P43, XXV, or P61A

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jslinger

jslinger

Member
Jan 1, 2013
181
Vermont
I had recently asked for some advice on how big of stove I need for my home, but thought I would try again, since I now have more useful information on my situation.
I have a 10 year old home. 8ft ceilings, open floor plan, and 2x6 construction.
The main floor is 1000 sq ft. and the upstairs is around 800 sq ft. We keep three of the guest rooms closed resulting in around 400 sq ft of used space on the second floor. We have used around 140 gallons of oil since we filled up around 70 days ago. Temps have averaged around 32 in the day and 23 at night.
I am considering the XXV and P61A, but the price of the P43 is attractive. Would I be able to get away with a P43?
Thanks for any help.
 
More than likely. Or the XXV for the looks. Based on your post, the P61 would probably spend a lot of time idling or shutting down and starting up.
 
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I agree with subsailor. I am heating a well constructed home with a PC45 with no problems and temps right now are below zero with alot of wind. Good luck
 
Im at 1800 square foot with 2x4 walls and can heat my house and the neighbors if i wanted to with a p61
 
Thanks everyone. I am amazed at how quickly I get great responses. This is by far the most friendly and helpful forum I have ever been a part of.
 
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jslinger said:
Thanks everyone. I am amazed at how quickly I get great responses. This is by far the most friendly and helpful forum I have ever been a part of.
Click to expand...

Slinger, when you get your stove, put it and your stash in your sig. And don't forget pics of the install.:)
 
Yeah.. The P-43 would be sized about right....

What temp do you run now (current heat) and I assume no kids?? (Bedrooms closed)??

Welcome to the Forums and all the Harmans you listed are fine units.


My plan is to get rid of my Quad and get a P-43 or M-55 (steel) this season.... Still up in the air. :(?
 
We keep our house at 65 while home, and 55 while sleeping, and when we are at work. I imagine we will go up 5 degrees across the board when we install the stove. I have a friend who has been building hearths for around 15 years. He will be putting one in for us (for the cost of materials and a 24 pack) once fall arrives. I will definitely post pictures once it is all set up.
 
What happens if you do want to heat the other rooms? Also the 61A being all automaitc is a plus. You will always ask yourself. Should I have?
 
We don't plan on having kids. The rooms are only used for guests. We have been here for a year, and have probably used one of the rooms twice during the heating season. We don't turn the heat on upstairs, and it stays around 2 degrees colder than the main floor. In the event we have people spend the night during the winter, we will turn on the heat upstairs. We already use the boiler for hot water, and I am ok with having to use it once or twice a year to heat the second floor.
 
Don't dismiss the P38. It has the same output as the 43 and is $400 cheaper (no auto ignite). I heat 2400' with mine, no prob whatsoever. The only time I shut mine off is for cleanings. Your hourly heat loss is probably higher than any of your stove choices at idle and would not overheat your space...and therefore not cycle off and on, negating the need for auto ignite in the first place. It takes 2 minutes to start a Harman without auto ignite. Aside from accidentally letting the hopper run dry, I've probably manually lit my stove 10 times so far. Taking that into consideration, and doing a little math and you should come to the conclusion that the auto ignite feature is very expensive each time its used, which will be rarely.

Keep in mind an ignited is an expendable item and while you likely won't be hammering on it, it will need replacing eventually.
 
If you dont care about the looks, P61A or P43 all the way. Either/or will work. P43 will work harder, P61a wont.......both should serve you well
 
You will find that with any of those stoves you can easily up the temperature and still save on heating costs. I'm partial to the xxv because I used to own one (sold it with our last house). It is a show piece and a powerful heating appliance.
 
I have never had anyone tell me a P-43 is not big enough. The XXV is a very pretty stove but there is a price difference. I have a P-43 burning in my store and an XXV sitting across from it on display. Wanna good deal????

Eric
 
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Lousyweather said:
If you dont care about the looks, P61A or P43 all the way.
Click to expand...

I think its probably all a matter of opinion. I put the P61a in the living room and it's got the brushed nickle trim. I thought it might look out of place, but it's not a bad looking stove at all. Even my dad - who hates pretty much everything - thought it was a nice looking stove. XXV is beautiful but the P61a was already more than I really wanted to spend.

to the original poster - we have about a 1900 sq/ft house - colonial 2 floors with 6" well-insulated walls, and the P61a does the job. As one poster said, it does spend some time idling where the P43 may be running more. I opted to go for the larger one because I was thinking of those subzero nights where I might want a larger stove to keep the oil from kicking on.
 
I heat 2200 sq ft colonial with my P43, downstairs is a semi open floor plan, i ususally aim for a downstairs temp of 69-70 and the upstairs is usually 2 degrees lower than the downstairs, even on nights when we've had single digits the stove kept up and thats having the stove set at 5 on stove temp mode, other than nights like that rarely does the stove ever go past 4
 
MikeNH said:
I think its probably all a matter of opinion. I put the P61a in the living room and it's got the brushed nickle trim. I thought it might look out of place, but it's not a bad looking stove at all. Even my dad - who hates pretty much everything - thought it was a nice looking stove. XXV is beautiful but the P61a was already more than I really wanted to spend.

to the original poster - we have about a 1900 sq/ft house - colonial 2 floors with 6" well-insulated walls, and the P61a does the job. As one poster said, it does spend some time idling where the P43 may be running more. I opted to go for the larger one because I was thinking of those subzero nights where I might want a larger stove to keep the oil from kicking on.
Click to expand...
hey, I own a P61.....which I prefer over an XXV due to its ease of serviceability and parts. But many a customer has fallen in love with the XXV because of its looks,even given the fact that it puts out less heat for more money. I just am one guy who doesnt value looks as much as functionality, thats all. P43 vs P61A? Tough call, unless you think the P43 would be marginal and less than adequate in a cold winter.
 
Everything is for sale my Brother. Call me.

Eric
 
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Go with a P61A I say.....Only because I have one and love it. I'm heating an 1800 square foot ranch with a mostly open floor plan. Thing is, I live in upstate, NY (near Watertown which is just south of the Canadian border) where we can see negative 25 or even negative 30 degree weather in a typical winter. It's nice to know I have the extra capacity of the P61A should I need it. Also, I run my stove in Room temp manual which means the stove doesn't completely shut down and only idles until the room probe calls for heat. I think I'd definitely go no lower than the P43 if you can swing it. The P38 may struggle a bit on a very cold night. Just my opinion.
 
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