Recommendations For Pellet Stove Burlington CT, Coming Over From The Dark Side

[Dix]

Evening all.

Long time wood burning member, now considering a pellet stove for an additional space in daughters home in CT.

Space

I'm looking at stoves on the lower price range as house is going on the market in the spring. Lower level in the mountains, insulated. Regency i2500 upstairs heats that entire 2000 sf space (wood burner).

To the right of the area marked "storage" is a cement based hearth with tile top about 3' X 3". Looks to me like clearance to combustibles would be OK. 110V access available. Exterior wall is studs, not cement. I'll get location pics of both interior & exterior.

I understand hopper size relation to burn time, venting, soft wood vs hard wood pellets (mixed reviews on both ) , etc.

Looking at big box stoves and looking for local installers. We'd feel better about pro install.

Thoughts?

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

When she moves, does the pellet stove stay or go to the next house? What floor is the proposed stove location. Above ground?

If the stove stays, box store stove. If it goes with her, then something that will last a good long time. My .02

 

[Dix]

Stove stays, is why I'm looking big box, Tractor Supply (good pellet prices for around here, too).

Insulated basement walls (Unknown thickness, 3" at least that I can tell ) & sheet rocked / finished, ceiling tiles and tongue & groove. Some insulation (3" or so ) underneath above sub floor. Outside access (multiple ) to basement.

FYI, I am now occupying this space, don't want to freeze my 🫏off, ya know ?

 

[Dix]

Example :

Comfort Glow Freestanding Pellet Stove, Heats up to 2,200 sq ft, Remote Control - CGPS2100 - Walmart.com

Buy Comfort Glow Freestanding Pellet Stove, Heats up to 2,200 sq ft, Remote Control - CGPS2100 at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

 

[begreen]

In the low cost bracket, PelPro gets good reviews. There is also the Castle Serenity. However, note that many pellet stoves are pretty noisy due to two fans running (combustion and convection). It's a small wood furnace. If reliable, but quieter heating is a priority, then it'll cost. Ravelli makes some quiet ones.

PelPro Pellet Stoves

Our pellet stoves provide practical high-efficiency heating for your home. Use a PelPro pellet burning stove to heat your home through winter this year!

forgenflame.com

Besides ease of use and noise level, look at maintenance. Burning pellets will make ash. Some stoves require frequent cleaning, others just every week or two. We had the Quadrafire CB1200 insert and that was something I liked about it. This is a reliable warhorse. The noise level was just tolerable if the convection blower was kept on low or medium speed, though it still required turning up the tv volume a notch.

 

[Dix]

Thanks, @Be Green, your input appreciated.

I do keep coming back to this one from Tractor Supply. Clearance to combustibles is a factor I am concerned with. The noise, not so much. I've noticed the Dixette's Regency (w/ cat) is way louder than the PE w/ no cat. I'll just crank Chicago alittle louder 🎶🎺

I am an experienced ash dumper, too

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/pelpro-pp60b-pellet-stove-pp60-b-1474097

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

Do you already have an installer? You mentioned early you wanted professional installation. If you're thinking about that stove from TSC you should locate an installer next, before you buy the stove.

 

[Dix]

Do you already have an installer? You mentioned early you wanted professional installation. If you're thinking about that stove from TSC you should locate an installer next, before you buy the stove.

The hunt is under way. We both agree to not do it ourselves

And no, will not buy until installer secured. But thank you for the thought, appreciate it.

 

[Dix]

Pics of potential install location

Interior, Pad is 38" X 38", cement under tiles. Yes, plants & freezer will be moved

It's 52" from the pad to the black stud wall. Could be wood lower, not sure.

Exterior for venting

 

[begreen]

Thanks, @Be Green, your input appreciated.

I do keep coming back to this one from Tractor Supply. Clearance to combustibles is a factor I am concerned with. The noise, not so much. I've noticed the Dixette's Regency (w/ cat) is way louder than the PE w/ no cat. I'll just crank Chicago alittle louder 🎶🎺

I am an experienced ash dumper, too

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/pelpro-pp60b-pellet-stove-pp60-b-1474097

That's a Pel Pro.

When buying pellets, my personal preference is softwood. Ask here about how Tractor Supply brand pellets burn. I have burned Golden Fires in the past. They were good, but much less expensive back then on the west coast where Doug fir is common.

 

[Dix]

Understood. Thank you.

Off to do more research (inserted Brother Barts fav emoticon just because he is missed )

 

[begreen]

I miss him big time still and was just thinking about him today.

