Looking for recommendation for basement stove

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pelletnewbie

Member
Mar 11, 2014
6
Southern MD
Hi folks, I've got a Harman Accentra 52i insert that I've burned for the last 2 winters. Awesome job heating my upstairs.
I want to add a smaller, CHEAPER stove for the basement. This would be run minimally, so I'm not looking for bells and whistles.

Can anyone recommend some options? Any personal experience on the more inexpensive units out there?

I've seen the Pelpro, the Eco-choice, the Castle..

Thanks for your input!
 
Can't beat the castle serenity for bang for the buck and excellent customer service
 
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My recommendation Buy a good make from a dealer you can trust
But most important buy what you like and what the better half likes
Then learn how to service it if you are hands on type
Me I like Envro any and all of them a real work horse is the ef3
45000 btu easy to work on and parts available everywhere
 
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From what I've seen the Enviros might be a little more than you want to spend ... you're looking around the $1000 mark? Castle seems to be doing fairly well with the only hiccup being air regulation with minor spark potential out a horizontal flue when up on higher running limits. I know some of the owners have been able to adjust to reduce or eliminate. https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/castle-serenity-questions.150177/#post-2014837 They seem to have more ability to adjust than the other stoves in that price range.

Timber Ridge (England Stove works) can be purchased as factory seconds from here (broken link removed to http://www.amfmenergy.com/manufacturer-refurbished-stoves.html) The lead service tech stoveguy2esw generally drops by and checks the board for members having issues.

The other option would be to purchase a used pellet stove and refurbish if you are mechanically inclined. Craigslist or similar might net you a more expensive used model reduced...
Edit: Just checked southern MD ... doesn't look like any there worth your while.
 
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Hi folks, I've got a Harman Accentra 52i insert that I've burned for the last 2 winters. Awesome job heating my upstairs.
I want to add a smaller, CHEAPER stove for the basement. This would be run minimally, so I'm not looking for bells and whistles.

Can anyone recommend some options? Any personal experience on the more inexpensive units out there?

I've seen the Pelpro, the Eco-choice, the Castle..

Thanks for your input!

Sounds like we have a similar setup. I have an Accentra insert upstairs and a P-43 in my basement.. I would recommend it.
 
For someone on a budget, I'd suggest a nice steel stove such as Heatilator's Eco choice series, or perhaps Englanders' line of stove. Both offer a lot of value for dollar spent. A nice used stove is another avenue. The installation and fuel choice will be very important on either choice..... good luck.
 
P43 but it isn't cheaper but is it worth the extra $$ as in double is the question. I looked around a lot for less expensive stoves also and if I were to buy one the two I would consider are mentioned above. The Castle Serenity and the Eco-cab 50. Both good stoves. IIRC the Castle is about $1,000 +/- and the Cab-50 was had for $1,300 but seems to have gone up last year.

I am a hard core Harman pellet stove guy because I have had excellent use and results with mine. That said I would not hesitate to buy either of the other two "cheaper" stoves mentioned. many happy Cab-50 owners here and numerous castle owners with more to come I'd say. Ask around.

Rich above is the Castle Serenity Resident Guru here so PM or ask him about that model. Search the past threads on these models here too and that may answer many questions.
 
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