I am considering a new pellet stove

[rick31797]

I live in Canada, and since my 2002 thelin is not worth fixing and its hard to get parts for, i think i will buy a new pellet stove.
The thelin was 8 years old when i bought it and only had it 2 months and had to put a new motor in it, now the board is gone, 500.00 plus 75.00 shipping and 13 percent taxes...

I will never ever buy another used pellet stove, to much to go wrong, and parts are expensive.. I have narrow my new stove down too a Drolet Eco-45, because of price, available parts and made in Canada.It seems to me this stove is good value for 1899.00 including free hopper extension valued at 300.00

I am wondering if anybody has one of these stoves..I would not be using this as my primary heat source, it would be used 2 to 3 days a week..for about 8 hrs each day..

.

 

[stayfitz]

Did you price the ECO-65 as well?

 

[rick31797]

The Eco-65 is 2499.00 i know see a King/ashley 5500m, for 1299.00 great price but dont know much about the maker United stove company and parts available here in Canada

 

[stayfitz]

US Stove Company is not first on my list of pellet stoves.

Consider research & pricing on the following items:
- Heatilator Eco-Choice CAB50
- Pelpro HHPP32BD
- Pelpro HHPP2BD
- Englander / SummersHeat / TimberRidge - 25-IP

Not to rule out the Drolet ECO-45, as I hear good things on the forum

 

[TheBigBurn]

You get what you pay for. Unless you have time to tinker with your stove I wouldn't buy a US Stove Company pellet Stove. Also under the names King or Ashley.

Good names are:
Harman
Breckwell
Vistaflame
Colonial Cast
Napoleon
Rika Integra
Osburn
Combro
Tahoe
Hudson River

This would be my top 10 list. Not necessarily in this order.

All this said I have a US Stove Company stove. It's a cheap 5500M. I bought it new at Tractor Supply for $899.99 after a $100 coupon I had. The stove has had many issues. I now think I am an expert with this stove. Though I would not recommend this item to anyone I feel I could give the right advice to help them run this stove for years without many of the problems that are common with it.

First recommendation I would suggest is to never run the stove on setting 5. The book recommends only using this setting for 1 hour spurts. I recommend not using it at all.
The second thing I would say to do is to make the holes in the pot a 1/64th larger than what they are. This will give a better burn and keep the wind clear much longer and also allow the pellet to burn fully rather than build up in the pot.
Third thing would be to change the Feed rate from 4.5 per hour to 3.75 - 4. Thinker with this as it will vary depending on the pellets. Not all pellets burn the same.
Lastly I would increase the draft blower from 300 rpm's to 375 rpm's.

Now I would also tell them to keep it clean. I would make sure they pulled the blower out once a season and scrap all the build up off and clean out the housing itself.
Do normal clean outs every week or 2 and make sure to clean out the vents.

If anyone is having issues with there 5500M this may be the solution for you. If you don't know how to change the settings let me know and I can help.

Have fun!

 

[begreen]

Missing from that list are Enviro and Quadrafire.

 

[Lake Girl]

The Eco-65 has a ducting option that you can add that would be best used to heat 1st level if a basement dweller or 2nd floor. Doesn't add to it's appearance though...
Home Hardware is carrying this stove in their catalog so parts may be more readily accessible.

What is your primary heat? How much btu are you looking to throw? Is appearance relevant?

 

[jglaneus]

I couldn't disagree more with you opinions on this product. This stove is an excellent value for the money and requires no modifications. It does need to be cleaned regularly (as do all stoves). It will devour any brand of pellet. I run it for 48 hours at time without any problems. The manual specifically says not to run the stove on a setting of 5 for extended periods of time. If you did that, this could be the source of many of your issues. I run the stove on a 4 for hours at a time - until I can't stand the heat any longer ...