 

[bogieb]

Personally, I don't like stoves that don't have an ash pan that can be dumped separately. All ashes collect in the firebox and have to be scooped/vacuumed out. But, if only using for one season, and being used to a wood stove cleaning, you might be okay with this. I do like that they include the OAK. Finding an installer that will work with a BBS stove will be your biggest obstacle I think.

Your wall insulation with sheetrock should be fine. That will keep the salles from sucking a large portion of heat out. I have a portion of my basement with 3" studs and regular insulation with sheetrock over it. The other portion of my basement has 1" rigid foam, reflectix, a 1" air gap to the sheetrock. When I IR'd the walls, there was no appreciable difference between the two methods. The basement is way easier to heat with the cinderblocks and concrete floor covered.

I find that running middling pellets is the right balance between cost and heat for me. Also, my basement is small enough, at 24x27, that running hot pellets (either SW or a good HW) is a waste and can lead to unexpected consequences. My stove pipe never gets hot enough between cycles running those types of pellets, so I had some nastiness develop. Running a middling pellet like GS or TS (which around here is MWP), keeps the stove running long enough to keep the exhaust clean. PS - I did not have this issue before I insulated and sheet rocked the walls because the P61a worked so hard from the walls sucking out the heat.

 

[Dix]

For comparisons sake, choice #2

https://www.homedepot.com/p/ComfortBilt-2-800-sq-ft-Pellet-Stove-with-a-120-lbs-Hopper-in-Black-HP42-ALPINE/331500403#see-more-details

 

[begreen]

Personally, I don't like stoves that don't have an ash pan that can be dumped separately. All ashes collect in the firebox and have to be scooped/vacuumed out..

I used a cheap shop-vac to clear out the ash on the CB1200 after letting it cool down. This was a bi-weekly or weekly task, depending on the burn rate. While cleaning I also cleaned the glass, burnpot and ignitor of buildup. It was about a 15 minute process.

For stoves, I'd get the PelPro before the ComfortBilt. Read the reviews on HD and here.

 

[Dix]

Didn't vanish, still researching / calling potential installers.

 

[Ricks]

I want to make sure I understand. You are looking for a cheap pellet stove for the winter of 2026-2027. Then the house will be listed and sold.

If my understanding is correct I would skip any stove and just use electric radiators and the like.

I think in the short time span fall through the Spring, you will spend more for the stove, installation, and pellets than you will for electricity for the space heaters.

Yes I understand this isn’t what you asked. You didn’t ask for options just what stove should your purchase.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[begreen]

I want to make sure I understand. You are looking for a cheap pellet stove for the winter of 2026-2027. Then the house will be listed and sold.

If my understanding is correct I would skip any stove and just use electric radiators and the like.

I think in the short time span fall through the Spring, you will spend more for the stove, installation, and pellets than you will for electricity for the space heaters.

Stove will be staying with the house.

Post in thread 'Recommendations For Pellet Stove Burlington CT, Coming Over From The Dark Side'

Oct 8, 2026

Stove stays, is why I'm looking big box, Tractor Supply (good pellet prices for around here, too).

Insulated basement walls (Unknown thickness, 3" at least that I can tell ) & sheet rocked / finished, ceiling tiles and tongue & groove. Some insulation (3" or so ) underneath above sub floor. Outside access (multiple ) to basement.

FYI, I am now occupying this space, don't want to freeze my 🫏off, ya know ?

• Dix

• 

 

[Dix]

I want to make sure I understand. You are looking for a cheap pellet stove for the winter of 2026-2027. Then the house will be listed and sold.

If my understanding is correct I would skip any stove and just use electric radiators and the like.

I think in the short time span fall through the Spring, you will spend more for the stove, installation, and pellets than you will for electricity for the space heaters.

Yes I understand this isn’t what you asked. You didn’t ask for options just what stove should your purchase.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thank you for the input, it is appreciated

There is no heating in the lower level. Daughter has been using electric space heaters as needed. Fortunately only 4 freeze ups in 5 years, no water explosions. Best temp in January w/ elec, 45- 50 F. Bill was 1000 + per month November - March.

I'm now residing in the lower level. 50F in January, not gonna do it . This doesn't cut it

 

[Dataman]

Personally I would go Harmon if you keeping the house. Good Used Pellet Stove if possible. Pellets have really got expensive. I switched to Extreme Cold Weather Heat Pump and Pellet Stove also (3 Tons used in past years, last year 3 Bags.). But do you have the Kw and costs. Insurance when you burn might be no go for some home buyers. Price out Pellets per ton. Here it's $400 per ton, plus delivery. 90 Bucks couple years ago.