Newbie pellet stove wannabe

[xraydog]

Hello,

I have been burning wood for 30+ years now (see avatar). I enjoy the forum and have received invaluable advice with regards to my woodstoves and woodburning in the past. I am getting tired of the amount of time and energy that goes into preparing wood for my stove. I installed an inexpensive pellet stove in an apartment I have in Italy and have been very happy with the results and the ease of use.

I am considering switching to a pellet stove for my home in the US. There is a Harman dealer near me. I also live about 2 hrs away from the Harman's plant in Halifax, PA. I was initially interested in the Accentra, however, when I went to store to talk with the salespeople I saw the Absolute which looks like it would also be a good fit.

The Absolute 43 looks like a new stove. Interesting electronics including the wireless remote which makes operating look easy compared to the standard controls (at least for a pellet stove newbie like me). I understand (from the salesman) that next year (2017) the Accentra and XXV will have the similar electronic control panel. Given this, there may be lower prices on the current Accentra models during this season.

So I'd like to your thoughts about :

1) About your Absolute burning experience.
2) Should I wait for the new electronics or take advantage of the reduced pricing?
3) Are the newer electronics worth pursuing or extra bells and whistles?
4) Any words of wisdom from people who made the switch from wood to pellet burning.

Dog

 

[Lake Girl]

I can't help you with your specific questions on the Harmans ... most members are away doing summer activities that usually don't included heating! A quick search doesn't show many users of the Absolute. The negative I found was a comment that there were software glitches. The Absolute is the first Harman that has used electronics I believe. I know Quadrafire has had issues with their remotes in the past and the parent company HHT now owns both Harman and Quadrafire. Not sure if this is a total rethink on electronics or just a shared technology between the two companies.

The Accentra has many years in the field and has a proven track record. Sometimes simple is better... I don't use the electronics on my stove anywhere near its capacity. How adjustable are the burn parameters on the Absolute? Or is it just an electronic display of the basic functions?

Wood vs. pellets ... pellets are easier but a pellet stove is still work. The Harmans seem to have good size ash bins so they do not need as much attention as my Ecoteck/Ravelli (every two days). What stove do you have in the Italian apartment?

How large of an area are you trying to heat? In addition to central heating or the main heat source?

Edit: Just took a look at the control ... not sure if I would bother with the Absolute for the electronics feature. It seems more user prompt. More sensors= more failure points?

 

[xraydog]

Lake Girl,
Thanks for the response. We will be using the stove as a secondary heat source to supplement heating in the rooms we use the most (ie. kitchen and family rooms). I would guess the square footage would be 1,0000. Our current woodstove is rated at 49,000 btu max, which we never burn at that capacity and it keeps those rooms comfortable as well as providing some heat to additional parts of the house.

I don't recall the Italian stove name. It was recently installed by the people who manage the apartment and is a smaller version of the one they own. It requires a very little maintenance and would probably require even less if I did more research about pellet quality.

Talking with pellet stove owners, everyone seems a little unsure about more electronics, particularly if they are newly introduced electronics.

I may opt for the Accentra and it's proven track record.

Dog

 

[bags]

In all honesty the bells and whistles are not necessary at all with any Harman stove model. Very simple operation. Set it to what temp you want and it more or less runs itself other than dumping pellets in and some cleaning as needed. I have seen an Absolute in the showroom but do not own one nor have I tinkered with one.

I am sure it is a good stuff also but with some tech and bells and whistles which cost more for convenience of course. Myself I would chose a new stove without the electronics since they really are an extra and not necessary along with possibly being just another machine in itself to falter possibly.

Harman stoves are about the most dependable and easiest to maintain and own out there. There are other good stoves but i am sold on the Harmans myself.

I also switched from wood to pellets for many reason but also just bought a new wood stove this spring for my back up plan and such. Just to have another viable option. Pellet heat is MUCH easier than dealing with wood all said and done. Although wood can possibly be had way cheaper with a bunch of effort. I am very happy with my pellet stoves and really enjoy them. Another reason i bought a new wood stove is that I need to burn wood just to keep my property up.

