New to pellet furnaces, have a lead on a Harman PF-100 Need Advice

[IrregularPulse]

Hello all. First post here. Been reading the last few days. My wife and I bought a 150 year old farm house this past summer and are finally coming to a close *fingers crossed* on our first winter. The house has a propane furnace and this winter has taught me that I want to get away from propane!
I started looking into pellet stoves as an alternative and discovered the Pellet furnaces and nearly every search for a pellet furnace turns up the Harman PF-100. I would like to install a pellet furnace in parallel with my existing propane furnace. There is a PF-100 for sale about an hour and half from me for $2,600.00. The furnace was purchased new in '06 and is currently installed. The guy is switching to wood as he just bought some wooded land. Harman's website lists MSRP of about $5,500. Other posts online show people getting these new for around $3,500. What is current retail for these and is $2,600 a good price for a 6 year old unit? Also, what is the life span of these? I've got a couple emails into 2 "local" Harman dealers, but would like to see what others are paying.
I may go look at the used unit on Sunday, but would like to have some more knowledge to take with me such as what to look for, and what a reasonable price is for an 8 year old unit. One guy looked at the unit yesterday and passed.

Sorry all the questions in my first post, but this is a big purchase for us right now and I want to make it once and well informed, but don't want to miss out on a good deal if this is one as well.

Thanks, and I know I'll be here a lot over the next few years as we get something installed and tuned.

 

[maple1]

If this is indeed a furnace, it might be in the right place.

 

[heaterman]

We have a couple customers who call us for service on these units. One or the other needs a new combustion blower every year. I have to say these are not a "fire and forget" type unit. Both users report that they need a lot of cleaning and some tinkering to keep burning right. Parts are relatively cheap but using the example of the combustion blower, they are not made very substantially either. JMHO

 

[Polar Bear]

If this is indeed a furnace, it might be in the right place.

Pellet furnace. So I can see either forum. But there is a lot of discussion lately about this particular one in the pellet forum.

 

[wil lanfear]

Many pf100 furnaces and pb105 boilers, including mine, had issues with the burnpot developing a bubble so, this would be something to look at prior to making the purchase. I've had the burnpot relaced over 20 times in 7 years under the warranty but you would have to do it not under the warranty. IMHO, the asking price is a fair price if you can see it running. The link below is to the cost to replace the burnpot with the newest design burnpot.

http://www.stove-parts-unlimited.com/PF100-and-PB105-Stainless-Burn-Pot-Weldment-p/1-00-73560.htm

 

[maple1]

Does the new one fix the issue?

 

[wil lanfear]

Does the new one fix the issue?

I've ony had mine installed since the first part of Dec., maybe, but........I've tested some other burnpot designs for Harman without success so the jury is still out on this one.

 

[iceguy4]

You should be asking this in the Pellet Mill forum

this is a furnace /boiler...central heat...forum...

I've ony had mine installed since the first part of Dec., maybe, but........I've tested some other burnpot designs for Harman without success so the jury is still out on this one.

not sure if you saw my post about my burnpot...upper end of "slices" (3) have extended up to the next row of holes ....into the holes with cracks... I think it looks like the holes were drilled to stop the cracks...no bubble ....I think it is OK....BUT now I'm starting to use "auto ignition" due to warmer temp's outside ....so the burn pot will be subject to temp swings... Pic's next cleaning..

 

[BrotherBart]

Yep. This is the right room. No matter what it eats.