New and need advice on a P68 purchase

[The Grintch]

Hi everyone,

I have been interested in buying a pellet stove for a few years and am ready to take the plunge.

My house was built in 2002, has a very open floor plan, but high ceilings. It's about 2,400 sf and I want a stove that has a little extra BTU to keep it warm. I have done a lot of research (maybe too much) and I think the right stove for me is the Harmon P68. It would live in the family room which is over the garage and has a high cathedral ceiling. It would be vented through the out side wall and over 4' from a window (Is there any other benefit to an OAK?) The room has 2 ceiling fans to circulate the air.

Just curious if there are any P68 owners that can provide some feedback about the stove or lessons learned?

Thanks

 

[will711]

I don't have a p68 , but I do have a Harman nice choice Bigger is always better so you don't have to run the stove full bore to be comfortable.

My bad I forgot to welcome you to the show tons of great folks here willing to help. I'm sure the p68 owners will be chiming in soon. Once you get the stove installed pics or it never happened, that's a rule around here.

Do you drink Beer ? It's not a rule but, it sure is fun

Like your avatar "Grintch"

 

[Lake Girl]

Welcome to the forum. Newer home construction is more air tight so you may need an OAK (other appliances are also using inside air). Without the OAK, you are throwing out pre-warmed air out your exhaust... losing BTUs. Made a difference at my house

Where is the family room located on the floor plan (centered or one end of house)? May have to come up with a plan for air circulation.

 

[Hoot23]

Welcome to the forum. I would go with an OAK. I regret not putting one in when I had the p61 installed. So a year later and extra hole in the house later I put one in. I noticed it cut down on the draft in my home and the pellet consumption seems to be less.

Go with the OAK. You can have installed with your wall thimble and only have one hole in your siding.

The Harman is very easy to maintain and I don't think you'll be disappointed in its performance.

 

[The Grintch]

Thanks for the OAK advice, seems like the way to go to maximize efficincy.

The family room is located on one end of the house and air/heat circulation will something we will certainly be playing around with.

Glad to hear Harman's are relatively easy to maintain and reliable... and from what I have read cleanliness is the key to a well running stove.

And Will711 your answer to drinking beer...Ya I'd love one!

 

[subsailor]

Definately need an OAK. Hard to say how well the stove will heat the whole house located on one end. The P68 throws a lot of heat, might work OK.

 

[CTBossfan]

I think the OAK will also help you with the 4' to the window. I think it cuts the min down to 18" going from memory on that. This was also the reason I used an OAK besides the other reasons mentioned above. I suggest locating the stove in the most central part of the house if you intend on heating the whole house with the stove alone.

 

[will711]

And Will711 your answer to drinking beer...Ya I'd love one!

I got a cold one with your name on it and when you are finished you may have another

 

[bdaoust]

I bought a house in November with a P68 installed in the basement. I don't think it has an OAK - not sure what to look for. There is only one whole in the side of the house where the exhaust it.

The house is 1,200 sqft Cape and the installation seems okay. The windows are new.

The P68 does a good job at keeping the house warm. The cellar is very hot, fist floor is usually around 68-70 and upstairs is about two degrees cooler.

Seems like I go through two bags a pellets in a 24/hour period - stove temp at 4, feed rate at 4. I have a feeling I'm using more pellets than I should be. But then again, heating half of the finished basement and two other floors. I use the pellets are my primary heat.

Welcome!

-Brian

 

[jslinger]

Grintch. I think you will be very happy with the P68. I live in an open floor plan house built in 2001. It is only 1900 sq feet above grade, so not quite as big as yours. But I run an XXV which is 18000 less btu's than the P68. I had it installed recently so I can't speak for the performance during the dead of winter. But we did have several days where the temps got down to the single digits. My XXV never had an issue whatsoever keeping the house at 70. I don't expect any issues even down around 10 below.
I would definitely go with the OAK. You may be told you don't need one, but it couldn't hurt. The only downside I have found, is the condensation that builds up on the OAK hose, since the air coming in is so much colder than the room. It drips on my bluestone pad, but never enough to run anywhere.

 

[chuckster]

I got a cold one with your name on it and when you are finished you may have another

Wow Will we have another beer drinking buddy. Welcome to the forum Grinch. You can't go wrong with a Harmon. Just ask my beer drinking buddy Will!
Chuck

 

[subsailor]

I bought a house in November with a P68 installed in the basement. I don't think it has an OAK - not sure what to look for. There is only one whole in the side of the house where the exhaust it.

You can tell if you have an OAK if there is a hose or pipe connected to the air inlet on the stove. Even though you only have 1 hole in the side of your house, you may still have one. Some pellet pipes have the exhaust and air intake combined within a single pipe. It then separates inside the house and connects to the stove at 2 different places. If you don't have one you should. The stove removes air from the house that has to be made up somewhere, and that somewhere is outside. So if you didn't have drafts, you will, if you did have them, they'll be worse if you don't have an OAK.

 

[will711]

Wow Will we have another beer drinking buddy. Welcome to the forum Grinch. You can't go wrong with a Harmon. Just ask my beer drinking buddy Will!
Chuck

Always room for another Beer drinking buddy

 

[The Grintch]

Thanks for all of your responses and advice.

I'm now on the hunt for the right shop. There are 2 near me so I will be dropping by to se what kind off deals/ incentives they are offering.

Got myself a six pack of New Castle Nut Brown Ale this weekend. Yumm!

 

[will711]

Got myself a six pack

Only a 6 pack that's an appetizer some of us drink that before noon

 

[Defiant]

You can't go wrong with a Harmon.

Harmon??
The Harman P-68 is a great stove !!

 

[Hoot23]

Thanks for all of your responses and advice.

I'm now on the hunt for the right shop. There are 2 near me so I will be dropping by to se what kind off deals/ incentives they are offering.

Got myself a six pack of New Castle Nut Brown Ale this weekend. Yumm!

New Castle is good stuff. The Bud Black Crown is pretty tasty too.

 

[Defiant]

New Castle is good stuff.

I'll drink to that

 

[Lousyweather]

you boozers!