I'm new here and i would like to have feedback from Harman P38 pellet stoves

[tpiton]

I've read a lot on pellet stoves and I'm really thinking about installing one in my living room. I would like one to be as clost as possible as a real wood fireplace. I mean about that is one that the flame looks like a fireplace and the noise level as low as possible. It will be my second heat source, and I would use it on evenings more for ambiance than heating but the heat would be welcome in the living room. I've look at the enviro empress witch could have the blower install away from the stove (making it quieter i guess). I like the harman P38 but don't know nobody who have it so I can't see it in action. I would like feedback from the P38 owners about the noise and the flamme. Thanks

 

[DAKSY]

I don't think you'll find a pellet stove that has flames the "Look like a real fireplace." All pellet stoves have flames that are more lively - agitated if you will - due to the combustion air flowing thru the burnpot. The P-Series Harman units look more industrial (IMHO) than say the XXV or the Accentra. Those two are also less noisy, probably due to the amount of cast iron in the bodies, as opposed to sheet & plate steel in the P-Series...

 

[Bioburner]

And no squirrel cage fan. I am experimenting with a remote fan mounted inside of box with a furnace filter that's seems to be quieter and a lot less dust.

 

[tpiton]

and the XXV is quiet ??

 

[DAKSY]

QUIETER than any of the P-Series, but not dead quite. You will still hear the blowers, just not as loudly.

 

[tpiton]

My living room is about 216 sq ft. Is the XXV ok ( I mean that it wont be to hot?)

 

[P38X2]

Are you sure you want a pellet stove? I'm mean, if the ambiance of a fire is what you're looking for, a wood stove may serve you better, and depending on your venting requirements, may be cheaper. ...and it'll be virtually silent.

A P series Harman is not something I would call quiet. Maybe with the dist blower off (which you'll only have partial control of) most would consider it quiet, or at least not offensive in any way. However, getting back to the limited control thing, feed more pellets into it for better ambiance, and that blower is sure to kick on.

I agree with the other posts thus far.

ETA- The blower on low, isn't bad at all.

Your best bet at this point is to find a dealer that has one burning. Any P series is gonna sound pretty much the same, in the event they don't have a 38 hooked up.

 

[P38X2]

Also, a P38 could blow you out of that room, if you wanted it to. A lot of people heat their entire house with one.

 

[tpiton]

So the XXV is quieter than the P38 ? I'm looking for something quiet because my oil furnase is noisy with the fan and all. If the stove can heat the entire house while having a nice flame to look at the same time than it's all positives for me. So the quietest one is what I'm looking for. Thes XXV as a great look and i seen the flame on youtube and it's a nice flame. The Enviro empress also has a nice flame and you can leave the door open. I guess i need do see the stoves for real now. Thanks for the info !

 

[Ctcarl]

So the XXV is quieter than the P38 ? I'm looking for something quiet because my oil furnase is noisy with the fan and all. If the stove can heat the entire house while having a nice flame to look at the same time than it's all positives for me. So the quietest one is what I'm looking for. Thes XXV as a great look and i seen the flame on youtube and it's a nice flame. The Enviro empress also has a nice flame and you can leave the door open. I guess i need do see the stoves for real now. Thanks for the info !

That's what you need to do go and see them in person. I had bought a used enviro and had lots of problems with it.So I was debating between a quadra or Harman.When I saw both I fell in love with the Harman.On my 3 rd week on my all black Harman p35i it's outstanding.Also love the bottom feeder what a difference than the top feeder enviro.Good luck

 

[Bkins]

You can not leave the door open on any pellet stove that I know of. Some stoves have a grill that can be moved out of the way but the main door needsa to stay shut. These stoves, with a couple of exceptions use vacumne in the firebox to make the wood pellets burn. There are a couple of stoves that I read about that use pressured air to make the pellets burn but someone with that ype setup will need to chime in

You are not going to get a wood stove flame from one of the pellet stoves.,

 

[tpiton]

The Empress Pellet Freestanding Stove

• 

• Cast iron construction.
• Tri-mode thermostat.
• Large heat exchanger.
• Operates with cast doors open or closed.
• Available in multiple finishes.

 

[tpiton]

operates with cast doors open or close ?

 

[P38X2]

There's still a piece of glass in place, sealing the firebox.

ETA- Good looking stove

 

[herdfan2003]

yes, the P-38 will definitely blow you out of a area that small, even on its lowest setting. At 25-35 degrees outside I run mine between 2 or 3 setting heating approximately 1600 square feet.

 

[Lake Girl]

You also need to account for the amount of cleaning that needs to be done to a pellet stove. Some are more difficult to do the deep clean on the internal pathways (about every ton of pellets).

How big is your house? If you have a fairly open floor plan, you may want to consider using a stove to it's full potential rather than listen to the loud oil furnace.

 

[alternativeheat]

So the XXV is quieter than the P38 ? I'm looking for something quiet because my oil furnase is noisy with the fan and all. If the stove can heat the entire house while having a nice flame to look at the same time than it's all positives for me. So the quietest one is what I'm looking for. Thes XXV as a great look and i seen the flame on youtube and it's a nice flame. The Enviro empress also has a nice flame and you can leave the door open. I guess i need do see the stoves for real now. Thanks for the info !

