New Stove P43

[Swaybar]

New on the forum, but a long time pellet burner. I purchased a new P43 on Thursday.

I had an Lopi Firefox circa 1998 before this. This was a used showroom model, and I have been running it since 1999. The stove stopped with 3 bags left last spring, so I just did a quick clean and left it. Did a deep clean last week-end, lubed the motors, etc;, but when I tried to start, the auger would not run. After much troubleshooting I have determined that the auger is messed up and the controller was only sending 20vac to the motor. I connected the feed motor directly to 120vac, and the auger would turn but make a grinding noise. I pulled the motor and the auger was turning very hard with a pipe wrench, so I suspect bearings in the auger, and I would have also needed a new controller, so I decided to bite the bullet and purchase a new stove.

The Lopi worked good, went through 2 exhaust blowers and a circulation blower as well as a snap disc or two, had it set to burn a bag a day and it ran pretty much for 150 days straight each year, so no complaints.

I spent many hours on the web and visiting stores, and settled on the P43. Compared to the manual Lopi, this is like a Cadillac! I look forwards to many years of trouble free heat.

I have used various pellets, used Pennington last two years (Home Depot), and purchased Freedom Fuel this year. I have used Energex in the past as well. The Pennington did have a lot of fines. The Stove dealer gave me a few bags of Okanagan, these seem to be great pellets.

If anyone has a Lopi Firefox and is interested in picking up my old one for parts, I am sure we can work out a good deal. Blower motor is only 1 year old, exhaust blower 2 years old, and the door and glass good.

 

[HEMI]

hey swaybar....I myself have been lookin at the p43, and the p61.......is the p43 your primary heat and if so how much space are you heating?........thanks and good luck with the new stove

 

[Swaybar]

I have a raised ranch, and the P43 is in the basement, blowing the heat directly up the stairs, so technically I am heating about 1600 sq ft. I do heat the whole house. The basement is half finished, but I usually leave the doors open to the unfinished part. The house is extra insulated, and originally had electric heat.

With my old Lopi I set the oil furnace at 60 and the pellet stove kept the house between 65 and 75. Took a lot of tweaking to keep the heat constant, due to the temperature differences between night and day, and I am still going down every hour or so to check the P43, a habit I will soon lose I hope.

 

[summit]

P43 is based completlely on the P38 platform, other than the control board and ignitor (which are the same as the other harman stoves control board and ignitor) which has been produced for years and is very bulletproof.. I think you'll be very happy w/ it.

 

[cdodge04]

Hey Sway,
I've been thinking about getting a Harman...where'd you pick yours up? Did you get a good price on it?

 

[Swaybar]

I purchased mine at Rockie's Rt 3 in Augusta. I purchased my original one from Rockie, and he is a great dealer. I have been able to order parts with a phone call. I paid $2518 total with tax. He gave me a discount for picking it up and installing it myself. It was just plug and play for me since I put in in the same place as my old one. He does have some other models, and has a few used units.

 

[cdodge04]

Ah no kidding, I drive by his place once in a while but haven't stopped in yet. I've checked out a Mazzeo's in Rockland and Finest Home & Hearth Bangor...prices all seem to be the same which is a good sign...

 

[jtakeman]

The rule in this forum is pictures of stove or it really didn't happen. Besides we like pics of new stoves , Heck even old stoves for that matter.

I am surprised no one else has asked yet? macman must be slipping! Got a picture for us Please?

Hope your new stove keeps you nice and toasty.
jay

 

[Swaybar]

I had to redo the opening, will finish later

 

[summit]

I purchased mine at Rockie's Rt 3 in Augusta. I purchased my original one from Rockie, and he is a great dealer. I have been able to order parts with a phone call. I paid $2518 total with tax. He gave me a discount for picking it up and installing it myself. It was just plug and play for me since I put in in the same place as my old one. He does have some other models, and has a few used units.

thanks for your business!! I am not Rocky, but I work for him, and I have probably run into you in the shop.

 

[jtakeman]

Now its Official! Nice!

Thanks for posting the pics. I feel all warm just looking at them. :coolsmile:

jay

 

[Ohio P43]

I just ordered my first pellet stove, a Harman P43. I have a 2500 square foot tri -level that I hope to heat the main and upper level. Shouldn't be a problem because I lit my 22,000 btu kerosene heater and it did pretty well to warm both areas. Granted, it only got to 30 degrees but it kept both levels at near 70. So long heat pump!!

 

[Ohio P43]

My first full year with my P43 was successful. I was able to keep the house comfortable and best of all, I didn't use the heat pump once!! I burned nearly 3 tons of wood pellets and about 500lbs of corn mixed in. No issues at all, the P43 performed better than expected. The only hiccup was trying to figure out the best corn to wood pellet mixture. Anyway, I am looking forward to another season of keeping that electric furnace off!!

 

[BJN644]

I'm on my second year with a P43 from Rocky's. I'm very happy with my stove, the only time I used oil for heat last winter was when I went to Florida on vacation and no one was around to put pellets in the stove. I was I had bought one of these years ago, maybe my back would be in better shape than it is from messing with fire wood all those years. I'm also liking the new Maine Woods pellets so far too.

 

[poconoman]

I can relate. These are great machines. :coolsmile:

 

[Swaybar]

Just fired mine up for another season! Son -in-law picked one up at Rockies as well this year...he was going to go wood, but is glad now he went pellets!