Hey all, new forum member here looking for advice. My wife and I are done with the propane bills so we would like to install a pellet insert in the corner of our living room replacing a gas Napoleon fireplace. We wanted the Harmen Accentra 52i but it's too wide and don't want to do any demolition. The next option we see is the Thelin Providence which is visually appealing but the company as a whole gets mixed reviews. We are looking to purchase ASAP so are looking for advice. We have a budget under 5k installed. Important buying factors are ease of use, low maintenance and of course, reliability. Going here...
Help! Which Pellet Insert 35" Opening
- Thread starter LGTWhit
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fmsm
Minister of Fire
Aesthetically unappealing imho. I'm sure it's plenty strong but BTU's are only 35k and trying to push air throughout a 2500 sq/ft house. Definitely an option though if we can look past aesthetics, thank you!
fmsm
Minister of Fire
John Fortier
Feeling the Heat
- Sep 29, 2013
- 450
Have the Thelin Providence...Love the heat it puts out when it works. Last year was our first year with it and had no fewer than 4 service calls to get it working. Thelin was very good in helping resolve the issues as well as the folks at Stoves and Stuff. A little nervous going into this season because the warranty is up in Oct. Keeping our fingers crossed.
John Fortier
Feeling the Heat
- Sep 29, 2013
- 450
Floor model never used. Thelin stepped up and gave us a new control board. Igniter had to be replaced also. Amongst other probs.
About five years ago I put a St. Croix York insert ( (broken link removed to http://stcroixstoves.com/wood-pellet-stoves/pellet-insert-ashby-p) )in my fireplace. My fireplace was wide in the front, but, the fireplace angled back to narrower dimensions and that's where I had to make sure the stove would slide in far enough. It puts out enough to heat (40,000 btus) my home (2400sf) all winter. My house was heated downstairs by oil and upstairs by electric. At night, the 4 bedrooms upstairs have electric heat(if necessary). I do have a fan, on the door frame, (fireplace room) to help circulate the warm air out and a small fan, on the floor across from the doorway, to force cold air back into the fireplace room. It takes 2 or 3 hours before the convection air loop works properly throughout the house. I put the thermostat (for pellet stove) in the kitchen (right next to the oil furnace thermostat) and I keep it on 71 during the day and 70 during sleeping hours.
I use 3 less tanks of fuel oil every winter. The stove, chimney pipe, and complete installation was under $5000. Burning pellets has made my house warmer and less expensive to heat. Also, you might consider ( if you have the room) to put a free-standing pellet stove in front of the fireplace, instead of using an insert stove.
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Contractor coming out tomorrow to give us a quote, so excited
My head is spinning. I think I've been researching more on the pellets than the stove. All my friends say Harman, anyone say Quad E2. I love the options especially remote control and being top fed. Accentra 52i out of the question as it's too big
My head is spinning. I think I've been researching more on the pellets than the stove. All my friends say Harman, anyone say Quad E2. I love the options especially remote control and being top fed. Accentra 52i out of the question as it's too bigGot quoted $775 for install and $3699 with $100 off coupon. My goal was to be under $5k so we are moving forward. Going to Mt Tom Energy this sat. as I have reserved a matte black Quad E2. The installer says he has the same stove and would not do it any other way. Good enough for me lol! Now the search for pellets....
kramerica72
Member
RhodyPelletRook
Member
CaptSpiff
Minister of Fire
That 10% off seems to be the standard dealer offered discount. Squeeze em for any more and they get real squirmy. It's a good profit for them and some will work on the accessories or even some free pellets to start you off.
What seems to be a real deal is your install quote. Since it includes a removal of the Gas Unit and it's venting, and will require all new PL venting installed, is that price inclusive of everything?
Irish916
Member
Hey, just checking in on your post. I recently went with the 52i and I pulled out the propane setup I had. Mine was similar to yours, although I had a little more room. I'm curious though, you will need a zero clearance box with your pellet stove, right? Did you contractor quote the unit with a zero clearance box? I'm guessing your propane stove is zero clearance and probably bolted directly to the studs of the house, right? BTW- the E2 is bigger than the 52i. When you factor the cast surround, the e2 is 46in wide, while the Harman 52i is 41 and 13/16 wide. E2 appears to be an all around larger unit. Be sure to check those clearances to combustibles as noted on the web site. Like you, I wanted to keep my wood mantel setup, but when you factor the clearances required to combustibles, it was simply not possible. Good luck and hope all goes well with your install.
Thank you Irish. I am not 100% sure, but the contractor said its a fairly straight forward install. It is a zero clearance and I think is bolted in. I wanted the 52i but from my researches wouldn't fit as it is 41" wide and my opening is only 35". The Quad is only 32" wide so that's are best option.
Irish916
Member
I've uploaded the file that shows the side by side comparison. The e2 is bigger in most every way. For my 52i I had to purchase a separate zero clearance cabinet that Harman made for the stove. When I look at the install manual for the e2, I don't see that item mentioned, which is odd. So you'll need to confirm that the e2 supports zero clearance installations. Make sure your installer is someone who installs stoves. We don't want to be reading about you in the paper. General contractors that don't install stoves should be avoided.
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Ahhhh, the total width of the harman is 41". I must have looked at the dimensions wrong. Oddly enough another dealer told us the Harman would never fit unless we did some demo, hmmm...
The contractor works for the company we are buying the stove from and has done plenty of installs. Obviously licensed too. More to come...
The contractor works for the company we are buying the stove from and has done plenty of installs. Obviously licensed too. More to come...
Irish916
Member
Phew- that's good news. Sounds like you have the right guy. Have you taken a rough measurement of the inside of your wooden fireplace surround (from the edge of the tile as it hits the wood to the other side)? I'm wondering how much width you actually have there.
CaptSpiff
Minister of Fire
Both the Harmon or the Quad are terrific inserts, both manufacturers (the same now I guess) won't deal direct with customers, so the real question is "how is the dealer/shop reputation?" If you have any concerns, now is the time to project. And in the same line I always recommend using one of the dealer suggested installers.
About the install, I've seen 3 Quads installed in old zero clearance units (wood & gas), and all were "Cut & Gut" jobs. Sounds gruesome but it's pretty efficient. They layout a drop cloth, start disassembling everything loose (glass face, gas connection, controller and burner, logs, fake brick walls, etc), then go to work with a Sawzall to cut out the inner fire box flooring. The outer box of the zero clearance unit secured to the wood studs will remain mostly intact. The interesting question is always the venting. Does your present NG unit vent Up&Out, or does it vent straight back?
And I'm always curious how they secure the NG supply pipe. I once got a call to do a Cut&Cap in the basement for a year old insert install. Turns out it was the first time the homeowner pulled out the inset, and noticed that the old NG stubout and capped valve were within a few inches of the sliding insert. Details, details.
About the install, I've seen 3 Quads installed in old zero clearance units (wood & gas), and all were "Cut & Gut" jobs. Sounds gruesome but it's pretty efficient. They layout a drop cloth, start disassembling everything loose (glass face, gas connection, controller and burner, logs, fake brick walls, etc), then go to work with a Sawzall to cut out the inner fire box flooring. The outer box of the zero clearance unit secured to the wood studs will remain mostly intact. The interesting question is always the venting. Does your present NG unit vent Up&Out, or does it vent straight back?
And I'm always curious how they secure the NG supply pipe. I once got a call to do a Cut&Cap in the basement for a year old insert install. Turns out it was the first time the homeowner pulled out the inset, and noticed that the old NG stubout and capped valve were within a few inches of the sliding insert. Details, details.
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