I bought my stove on 12/31/2012.
I write this now because I had my first actual replacement part. The distribution blower. I am assuming the bearing went as it made a horrific sound once it would kick on. I tried some high temp grease that did not help, as well as disassembling the blower but it was not cooperating.
Maintenance. Nothing out of the ordinary for Harman owners. Cleaning the fines box is probably the most time consuming, which takes under an hour, and once a year or once a ton if you want to stay on-top-of-things. Besides that dump the ash pan monthly and scrape the burn pot now and again, I try scrap the burn pot daily but its not totally required.
I'm still on the original ignitor. Combustion fan. Auger. Electronics.
I'm lucky and only had two issues in seven years. First was part of a pellet bag found its way into the hopper and stopped pellets from passing. An hour spent switching it into test mode slowly presented the problem. We (wife and I) were pleasantly surprised that it was a simple solution. Second was the previously mention distribution blower. I found a Harman direct replacement for 155 online but coughed up the bill for dealer prices (220 after tax). In the end it payed out a little as the wiring color has changed and the dealer was able to confirm. Yellow changed to green yellow. Simple enough for an electrician but when in a bind it paid off.
All in all, I'm very happy with the purchase. My only issue is the circulation in my 100+ year old farm house. The only thing I would change is upgrading to a P61 or P68, which I might possibly do in the future and move the P43 into the basement for supplemental heat.
Based on reviews from this site I've read some stoves can burn less for the same heat, which is great, but I love the monthly ash pan dumps. Its a great help when working 10+ hours a day. Even compared to the Harman inserts I would choose the "ugly" P series and its fantastic periodic cleanings.
Just my opinion while enjoying warm heat next to the stove.
I write this now because I had my first actual replacement part. The distribution blower. I am assuming the bearing went as it made a horrific sound once it would kick on. I tried some high temp grease that did not help, as well as disassembling the blower but it was not cooperating.
Maintenance. Nothing out of the ordinary for Harman owners. Cleaning the fines box is probably the most time consuming, which takes under an hour, and once a year or once a ton if you want to stay on-top-of-things. Besides that dump the ash pan monthly and scrape the burn pot now and again, I try scrap the burn pot daily but its not totally required.
I'm still on the original ignitor. Combustion fan. Auger. Electronics.
I'm lucky and only had two issues in seven years. First was part of a pellet bag found its way into the hopper and stopped pellets from passing. An hour spent switching it into test mode slowly presented the problem. We (wife and I) were pleasantly surprised that it was a simple solution. Second was the previously mention distribution blower. I found a Harman direct replacement for 155 online but coughed up the bill for dealer prices (220 after tax). In the end it payed out a little as the wiring color has changed and the dealer was able to confirm. Yellow changed to green yellow. Simple enough for an electrician but when in a bind it paid off.
All in all, I'm very happy with the purchase. My only issue is the circulation in my 100+ year old farm house. The only thing I would change is upgrading to a P61 or P68, which I might possibly do in the future and move the P43 into the basement for supplemental heat.
Based on reviews from this site I've read some stoves can burn less for the same heat, which is great, but I love the monthly ash pan dumps. Its a great help when working 10+ hours a day. Even compared to the Harman inserts I would choose the "ugly" P series and its fantastic periodic cleanings.
Just my opinion while enjoying warm heat next to the stove.
