I have a Napolean pellet stove I bought in early 2000s if I recall correctly. Generally it has served me well once I learned the quirks. I have three floors if you include my basement. I have three zones, hydronic using a propane fired boiler in my basement. Mainly I've only used the pellet stove to reduce cost. I still keep the basement zone pretty low. I also have a large wood stove in the basement that also has served me well. I'm past retirement age now and don't have the energy anymore to harvest firewood though I own enough land that has supported that in the past. I had been buying chord wood for a while but it's got quite expensive now and the work required to store/transport it is also a penalty. I do love the aesthetic of burning cord wood though and for the last couple years, I've purchased only a single cord and will light a fire on those really cold nights. I have a very good stainless double lined chimney running all the way to the ridge top of my house that cost as much as my stove in fact. My living space is 2800 square feet, 1st and 2nd floor.
A 40 bag of pellets cost $6.20 from Tractor Supply. I will burn a bag a day in the thick of winter here in VT. That's a mere $180.00/month quite reasonable if you think about it. It heats the living space nicely. I'll also spend about $1500.00/year on propane but that includes hot water and cook stove.
I don't know about your experience but I must clean out the ash in and around the burn pot every bag. I've replaced the starter a couple times over the years. I fixed the convection motor as it had so much endplay it would hit the surround and stall. Other than that it has been trouble free. I don't use the thermostat control option thinking it would burn up starters more frequently. Seems to me somebody should have come up with a better way to light a pellet stove that doesn't require amps of electricity.
How about a propane tank off to the side supplying a torch aimed a the burn pot with minimal electricity requirement?
So, I'm thinking of upgrading the pellet stove to something large that I would put in the basement and use the existing chimney. I understand this would give me the option of using a non-electric pellet stove.
Any opinions on non-electric pellet stoves?
A 40 bag of pellets cost $6.20 from Tractor Supply. I will burn a bag a day in the thick of winter here in VT. That's a mere $180.00/month quite reasonable if you think about it. It heats the living space nicely. I'll also spend about $1500.00/year on propane but that includes hot water and cook stove.
I don't know about your experience but I must clean out the ash in and around the burn pot every bag. I've replaced the starter a couple times over the years. I fixed the convection motor as it had so much endplay it would hit the surround and stall. Other than that it has been trouble free. I don't use the thermostat control option thinking it would burn up starters more frequently. Seems to me somebody should have come up with a better way to light a pellet stove that doesn't require amps of electricity.
How about a propane tank off to the side supplying a torch aimed a the burn pot with minimal electricity requirement?
So, I'm thinking of upgrading the pellet stove to something large that I would put in the basement and use the existing chimney. I understand this would give me the option of using a non-electric pellet stove.
Any opinions on non-electric pellet stoves?
