Internal Dilemma

[Griff726]

Hey pellet heads,

I've been reading quite a bit on the forum and thought I would say hi and get some advice. I'm trying to decide whether I want to buy a piazzetta sabrina, or a cheap stove from Lowes or tractor supply. I really want the piazzetta, and I'm leaning towards that, but I see these stoves with similar btu ratings for $1500 less. Someone please convince me that I'm not wasting a grand on the Italian beauty. I really like that stove.

Also, can anyone tell me how much an ICC vent pipe is going to cost? I've seen duravents and Selkirks for ~$250

Thanks!
Matt

 

[Mr. Spock]

Welcome to the forum Matt. Try doing a search on piazzetta. There are a few members here who have them and like them. Member chken comes to mine.
I am sure piazetta owners will eventually come across this thread and sound in.

 

[quietcorner dad]

You could look at enviro p3, which might be a less expensive modern looking stove

P3 = New stove so not much known
Though it is based on the enviro mini and is from a company that seems well regarded here...

I think The bordeaux piazzetta monia is so handsome. I gather from these forums that they require more regular tending --cleaning glass, cleaning small ash pan, not sure if you would be filling its small hopper more often ...may make up for small hopper w outstanding efficiency....would give you more heat and better efficiency than a mini or p3

Best wishes!

 

[quietcorner dad]

Oops--you are interested in the sabrina, which has the bigger hopper and even higher heat output than monia...p3 probably wont give you enough heat

 

[TimfromMA]

The St Croix line of stoves doesn't get much mention here but are excellent stoves. They deserve a look.

 

[Drew65]

Once it's peramaters are set right its a dream. Very quiet. And it looks great. The 1500$ ones aren't apples for apples. They will heat, and use more pellets and sound like a truck.

 

[altarr]

I dont know much about the stove that you were looking at, but I CAN tell you to avoid Englander/Summers heat cheap stoves. I am going to catch heat on this forum (get it, heat) but simply put, they are just poorly designed crap. I replaced with a Harman after fighting for 4 years to get mine to run right (including a full replacement) and I couldnt be happier. My general advice is to buy a stove where you have easy access to the heat exchanger for cleaning.

best of luck.

 

[chken]

Hey pellet heads,

I've been reading quite a bit on the forum and thought I would say hi and get some advice. I'm trying to decide whether I want to buy a piazzetta sabrina, or a cheap stove from Lowes or tractor supply. I really want the piazzetta, and I'm leaning towards that, but I see these stoves with similar btu ratings for $1500 less. Someone please convince me that I'm not wasting a grand on the Italian beauty. I really like that stove.

Also, can anyone tell me how much an ICC vent pipe is going to cost? I've seen duravents and Selkirks for ~$250

Thanks!
Matt

I have a Sabrina and I'm happy with it. It did cost more than a stove from the big box store but I was looking for a more contemporary-looking stove given the design of my home.

I went thru some of the same quandary about the cost, but I saved by doing my own install and hearth pad. However, as this was my first pellet stove, I bought the pipe from the dealer, ICC, and it was pricey, $500 to go above my roofline.

I've had no issues, but a couple Monia owners had issues with the back plate not fitting. Worse, the dealer didn't seem too knowledgeable. That's important, make sure your dealer is reputable and knows his stuff so that if you have a problem, they don't pass the buck.

Rather than obsess about the cost of the stove vs a big-box stove, I figured my payback period. I save about $200 per ton of pellets used. Since I used 5+ tons last year, that's about $1000. In 3.5 yrs I'll have my stove and vent pipe paid off. That doesn't account for all of my labor, but I'd be building fires in the fireplace and that's way more labor intensive. Of course, with a big box stove, you could break-even in 2 years. It's up to you.

 

[altarr]

I have a Sabrina and I'm happy with it. It did cost more than a stove from the big box store but I was looking for a more contemporary-looking stove given the design of my home.

I went thru some of the same quandary about the cost, but I saved by doing my own install and hearth pad. However, as this was my first pellet stove, I bought the pipe from the dealer, ICC, and it was pricey, $500 to go above my roofline.

I've had no issues, but a couple Monia owners had issues with the back plate not fitting. Worse, the dealer didn't seem too knowledgeable. That's important, make sure your dealer is reputable and knows his stuff so that if you have a problem, they don't pass the buck.

Rather than obsess about the cost of the stove vs a big-box stove, I figured my payback period. I save about $200 per ton of pellets used. Since I used 5+ tons last year, that's about $1000. In 3.5 yrs I'll have my stove and vent pipe paid off. That doesn't account for all of my labor, but I'd be building fires in the fireplace and that's way more labor intensive. Of course, with a big box stove, you could break-even in 2 years. It's up to you.

Good point on the ROI.

My oil costs are somewhere in the area of 4k per year. Pellets cost maybe 1500? so at a 2500$ a year savings, the stove is paid for in less then 2 years. The only time not having insulation "works" to my benefit.

 

[Griff726]

Thanks for the advice. I'm close to pulling the trigger, just have to decide on the vent. The store selling the stove is selling "metalbest" through the wall kit for $400. I've never come across this name in my research. Are they made by selkirk? I was thinking to go with selkirk direct temp for the outside air through one hole. Any thoughts?