Newbie to buy Comfortbilt???

[MewZiKat]

Hello all. I'm looking for advice from those who actually have experience with the HP22 or other ComfortBilt pellet stoves (is BronxBoy still out there using one?)

I currently live in the mountains of NE Tennessee however I own a home near the headquarters of ComfortBilt; I intend to visit and meet the man often referred to in this forum, Glenn (My research indicates he was a manager at Home Depot for 25 years prior to becoming the head of ComfortBilt USA).

Online, CB seems to be legitimate however anyone with a good understanding of how Search Engine Optimization works could fabricate all kinds of favorable reviews and info to build up a lesser-known brand to compete with the bigger players.

I'm not saying that is the case here or not, I'm merely skeptical because CB seems too good to be true.

Red flags aside, I do believe there are some reputable Chinese-built products out there worthy of purchase and this may be one. I've read comments from a couple of welders on this forum who approve of the build quality of these stoves. It seems parts are readily available via Glenn's website...again, I will visit to confirm this. It seems Glenn is quite responsive to his customers therefore I am leaning toward purchasing an HP22 for our 1400 sq ft manufactured home on our little mountain paradise here in TN.

I will do some more research, compile responses from y'all here in the upcoming weeks and make a decision sooner rather than later as it has already snowed down here in the Southland and temps bottomed out at 12° last Tuesday.

In addition to build quality, I'd also like feedback on ease of use of this stove compared to others. I have used efficient but messy coal- and wood-burning stoves during my years as a native New Englander; ive used inefficient natural gas and wood fireplaces during my years in the flatlands of NC. None of that is practical for us: we live in a remote, hard-to-access area and can not receive huge deliveries of fuel on this mountain. The house is incredibly drafty with no central heat so we have been running electric radiant oil heaters for warmth but this is not sustainable. We need something that is, relatively speaking, simple and clean as well as efficient since my other half is disabled.

I would sincerely appreciate advice from those who have experience with CB pellet stove.

Thanks, Kat

 

[bags]

Hey sorry for the delayed response. I was leary as well and even commented way back when. That said, I finally saw one first hand and they are legit. A good friend just bought one and I helped him install it. He purchased from Home Depot and really likes his. In my opinion they are a decent bang for the buck.

When I was looking the only place you could find them was on Craigslist and Glenn in NC was selling them. I steered away at the time because his shipment was held up in customs etc; Obviously he has things figured out now and you being close I wouldn't hesitate if that's the price point you want to be at.

Plus I was working out of town and needed a pellet stove stat. I've been on this forum for years now and you will likely see my posts on ComfortBilts. Now that I have seen one first hand I can vouch for them.

 

[bags]

Back when I was looking there were no reviews because they had just started up. Hell, people didn't even know what they were or had never heard of them. I run Harmans but I really did like what I saw on my friends ComfortBilt.

 

[Bobgolf]

I just bought and had one installed about 2 months ago. Only issue I'm having is that the pellets stop feeding into auger. It creates a funnel the pellets don't all slide down the Walls / Hopper. This has been a known problem not just on these stoves but some others. I had the tech come out and he suggested I get a new stove. Still waiting. They gave me a couple different things to try. Overall the stove Burns well. If the hopper is not full the stove won't burn more than two and a half hours it will go out. Noticed one other issue, before stove lights it drops too many pellets into burn pot which creates a bunch of smoke.

 

[JRemington]

We are the only dealer that Glenn has. I’ve sold roughly 100 of these since February. What types of questions do you have? And did you say you are going to NC to look at them?

 

[JRemington]

I just bought and had one installed about 2 months ago. Only issue I'm having is that the pellets stop feeding into auger. It creates a funnel the pellets don't all slide down the Walls / Hopper. This has been a known problem not just on these stoves but some others. I had the tech come out and he suggested I get a new stove. Still waiting. They gave me a couple different things to try. Overall the stove Burns well. If the hopper is not full the stove won't burn more than two and a half hours it will go out. Noticed one other issue, before stove lights it drops too many pellets into burn pot which creates a bunch of smoke.

I’d say you have a faulty vacuum switch. As for the pellets hanging up in the hopper I tell people they will get about 38 pounds of use from a full hopper.

 

[Ssyko]

empty the hopper and apply a coat of car wax to the hopper walls, wipe when dry and reload the hopper.

 

[Bobgolf]

I’d say you have a faulty vacuum switch. As for the pellets hanging up in the hopper I tell people they will get about 38 pounds of use from a full hopper.

I get less than half Hopper before my stove shuts off and goes into fault.