The XXV is a beautiful stove, quiet as pellet stoves could be expected to get. One of my dealers uses a display model of that stove to heat one end of his shop. The other dealer uses the Accentra P52i insert which is also quiet. He has that on one side and various other stove running at any given time. The last time I was in there he the Accentra free standing stove going. Other times it may be St.Croix or what ever.

I've read a lot on pellet stoves and I'm really thinking about installing one in my living room. I would like one to be as clost as possible as a real wood fireplace. I mean about that is one that the flame looks like a fireplace and the noise level as low as possible. It will be my second heat source, and I would use it on evenings more for ambiance than heating but the heat would be welcome in the living room. I've look at the enviro empress witch could have the blower install away from the stove (making it quieter i guess). I like the harman P38 but don't know nobody who have it so I can't see it in action. I would like feedback from the P38 owners about the noise and the flamme. Thanks

Have you considered that pellet stoves take a fair amount of hands on work ? You might be more interested in a gas stove or fireplace. They have them these days that resemble a real wood fire pretty well and no where near the work of wood or pellets. Assuming you have natural gas available, it wouldn't be worth while for propane, too costly these days.

 

[chken]

I've read a lot on pellet stoves and I'm really thinking about installing one in my living room. I would like one to be as clost as possible as a real wood fireplace. I mean about that is one that the flame looks like a fireplace and the noise level as low as possible. It will be my second heat source, and I would use it on evenings more for ambiance than heating but the heat would be welcome in the living room. I've look at the enviro empress witch could have the blower install away from the stove (making it quieter i guess). I like the harman P38 but don't know nobody who have it so I can't see it in action. I would like feedback from the P38 owners about the noise and the flamme. Thanks

You are the only one who is going to know if the ambiance is right. Go to 3 stove shops to look and compare, then come back and compare notes. Only if then you want a pellet stove can the people on this forum give you good advice.

 

[tpiton]

thank you all for your advice. The dealer that i'm goig to see this week end has a XXV ready to go on display. If i like it I will give it a lot of consideration and maybe cut back a lot on my oil bills next year abnd try to eat all the house with the stove. My house is about 1000 sq feet so it should do the job.

 

[P38X2]

thank you all for your advice. The dealer that i'm goig to see this week end has a XXV ready to go on display. If i like it I will give it a lot of consideration and maybe cut back a lot on my oil bills next year abnd try to eat all the house with the stove. My house is about 1000 sq feet so it should do the job.

The XXV will heat your house with ease.

I also think your view on the stove will change. While you'll still enjoy the flame ambiance, you'll probably LOVE the heat and the savings over oil.

Just keep in mind, the demo unit at your dealer will probably seem quieter there than in your living room, though that stove is quite quiet, for a pellet stove. Hopefully your dealer will give you a realistic run down on the cleaning and maintenance. Its not difficult, but will have to be done every 3 weeks or so. You may even find you'll enjoy doing it.

 

[topcat11866]

i heat the entire lower level of my house with a p38+,i keep it set at #2 with a stable room temp of 72 deg. nice warm and toasty!!

 

[alternativeheat]

thank you all for your advice. The dealer that i'm goig to see this week end has a XXV ready to go on display. If i like it I will give it a lot of consideration and maybe cut back a lot on my oil bills next year abnd try to eat all the house with the stove. My house is about 1000 sq feet so it should do the job.

The XXV could/ will heat double your space, it certainly won't struggle in yours. While at the store have a look at the free standing Accentra as well, that stove will still heat half again your space, still offering enough reserve for extra cold nights. The P38 would do it as well. The XXV is the quietest of the three unless you get one with auger squeal.

I know someone with the XXV, he loves it. However he has had to put an igniter in it three times so far. Who knows why though. I just know that he isn't mechanically inclined so he calls out the dealer each time the stove doesn't work and gets whacked with a $300 bill each time as well.

 

[rickwai]

Dont forget that a p38 is a manual lite stove. Most of the others that have been mentioned are auto lite stoves. The p38 is not on the top of the list of easy to lite stoves. The P43 is the same stove w/ auto lite.With a area that small you will probably not want the p38 because it does not shut down when tstat is met, It still burns on a low setting and low for a p38 is still a bag a day.

 

[P38X2]

I disagree with the statement that the P38 isn't easy to light. With a torch, it takes less than 30 seconds to light, and it will produce heat in half the time of a P43. It is VERY easy to light.

However, I agree completely with rickwai, the P43 is likely a better choice for the OP given the square footage to be heated. I think the OP would be much happier with an auto ignite unit.

Tpiton, since you want the stove to be as quiet as possible, the XXV is the logical choice, but listen to the P series stoves with the blower on low. The P43 may work for you and save you $1000.

 

[MCPO]

I agree with the above posters. I have the P38 and although it`s a great little stove that lights easily with a torch , I`d not buy another P38.
Instead I`d opt for the P43 which has the auto light feature..