 61, not the 68 because I thought the 68 would burn more pellets. Consumption should be a consideration, in my opinion, and was part of original poster's concern.

 

[pete7713]

i have no experience with a harman but wouldn't the 43 be more than enough stove. I'm heating a 1500 ft L shaped rancher with an enviro mini keeps the house over 70 on heating level 3

 

[wildbill]

It's impossible to say with one would use more fuel, my guess would be the bigger stove would run a little less and heat up faster and cruise right along on idle maintaining the heat with out running as much, that's what I'm finding out with the 52 upstairs, it's not that cold right now but it isn't running as much as before I fired up the 68 downstairs. When I was looking for stoves I compared the 61 and 68 for 200$ more I figured the extra btu's out weighed the difference in price, that and the 68 has been around for awhile and proven to be a work horse. Idk but it sounded like the op had been using two stoves and if so I think the bigger one would be what he'd want to replace two.

 

[bogieb]

i have no experience with a harman but wouldn't the 43 be more than enough stove. I'm heating a 1500 ft L shaped rancher with an enviro mini keeps the house over 70 on heating level 3

Probably. But my thinking is it is better to have too much stove than find out that you need those extra btu's when it is extremely cold and windy.