Tell Me Why You Chose Pellet Over a Wood Stove or Insert

[Malatu]

I was convinced I was going to get a wood insert but would like to consider a pellet stove.

If you would share, I'd like to hear about some reasons why you all chose pellet stoves over wood stoves. Thanks!

 

[P38X2]

Ease of operation. Ease of installation. Convenience.

Boring reply, but I like it that way

 

[Shaw520]

After shucking wood my entire life,... the convenience is a no-brainer.

 

[jtakeman]

Much less mess, No bark or bugs all over. Easier to handle too. Wood is a fluctuating heat, Where a pellet stove is constant(as long as you keep the hopper full). Most pellet stoves are able to use a thermostat. Less stove fusing IMHO.

What is your price range? I wouldn't choose just a pellet. I would look for a multifuel unit that handles higher as fuels or a bottom feed unit( like the harman or drolet/sbi). Its easy to steer you to pellets, But the choice in the stove and it being the proper size is what will make you happy!

 

[Jack Morrissey]

I knew my wife wouldn't be willing (or able) to get wood stove going while im at work, plus the ease of having a thermostat to turn the stove on and off

 

[Hitch]

Same here (as above). Grew up with a wood stove. Good memories, but the pellet stove is cleaner and less work. It's also a lot easier to control. My wife can just turn the switch and it's up and running. Heck, my wife evens fills the hopper. She would not use a wood stove as much as the pellet.

 

[CT Pellet]

All of above, plus...The people in the "Pellet Mill" section of this forum are WAY cooler than those in the "Wood" section....Go for the pellet- we rock!

 

[OldBrit]

I have 2 pellet stoves and a wood stove. All 3 are running at this moment.
The pellet stoves are great in the morning and during the day because I have them on timers/thermostat.
The wood stove we use in the evenings and weekend.
The wood stove cranks out more heat, is great to sit near but is not very controllable.

You need to consider your particular needs.

 

[will711]

I do both I find the pellets a more steady heat no peaks and valleys , put a bag in every 24hrs good to go.

I still use wood burner in man cave . If you want to go wood start getting wood Now! the key to being happy with a wood stove is properly seasoned wood 2-3 yrs. I've burned a lot of crap in my days ,but thanks to the good folks here I'm now on my way to being 2-3yrs. ahead with my wood supply.

 

[343amc]

I have both pellet and wood burning appliances. I prefer pellets for the convenience. I get all my cordwood free, so it's cheaper burning wood but much easier burning pellets, especially when I'm out of town for work, which happens fairly often. Wife doesn't mind loading pellets but doesn't care for loading the wood eater.

I still enjoy gathering wood, using the saws, splitting and being outside. But it is nicer stacking bags instead of splits.

If I had to buy my firewood then it would be pellets 100% of the time. I was about 50% pellets/50% wood until I got the Fahrenheit installed. Now it's about 95% pellets/5% wood, mostly because my stash of seasoned wood was embarrassingly low going into this season.

Nothing wrong with either in my book. Anything that helps keep the oil and propane trucks parked is a winner for me.

 

[imacman]

No splinters, splitting, stacking, bugs, dirt, burns, or worrying if the stove will make it through a night filled w/ splits.

 

[TheMightyMoe]

Ease of install. I would prefer wood, but a pellet stove has much easier requirements to meet. (Space/Safety/Flue etc...)

 

[dw06]

I really considered a wood stove 1st. Many reasons I chose the pellet stove over the wood stove. At the time I was caregiver for a brother and with working and taking care of him, just didn't have the time for wood heat. Also after 35 years of doing the wood cutting, hauling,splitting, and stacking, plus getting and keeping a fire going the pellet option just made since for me.
My brother has since passed, and life is semi normal, couldn't have made it without the pellet stove! Now I sit back and enjoy it, knowing that by the time you add up the cost of doing even free wood, the saws, oil, gas, and most of all the time, the pellet stove isn't costing me much at all!
Whatever you get, you will come to like, just make the choice you want.

 

[Brokenwing]

Alot less work, I am dissabled with a rare genetic joint disorder, so this was a easy choice for me, no swinging a axe, and lifting logs to a splitter. The work is minimal and the rewards are great. That being said if you have access to wood, in good health, and a easy install, wood could be a great benefit, because the fuel is free. I think wood, and pellet stoves each have there pros and cons!

 

[iceguy4]

Direct vent tipped the scales for me..Now that I have it I wounder why I burned wood for so long

 

[Thaddius Wenderoth]

Had a nice Quad wood stove. Replaced with a pellet stove because if I weren't home, it didn't run. Brother-in-law and wife would not keep the stove going. So the electric furnace would run and run and my wallet getting thinner and thinner. Replaced that stove on 1/17/13 and the furnace has not run for even a split second since. So ease of use. Wife loves to put a bag in the hopper so I don't even do that. She loves the heat it gives off because it is constant. She is very very happy which in result means I am happy. I vote pellet stove!

 

[Mr. Spock]

All good advice above. Another worth a mention is that pellet stoves require power to run. If constant grid power is an issue wood stove might be a better choice.

A pro not mentioned is that the space required for pellet storage is much less than wood.

 

[Speed3]

Lack of chimney, clearance issues, ease of use, etc.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

I'm lazy.

 

[Malatu]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm lazy too! I did the wood stove thing before for a number of years at two different locations. Even then, I gave up on cutting, splitting and stacking. I didn't get any enjoyment from it.

I keep considering either a wood or pellet stove but I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger. Natural gas is so darn cheap right now that I'm having a tough time spending 3-5 grand on an insert and installation when I can heat my house for around $700 -$900 per year with natural gas. I know it's not always going to be this cheap but right now it's a tough dime to spend for now real return on my money.

 

[PoolGuyinCT]

Because deep in my heart I know I am lazy

 

[ekarlis]

Apellet stove! Brown Recluse Siders hide in wood piles. My best budy got bit Dec 1st & just died two weeks ago.
Wood stoves are for young bucks, I am 72 & the pellet stove suits me fine

 

[Thaddius Wenderoth]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm lazy too! I did the wood stove thing before for a number of years at two different locations. Even then, I gave up on cutting, splitting and stacking. I didn't get any enjoyment from it.

I keep considering either a wood or pellet stove but I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger. Natural gas is so darn cheap right now that I'm having a tough time spending 3-5 grand on an insert and installation when I can heat my house for around $700 -$900 per year with natural gas. I know it's not always going to be this cheap but right now it's a tough dime to spend for now real return on my money.

Well if you heat your house for $700 - $900 a year then you can't be using that many BTU ( I would have to know what you pay per therm). You could probably get away with 2 ton a year and in my area that would be $376. Still $324 cheaper than your low side and $534 cheaper than the high side. I would say the stove could pay for itself in 5 years.

 

[moey]

My wife. I would say now it was the right choice.

I think I would prefer a wood stove if I had natural gas as a backup in a power failure. Im pretty lazy and would never use the stove if I could just walk over to the wall thermostat and crank it up knowing its not costing me a fortune.

 

[Thaddius Wenderoth]

My wife. I would say now it was the right choice.

I think I would prefer a wood stove if I had natural gas. As a backup in a power failure. Im pretty lazy and would never use the stove if I could just walk over to the wall thermostat and crank it up knowing its not costing me a fortune.

Better... I was confused for a min. there.