new guy

[Tony garofalo]

Hello group, I am new to this forum. My name is Tony & I live in northeastern pa. Hope you don't mind, but I would like to pump you for information. My first question is; I have been burning firewood for +20 years. I am thinking about changing to a pellet stove. Very interested in buying the Harman Accentra.
I will have burned about 2 1/2 cords of firewood this year in my 1000 sq ft home. It is well insulated and most of the windows are new within the past 6 mos. How many tons of pellets would I need to buy based on normal use of 2 1/2 cords per year? Thank you!

 

[DAKSY]

Hello group, I am new to this forum. My name is Tony & I live in northeastern pa. Hope you don't mind, but I would like to pump you for information. My first question is; I have been burning firewood for +20 years. I am thinking about changing to a pellet stove. Very interested in buying the Harman Accentra.
I will have burned about 2 1/2 cords of firewood this year in my 1000 sq ft home. It is well insulated and most of the windows are new within the past 6 mos. How many tons of pellets would I need to buy based on normal use of 2 1/2 cords per year? Thank you!

Welcome to the forum, Tony. Generally speaking, one cord of firewood = 1 ton of pellets. HTH

 

[CT Pellet]

Welcome Tony....and Good God, with a name like Tony Garofalo, I hope I never owe you money!
As for the Harman, nice choice. Good solid stove. Smart too....My harman is so smart that it wears glasses!
It is a very safe bet to figure one ton of pellets per one cord of wood. There are so many factors that diferentiate pellets from firewood that it becomes difficult to calculate exactly. As for pellets, after burning wood for 20 years, its going to feel like a winter vacation for you....nice and easy, so go buy yourself a robe and learn to smoke a pipe. Couple of things to remember. First, pellet heat is great, but it is much different than wood stove heat. Secondly, with pellets, you must need to know that your first season is a lot of trial and error. There is a learning curve, but this place is loaded with people who get off on helping others with their stoves, so you are in good hands. My advice, (and others will offer different advice) is, if you are going to do pellets, get a great stove (Harman is!) and burn great pellets, not just cheap just pellets. (although on rare occasions you can find great, cheap pellets). In PA, there is absolutely no excuse for not being able to find great pellets. BArefoot is made in PA and is one of the best, but let's get the cart back on the ass-side of the horse for now.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Welcome to the funny farm Tony.

Figure about three but buy four if you have the room, they keep if kept dry.

 

[jtakeman]

Another looney saying "welcome"

I'd buy 4 like STB said if you have the room. Just keep em in a dry place.

 

[Thaddius Wenderoth]

Hey Tony! I converted from wood to pellets this year and have LOVED it. Much less work. I was burning (when I could get the fam damnly to keep it going) about 2.5 cords a year. If I were burning the whole year this year I would have needed just under 3 tons for the complete burning season based on my estimates. I will know for sure next year. The best thing about it is that the fire stays going and the electric furnace stays off! With the wood stove I had some living with me didn't enjoy the hassles of a wood stove so the electric was on A LOT! Welcome and ask ask ask. That's how we learn.

 

[will711]

Welcome Tony, Harman is a solid stove currently running a special $300 coupon on stove and $200 off on ton of pellets only good for next 2 weeks. Check out your local dealers also check out Eric from Kinsman stoves in Ohio where you are located may not be that far away from you(??) he's a member here.

No matter what you decide as my buddy Smoke Show says " No pic's it never happened"

 

[jtakeman]

Harman is currently running a special $300 coupon on stove and $200 off on ton of pellets

Don't forget you still get the $300 tax break along with the saving you mentioned.

 

[will711]

Don't forget you still get the $300 tax break along with the saving you mentioned.

That's true don't know but he may have already used it on the new windows he mentioned in the OP.

 

[Tony garofalo]

hey group, thanks very much for the 'welcomes' After reading your replies, I decided to go buy the pellet stove this week. I have the $300 coupon, and plan to use the tax credit. Believe it or not, it's going to be hard to get rid of this woodstove. I have had it so long I feel like it is part of the family! I know I will have a hundred more questions for you as I progress toward this transition. I will post a pic of my current set up to see what you think. Thanks

 

[Thaddius Wenderoth]

hey group, thanks very much for the 'welcomes' After reading your replies, I decided to go buy the pellet stove this week. I have the $300 coupon, and plan to use the tax credit. Believe it or not, it's going to be hard to get rid of this woodstove. I have had it so long I feel like it is part of the family! I know I will have a hundred more questions for you as I progress toward this transition. I will post a pic of my current set up to see what you think. Thanks

Look on the bright side.... Your new pellet stove won't be red!

 

[CT Pellet]

Go gettem Tony.
If there is more than one Harman dealer in your area that you are considering buying from, ask each one if they currently have a spare convection blower, distribution blower, circuit board, auger motor and mother board in stock. Not saying that you need to buy these, but who ever has the most spare parts IN HOUSE should get your business......even if the price of the stove is slightly higher. A good dealer who stocks your parts will be worth everything in the dead of winter should something that fails. Good luck and thanks for pumping your hard earned money back into the economy!

 

[jtakeman]

That's true don't know but he may have already used it on the new windows he mentioned in the OP.

You paid better attention that I did!

 

[mralias]

Welcome Tony and remember what one of the primary purposes of this board is......wait for it...

 

[Thaddius Wenderoth]

To be told to clean your stove? or to talk about beer?

 

[smoke show]

drinking beer and talkin smack! welcome aboard!

 

[Tony garofalo]

Ok Guys I can do both .... I will fit right in with you all.

 

[jtakeman]

drinking beer and talkin smack! welcome aboard!

Smoke tries to talk smack! But with all that beer, We can't under stand him!

 

[Tony garofalo]

Hey guys, I will be installing my new stove in a week or so, I will be using a flu thru the wall application because I do not want to look at that 5' pipe. Is it worth installing the oak application?

 

[jtakeman]

I vote yes for OAK!

 

[smoke show]

Is it worth installing the oak application?

Tony, Tony, Tony. If you have to ask that question, you haven't read enough here yet.

 

[Tony garofalo]

Ok I get it . And I will do it.

 

[jtakeman]

Tony, Tony, Tony. If you have to ask that question, you haven't read enough here yet.

Prolly just need another beer. He'll be OK(I thinx)!

 

[imacman]

Welcome to the forum! Congrats on the new stove.....waiting for the pics or it never happened.

Yes on the OAK, and you also need a GOOD surge protector....the electronics on these stoves don't like surges, etc.
Many of us have bought this one (they make it in black too):

http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-IS...ector/dp/B0000510R4/ref=pd_rhf_se_s_cp_1_EAYD

http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-UL...=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=tripplite+ultrablok+white

 

[Tony garofalo]

Ok Now I need a surge protector? If I stay on this site much longer , I will not have any Beer money left..LOL..... Thank for the tip.