Looking for affordable options

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FunkDaddyG

Member
Dec 20, 2018
24
Blueridge Mountains
I know that this is probably an old question asked and rehashed many times, but we need affordable stove options. We’re currently using wood but need something that will reliably run all night without the need to to refill.

The favored brands around here is Harman, with a dealer in the town down the road, but they are far too expensive and we’re not having success finding decent used options.

There’s also a couple of tractor supply stores in a few near by towns and they seem to offer several brands, including pelpro.

In the past, considered adding new wood stoves but we need an option for keeping heat better regulated overnight.

We’ve looked into heat pumps, splits, and even adding propane, but they’re all more expensive than we can afford.

Now we’re looking into adding two pellet stoves, one on either end of the house.

It’s an old drafty house. After a bit of research, I initially thought adding a harman p68 on the north end (but 6k is too expensive) with a slightly smaller stove on the south end.

Given the cost of the Harman and lack of viable used options, I’ve started researching. I see that multiple brands are made by the same company from pelpro to quad fire to harman.

I like the idea of being able to easily do my own maintenance, repairs, etc.

I would like units that can be regulated, turned down lower than full blast, and that will reliably run all night.

Anyone willing to offer advice, input, etc.? Thanks
 
First thing to remember, a pellet stove is a space heater, not a whole-house furnace.
Yes, some people have been able to keep their homes warm with the stove, just be aware
Next, buy the biggest output stove you can find . It is much easier to turn up a
big BTU stove than get more heat from a maxed-out stove.
I do not think it matters what stove you buy . Harman is very expensive and, to me,
very finicky. I have an Old Enviro. Whatever you buy, READ and REREAD the manual
Learn your stove inside and out. Keep it clean . Ash is a pellet stove's worst enemy.
So follow the Manual instructions on maintenance. Any way that's my nickel's worth
 
Pretty much any pellet stove on the market will be able to regulate itself as well as turn on/off as needed. I don't beleive any of them run full blast all the time. Even huge stoves will go down to a "simmer". So, @johneh is right - get one of the biggest BTU stove you can for the one end. I think you are probably correct in getting a smaller stove for the other end.

You should probably get stoves that have a hopper that will hold at least 40 pounds.

Some stoves don't have an ash bin underneath, it all just falls within the firebox so you would need to clean out every day or few days. Even some with ash bins may have very small drawers so they need to be cleaned weekly. Some stoves have complicated air paths that are a pain to keep clean. You would need to look in the manuals of those you are interested in to determine if the stove is for you.
 
Hard to find a stove when you need it. Can't go wrong with used Quad 1200CB, Enviro EF2/EF3 series, Whitfield 2T (getting harder to find), good steel frames with proven records. The cast stoves are nicer looking, but won't heat any better. Good luck with your search.
 
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When I got my Harmon XXV in May 2018 I got floor model. $3500 with tax. They dump them come very early spring. I just put in Extreme Weather Heat pump (Down to -20f - Madea G3 Evox, 16k). No major problems with Harmon. Some buzzing with couple of screws on distro fan is all. We have to use couple box fans to move heat down the hall. Plus some Elec Heat. So far Heat Pump is working out, but only down to 24f has been the lowest temp. Look for someone flipping house or Estate Sale! I hope to only burn 1 ton of Pellets vs 3 Tons normally. Jury still out!
 

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Where does everyone keep finding these “HARMON” stoves???? Or is all a case of “AUTO COLLECT”? ;)
I ❤️ my P61 Harman stove
 
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Where does everyone keep finding these “HARMON” stoves???? Or is all a case of “AUTO COLLECT”? ;)
I ❤️ my P61 Harman stove
I love both my Harman's too.

I am unsure of the experiences of people that say they found them to be picky. Neither of my stoves care about pellet type, and are easy to clean/maintain, with many trouble-free years. Much better all-around experince than some previous stoves I've had.