 

[Bobgolf]

We are the only dealer that Glenn has. I’ve sold roughly 100 of these since February. What types of questions do you have? And did you say you are going to NC to look at them?

I'm in langhorne PA and there's a dealer up to Street that sells comfortbilts

 

[Ssyko]

wax your hopper it will help, pellets will slide down easier. smoke on startup is normal on all pellet stoves

 

[Bobgolf]

wax your hopper it will help, pellets will slide down easier. smoke on startup is normal on all pellet stoves

I will once I burn thru this bag of pellets. I have tried spray silicon, but no difference.

 

[JRemington]

I'm in langhorne PA and there's a dealer up to Street that sells comfortbilts

I guess I should have added in New York.

 

[MewZiKat]

I just bought and had one installed about 2 months ago. Only issue I'm having is that the pellets stop feeding into auger. It creates a funnel the pellets don't all slide down the Walls / Hopper. This has been a known problem not just on these stoves but some others. I had the tech come out and he suggested I get a new stove. Still waiting. They gave me a couple different things to try. Overall the stove Burns well. If the hopper is not full the stove won't burn more than two and a half hours it will go out. Noticed one other issue, before stove lights it drops too many pellets into burn pot which creates a bunch of smoke.

Dislike

 

[MewZiKat]

We are the only dealer that Glenn has. I’ve sold roughly 100 of these since February. What types of questions do you have? And did you say you are going to NC to look at them?

Yes, at the end of January I need to be in NC and plan to check them out in person

 

[Bobgolf]

We are the only dealer that Glenn has. I’ve sold roughly 100 of these since February. What types of questions do you have? And did you say you are going to NC to look at them?

My stove starts fine then withen 15 mins it stops dropping pellets and shuts off.

 

[JRemington]

My stove starts fine then withen 15 mins it stops dropping pellets and shuts off.

When it stops dropping pellets does the auger indicator light stop flashing on the screen?

 

[JRemington]

Let me know when you are available and I’ll walk you through adjusting the vacuum switch

 

[Bobgolf]

When it stops dropping pellets does the auger indicator light stop flashing on the screen?

Yes symbol stops coming on/flashing

 

[rhann1234]

I just bought and had one installed about 2 months ago. Only issue I'm having is that the pellets stop feeding into auger. It creates a funnel the pellets don't all slide down the Walls / Hopper. This has been a known problem not just on these stoves but some others. I had the tech come out and he suggested I get a new stove. Still waiting. They gave me a couple different things to try. Overall the stove Burns well. If the hopper is not full the stove won't burn more than two and a half hours it will go out. Noticed one other issue, before stove lights it drops too many pellets into burn pot which creates a bunch of smoke.

I have an HP61 that i installed about 2 weeks ago. I live in Pennsylvania as well. Several mornings now i have went down before work and the stove had was tripped out. All the times I have noticed the same thing for the hopper creating a funnel down to the auger not allowing it to pick up pellets. For the HP22 they make and sell a 45lb hopper expansion on their website. Sadly they do not have one for the HP61 that own. Will more than likely end up trying the waxing method previously mentioned and if it doesn't work attempt to fabricate my own expansion for the hopper.

 

[JRemington]

Yes symbol stops coming on/flashing

Do you know where the vacuum switch is located behind the left cover?

 

[Bobgolf]

I have an HP61 that i installed about 2 weeks ago. I live in Pennsylvania as well. Several mornings now i have went down before work and the stove had was tripped out. All the times I have noticed the same thing for the hopper creating a funnel down to the auger not allowing it to pick up pellets. For the HP22 they make and sell a 45lb hopper expansion on their website. Sadly they do not have one for the HP61 that own. Will more than likely end up trying the waxing method previously mentioned and if it doesn't work attempt to fabricate my own expansion for the hopper.

I'm starting to wonder if all the comfort bilts have a funneling issue? Also tech was just here, he is offering 3 different parts. Crazy i have had this stove for two months and can't use it. I would have thought by now I would have a new stove.

 

[JRemington]

I'm starting to wonder if all the comfort bilts have a funneling issue? Also tech was just here, he is offering 3 different parts. Crazy i have had this stove for two months and can't use it. I would have thought by now I would have a new stove.

They all have the pellets hanging up on the sides issue. I don’t know what parts he’s trying to give you. You have a vac switch issue

 

[Bobgolf]

They all have the pellets hanging up on the sides issue. I don’t know what parts he’s trying to give you. You have a vac switch issue

 

[Bobgolf]

The tech was here and pretty much don't know what it is. He said he did a vacuum adjustment. He said he's ordering a control bored a motherboard and a ribbon cable.

 

[JRemington]

Did he adjust the black knob on the vacuum switch?