 

[TheBigBurn]

I couldn't disagree more with you opinions on this product. This stove is an excellent value for the money and requires no modifications. It does need to be cleaned regularly (as do all stoves). It will devour any brand of pellet. I run it for 48 hours at time without any problems. The manual specifically says not to run the stove on a setting of 5 for extended periods of time. If you did that, this could be the source of many of your issues. I run the stove on a 4 for hours at a time - until I can't stand the heat any longer ...

I couldn't disagree more with you opinions on this product. This stove is an excellent value for the money and requires no modifications. It does need to be cleaned regularly (as do all stoves). It will devour any brand of pellet. I run it for 48 hours at time without any problems. The manual specifically says not to run the stove on a setting of 5 for extended periods of time. If you did that, this could be the source of many of your issues. I run the stove on a 4 for hours at a time - until I can't stand the heat any longer ...

I am happy to hear that yours is working well. I also read the manual and have never run the stove on 5. The first year the stove worked very well for me however that is not the case any longer. Now on year 4 and the stove is the worst it has ever been. Had to get a new exhaust motor last year but that didn't make it run like it did when I bought it years ago. Basically the modifications resolved the lack of air the box needed to run right.
As far as cleaning I actually clean it obsessively in and out. Only thing is I shouldn't have to remove the exhaust motor every clean out in order for the stove to run right. Well I have to do just that now. Didn't have to the first couple years I had the stove though.
I hope your stove continues to operate well. Most people that have this stove experience troubles the second year of use. Mine ran tip top the first year then slowly went down hill from there. I thought I made the best purchase ever when I first bought this stove. Well I can't say it was the best but for the money I can't say it was the worst as I could buy four of these for the price of one of the top brands.

Newest update on my 5500M: So with 4.5 years on the 5500M it will no longer operate with any efficiency at all. The stove only shuts down when over setting 2. I just cleaned the entire unit 2 weeks ago. This included the exhaust fan. Really should only have to clean the exhaust fan once or twice a year depending on the volume of pellets you run. I run 3 bags a day on setting 4. Well I did when I could run setting 4. That is just a vague memory now. As of a few days ago I have switched to wood. I am scraping the 5500M. Not worth selling as I don't wish anyone these nightmares. For all those who have the 5500M I hope yours will run well like "jglaneus's" does. Good luck!

 

[skrypj]

I have an Enviro Maxx which is on par with the Eco-65 in terms of output and general specs. and I can tell you that I have never had to go above heat level 3/5 to heat my entire 2100 sqft house. Not sure how you will be using it, but that just gives you an idea about how much power a stove that size will have. I feel like I bought way more stove than I will ever utilize.

 

[hyfire]

2 thumbs up on the eco-65 you cant go wrong, its a work horse........ You can get parts direct from the manufacturer overnight if your in a bind, customer service is #1

 

[VIBErator]

I love my Eco-65. Runs 24/7 on setting one or two. It's currently -20c not including the wind chill and it's toasty in the house. We've got the plenum kit (;-) tks Norbs) and its heating a 2200 sq ft 4 level side split from lowest basement. Will probably run one of the pipes into the garage next winter to heat the garage. The Eco-65 is an awful lot of stove. We like to call it dragon.

Edited to add, there is no duct work in our house. Electric baseboard is "main" heat source. The plenum blows into a hole in the floor above the stove.

Rick317997 why wouldn't you run it any longer than 8 hrs.?

 

[smwilliamson]

DID YA HEAR THIS THELIN?????

 

[Utilitrack]

You get what you pay for. Unless you have time to tinker with your stove I wouldn't buy a US Stove Company pellet Stove. Also under the names King or Ashley.

Good names are:
Harman
Breckwell
Vistaflame
Colonial Cast
Napoleon
Rika Integra
Osburn
Combro
Tahoe
Hudson River

This would be my top 10 list. Not necessarily in this order.

All this said I have a US Stove Company stove. It's a cheap 5500M. I bought it new at Tractor Supply for $899.99 after a $100 coupon I had. The stove has had many issues. I now think I am an expert with this stove. Though I would not recommend this item to anyone I feel I could give the right advice to help them run this stove for years without many of the problems that are common with it.