You might be surprised with what you can heat with a properly placed pellet stove and may not need to use your other heat. I am doing 2,350 SQ FT on two levels with my P68 alone. I didn't think it would heat everything and also bought it as a supplement deal but I was wrong. It can heat the whole shebang even on the long brutal cold spells no problem.

 

[bags]

The forum is slow this time of the year when most have AC on so you may not get many responses FYI.

 

[xraydog]

Thanks Bags,
I was talking tonight with 2vof my wood working friends. I know they were pellet burners. Both have been using P-series stoves for more than 10yrs. The echo your thoughts about ease of use of Harman and skeptisism about the new electronics, especially when they are this new. I am leaning heavily toward the Accenture... Looks like another trip to the show room with questions.
Dog

 

[bags]

You're welcome Dog. The Accentras are nice stoves too. Really it is just finding the design and style you like and sizing the stove for your space. Tons of info here on about anything you need to know and plenty of helpful folks.

It is good you also have a couple of friends familiar with pellet stoves you can bounce ideas off of as well. Have fun and when you get one post up some photos. Another plus is being close to Harman so I'd venture to say it is fairly easy to locate dealers close by. Having a good dealer is a plus but really once you get your stove you really don't need them IF you are fairly handy and can do some work yourself. Everyone varies with that and some are just happy to pay their dealers to clean, service, etc;

Myself and probably a better majority here do all of their own cleanings, services, installs, and repairs so you can always ask anyone for help and they will be happy to guide you thru whatever the situation.

 

[Tonyray]

Thanks Bags,
I was talking tonight with 2vof my wood working friends. I know they were pellet burners. Both have been using P-series stoves for more than 10yrs. The echo your thoughts about ease of use of Harman and skeptisism about the new electronics, especially when they are this new. I am leaning heavily toward the Accenture... Looks like another trip to the show room with questions.
Dog

Bags knows from what he speaks....I would post but would repeat word 4 word what he laid down about Harmans..
Good advice always...

 

[Pete Zahria]

Pellet heat is MUCH easier than dealing with wood all said and done.

Amen to that..
Did both wood and coal..... Pellets = much easier/much cleaner...

Dan

 

[UpStateNY]

I read your OP and I asked myself would I want or need more electronics on my Harman? I thought well you know I got to put pellets in every day and electronics doesn't help that. I have to clean out the burn pot usually every other time I put pellets in stove and electronics doesn't help that. I would never attempt to start the stove remotely with nobody home from cold using my iPhone even if I had that capability. Sometimes, not often, but sometimes there are issues starting a cold pellet stove. Besides in the morning I usually clean the burn pot when the stove is cold and I fill it with pellets. When the stove is burning pellets its pretty much set at a specific temp and I really don't want to change the temp ever while the stove is burning. It would be useful to use an automatic timer that would shut the stove down at a certain time at night. On cold nights I might want to shut the stove down later depending on the price of pellets and fuel oil.

Anyway just thinking out loud. After a few years experience I am generally happy with my 2008 Harman electronics. It does take a bit to learn how to run a Harman efficiently. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[Lake Girl]

UpStateNY, sounds much like my experience with my stove (not a Harman). I have a few more options with timed off/on that can be set by the day of the week but I don't use them. I have had trouble with bridging with Trebio pellets and have come home to a slightly cool house because it shut down ... "out of pellets". Since the stoves require some attention, the extra electronics really aren't necessary. In my experience, the more electronics, the more failure points (sensors, program glitches, etc.). Simple is better!

 

[Tonyray]

UpStateNY, sounds much like my experience with my stove (not a Harman). I have a few more options with timed off/on that can be set by the day of the week but I don't use them. I have had trouble with bridging with Trebio pellets and have come home to a slightly cool house because it shut down ... "out of pellets". Since the stoves require some attention, the extra electronics really aren't necessary. In my experience, the more electronics, the more failure points (sensors, program glitches, etc.). Simple is better!

"If you build it, they will buy it, and only later do they realize they didn't need it". some so called advancements are still Gadgets...
[not just limited to Pellet stoves..]