I am looking for a used pellet stove to heat my shop with. I currently have a Harmon Acentra in my house. It has been a great stove but I don't want to spend that kind of money for my shop. I have been looking on CL and I have found a couple of options but I don't anything about these brands. There are a couple of England/Englander stoves listed from $200-$450, they look a little rusty which can be fixed with a little paint, but the listings say they work. There is also a Jamestown J1000 listed for $400 that appears to be in good condition. The other one I found is a Quadra Fire Classic Bay, looks like it is in pretty nice condition and only a few years old but much more expensive, listed at $1200. I obviously want to spend as little as possible but I want a stove that will be reliable. Can you guys help steer me in the right direction?
Need help deciding on used stove for my shop.
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Lake Girl
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Probably need to check with local fire/building officials as there may be some restrictions on installation or not allowed at all...
Only potential issue w/ the Englander Stoves is if they were not cleaned before being removed from service is caked ash - if left sitting for a period of time (months,years), that stuff is like concrete.. Very tough to remove. * If any doubt, pickup a bag of fresh pellets and test-burn while on-site before purchase. That way you get to verify the control board, augers, and motors (combustion, room air) are working and quiet. If noisy, and sitting, plan on replacing them.
Also pull the back panel on the stove and look for water intrusion / rust inside on the base, if you see any appreciable amount, you may want to move on to another stove.. A brand new Englander will set you back about the same amount as the Quadra Fire Classic Bay, which is a nice stove, and sounds in better condition.
Also pull the back panel on the stove and look for water intrusion / rust inside on the base, if you see any appreciable amount, you may want to move on to another stove.. A brand new Englander will set you back about the same amount as the Quadra Fire Classic Bay, which is a nice stove, and sounds in better condition.
Question is do you want to spend all your time out in your shop dicking around with a stove to heat it or spending that time working on things you need to or want to? Your call.
Cheap can be good but on the flip side spending a little more beats the hell out of I wish I would have. Your time. Your money. How often are you in the shop? How often are you needing reliable heat there?
Many variables to consider. Basically, it is what your time is worth to you and how often you need heat in the shop.
Tough call. I would likely be looking for a used stove for in the shop but that is just me. I would also rather have a cheap good quality slightly used stove than cheap quality PITA new stove. Again, just my opinion. A lot would depend on what is available on the used market locally. I was ready to buy another new (2nd) stove but a nice PC45 came onto the CL radar just before I did.
If you have plenty of time to clean and tinker then buy a stove accordingly on the cheap, cheap. If you don't want frustrations and don't have tinker time then stretch the budget as much as you are comfortable with. Just my buck fifty's worth. Current day adjustment for .02 cents worth.
Cheap can be good but on the flip side spending a little more beats the hell out of I wish I would have. Your time. Your money. How often are you in the shop? How often are you needing reliable heat there?
Many variables to consider. Basically, it is what your time is worth to you and how often you need heat in the shop.
Tough call. I would likely be looking for a used stove for in the shop but that is just me. I would also rather have a cheap good quality slightly used stove than cheap quality PITA new stove. Again, just my opinion. A lot would depend on what is available on the used market locally. I was ready to buy another new (2nd) stove but a nice PC45 came onto the CL radar just before I did.
If you have plenty of time to clean and tinker then buy a stove accordingly on the cheap, cheap. If you don't want frustrations and don't have tinker time then stretch the budget as much as you are comfortable with. Just my buck fifty's worth. Current day adjustment for .02 cents worth.
If you can swing it then go for the CB1200. I had one for my new shop but then I sold it. :-(
It is super reliable and you do not have to clean it much. Then you can put an Iris wifi t-stat from lowes on it and fire up the stove with your smart phone before you go in there. So it will be warm and toasty!
DneprDave
Minister of Fire
I bought two old Whitfield stoves for $100.00 through Craig's List. They were in pieces, most of the parts were there, I had to buy a burn cup and an auger motor. They came with a lot of other spare parts, extra convection and combustion blowers & circuit boards. I put one in my home and the other in my shop. both have been trouble free.
I only run the workshop stove when I am there. It can heat the 700 square foot insulated building from 20F to 70F in about an hour on the second lowest setting.
I run the house stove 24/7 during the heating season.
Dave
I only run the workshop stove when I am there. It can heat the 700 square foot insulated building from 20F to 70F in about an hour on the second lowest setting.
I run the house stove 24/7 during the heating season.
Dave
I have had a new 25pdvc in my 16x24 (concrete floor) insulated sq ft shop for 5-6 yrs now and it has always worked trouble free and eventually it gets the place warmed up from a cold start. On most average winter days I have to lower the heat setting after an hour or two. Running it only 8 hrs a day doesn`t create or require a whole lot of maintenance and time .
That said, I don`t use it every day and I don`t depend on the shop for my living. If I did I`d probably just get a Harman and be done with it.
That said, I don`t use it every day and I don`t depend on the shop for my living. If I did I`d probably just get a Harman and be done with it.
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