First recommendation I would suggest is to never run the stove on setting 5. The book recommends only using this setting for 1 hour spurts. I recommend not using it at all.
The second thing I would say to do is to make the holes in the pot a 1/64th larger than what they are. This will give a better burn and keep the wind clear much longer and also allow the pellet to burn fully rather than build up in the pot.
Third thing would be to change the Feed rate from 4.5 per hour to 3.75 - 4. Thinker with this as it will vary depending on the pellets. Not all pellets burn the same.
Lastly I would increase the draft blower from 300 rpm's to 375 rpm's.

Now I would also tell them to keep it clean. I would make sure they pulled the blower out once a season and scrap all the build up off and clean out the housing itself.
Do normal clean outs every week or 2 and make sure to clean out the vents.

If anyone is having issues with there 5500M this may be the solution for you. If you don't know how to change the settings let me know and I can help.

Have fun!

How can the Travis Industry line Of Lopi stoves not make a top ten list?

 

[boomhour]

(broken link removed)

Paid $4000 out the door at the beginning of April last year, including pipe and taxes in. Built in Canada, and I have received calls back from Claude at Paromax after hours. 12-volt back up, can`t beat it. Power consumption minimal, .06 watts on stage 3 heating. Been heating since Sept. 83 bags down. Ash management system requires very little pot-stirring. I am heating just shy of 1250.00 sq. ft., older cottage 2 x 4 construction, no basement. We were planning to rebuild. Just a cheap way in to be on water in Muskoka. There`s been a lot said about the previous version of this stove and is now back in the original owners hands. A lot of controversy has been circling about this stove on this forum which I am finding unfounded. Harmon and the Eco-65 as well as the 45 were on my list but at 42 db at 6 ft. was the clincher. At .06 g per H and new EPA ratings on the horizon, this stove could be the poster child for green.

 

[hyfire]

(broken link removed)

Paid $4000 out the door at the beginning of April last year, including pipe and taxes in. Built in Canada, and I have received calls back from Claude at Paromax after hours. 12-volt back up, can`t beat it. Power consumption minimal, .06 watts on stage 3 heating. Been heating since Sept. 83 bags down. Ash management system requires very little pot-stirring. I am heating just shy of 1250.00 sq. ft., older cottage 2 x 4 construction, no basement. We were planning to rebuild. Just a cheap way in to be on water in Muskoka. There`s been a lot said about the previous version of this stove and is now back in the original owners hands. A lot of controversy has been circling about this stove on this forum which I am finding unfounded. Harmon and the Eco-65 as well as the 45 were on my list but at 42 db at 6 ft. was the clincher. At .06 g per H and new EPA ratings on the horizon, this stove could be the poster child for green.

It maybe nice but at 34000, btu, it would not even get my shop warm....way too small compared to the eco-65, your comparing a 4cyl to a v8..

 

[boomhour]

It maybe nice but at 34000, btu, it would not even get my shop warm....way too small compared to the eco-65, your comparing a 4cyl to a v8..

The original post was about a Eco-45 or did I miss something? Yes. You have a nice stove and according to you, my stove would have never kept up, but at 4 pounds a hour I don't think it has to much of a problem staying with the pack. In one of your other posts you hit a high of 600 F at the heat exchanger. I hit that mark on stage 3 running a mix of Trebio and Satisfation and capped it off at 732 F. Funny thing is, I still have one more heat setting. As far as a 4 cyl to a V8 comparison, I like to think it is something Smokey” Yunick and his Buick V6 days would have dialed in.

 

[wwert]

Breakwell, no way.

 

[hyfire]

There have been cases of the eco-65 going to 1000F if your willing to push it long enough, but I prefer not to do that. You have a great stove for its Rated output, I do agree, but BTU's are BTU;s and less is less heat, pretty simple..