True TOTAL cost to run pellet stove?

[thebenchmaker]

Hey Hey,

Hope power comes on soon for those in need......

First season with Breckwell Big-E, self-installed...... loving the heat and low-enviro impact.

On this board, which is awesomely huge and filled with most anything I have needed so far,
has anyone done a true run cost of pellet stove including electric?

At 300-400 watts a run hour <avg>, using 350 for calculations
that is 2.85 hours for a kilwowatt hour <1000 watts> of power ..............charged by <Central Hudson Elec>
at <$.15> per kilowatt hour ............<figured using 22 month average> Central Hudson Elec
add to cost of pellets $5.98/bag .................here in Hudson Valley NY......

2 bags for 24 hours? <24 hrs/3= 8> 2/3 is .66 or just over half a bag for 8 hrs burn.....

OKAY running steady for 24 hours......

<<24/2.85 is 8.42 kilowatt hours............@$.15 hour <KWH Price> = $1.26....

$1.26 electric X 24hr
$12.00 pellets <should gas and handling be added? woooe okay not now just base charges>

$13.26 per 24 hours of heat or $4.42 for 8 hours


avg for me <78-80 hours a week> burning at 6hrs each weeknite and 48 hours each weekend....


$44.00 a week or $176.00 a month....WOW ne one make it this far.....seem right?

cheers and warmth to all

Ryan

 

[webbie]

Lots of ways to figure it, but your figures seem somewhat accurate.

On one hand, it probably costs more than most people figure - on the other hand, at least the pellets are usually paid for up front!

2 bags in 24 hours seems normal for colder weather and full time use.

Welcome to the forums and enjoy your stove!


(of course, if you really want to split hairs, you will figure your labor installing, the interest on the money, future parts, etc.)

 

[alexei27]

Good post. I have a new SHP22L...(Summers Heat). I hooked up a "save-a-watt" meter to it the other day. After 24 hours of "burning" (which included 2 start ups over 2 days)...I used 4.2 KwH. Here on ridiculously priced Long Island...electricity is about 20 cents/KwH. So I figure $0.90 to $1.10 a day for power.

What I noticed as a difference....you say you are using 350W all the time? When my stove fires up...it uses about 350 (I assume due to the auto ignitor)...but when its burning and the blower is running it only uses about 180W. So lets say 200W on avg if you include the start up. If I burn 24/7 I'll use 1000W in 4 hours X 6 for a whole day....so 6 KhW a day. About $1.20 per day I'll add on a Kwh/Day for fans (although I do not think its that much)

I paid $6 a bag for Ligetics (incl delivery)...and burn one bag per day.

I also like to include the price of the stove and materials...but pro rate that cost over the life of the stove. Paid $2300 for the stove, vent, hearth pad materials...including $60 for the stupid building permit! I did the work myself and I'm CHEAP!! What I do not have a good feel for is how long I'll have the stove...lets say 20 years for estimation purposes. $2300/20 is $115 a year.

I plan to burn for 150 days (Nov-April). So 0.77 a day for overhead costs...which is also probably too much as we probably won't burn all the time in April.


So...

$1.40 for electirc
$6.00 for pellets
$0.77 for the stove itself

$8.15 a day or so. ($1225 for the season assuming I burn through April)

I think the biggest difference in our price is amount of pellets per day. If you are using two bags a day then our numbers are pretty consistent (because I added in the cost of the stove itself prorated over the next 20 years). Lots of estimations. Did I screw up the math anywhere?

Should also note that the pellets are our primary source of heat. The oil burner is set at 50deg and has not come on once yet.

Just for laughs...I used about 825 gal of oil last year. Even at the current price of $2.29 a gal...thats $1717 dollars in oil. Amazing how even with the drop in oil you can save $500 with pellets.

 

[wilbilt]

My stove draws .25A, which is what...30 watts?

33.3 hours = 1Kwh@ $.115 per Kwh from PG&E;, so about 8 cents per 24 hour period.

1 bag of pellets per 24 hours burning @ $5.08/bag

Burn about 16 hours/day, so 20 24 hour periods in a 30 day month.

Pick up pellets on the way home from work.

Stove was free

Build & tile hearth, install stove - free (well, I paid myself with a few beers).

$101.60 /mo

I think I figured that correctly (scratching head).

 

[gw2kpro]

Recheck your actual electricity usage. My stove uses 30-80 watts per hour when it's running, 350-400 watts only at startup due to the draw of the auto igniter.

 

[Shortstuff]

Electric: I purchased and attached a Kill-A-Watt EZ® which has been hooked up to my pellet stove for 2 weeks now. It's suppose to be accurate to within .02%. According to my owners manual, my stove uses 4.1 amps (492 watts) at startup and 1.1 amps (132 watts) running. Right now the meter shows that it's costing me $8.72 per month for electric to run my pellet stove.

Pellets: I purchased 3 tons of Barefoot pellets @ $244.00 per ton plus $60.00 shipping for a total of $792.00. Divide that by 150 bags and it comes out to $5.28 per bag. I currently average 1 bag per day X 30 days = $158.40.

So cost per month:

Electric: $8.72
Pellets: $158.40
Comfort and Satisfaction: Priceless

Total: $167.12 per month

Steve

 

[alexei27]

I have to recheck my electric then. I know Long Island is pricey...but I calculated my electric at over a dollar a day. I have had the Kill-a-watt on for a few days. I'll just leave it on for a week and see how that goes.

 

[mnoack]

I find the posts on additional electrical usage interesting. I have not run actual numbers on electrical cost; however, in practice, since I started using the pellet stove last January my electric use per month has actually gone down. In fact, the last bill was down 20% from last year. There are a number uf reasons for this, one of which is that we have been less likely to use space heaters since we got the stove, but I wonder. A running pellet stove draws about the same wattage as one or two light bulbs. My empress is currently averaging about 120 watts at level 4. It only goes through its start-up sequence once every two or three days. The furnace, on the other hand goes through its start-up sequence many times a day. Anyone know what a furnace draws?

 

[MCPO]

Hey Hey,

Hope power comes on soon for those in need......

First season with Breckwell Big-E, self-installed...... loving the heat and low-enviro impact.

On this board, which is awesomely huge and filled with most anything I have needed so far,
has anyone done a true run cost of pellet stove including electric?

At 300-400 watts a run hour <avg>, using 350 for calculations
that is 2.85 hours for a kilwowatt hour <1000 watts> of power ..............charged by <Central Hudson Elec>
at <$.15> per kilowatt hour ............<figured using 22 month average> Central Hudson Elec
add to cost of pellets $5.98/bag .................here in Hudson Valley NY......

2 bags for 24 hours? <24 hrs/3= 8> 2/3 is .66 or just over half a bag for 8 hrs burn.....

OKAY running steady for 24 hours......

<<24/2.85 is 8.42 kilowatt hours............@$.15 hour <KWH Price> = $1.26....

$1.26 electric X 24hr
$12.00 pellets <should gas and handling be added? woooe okay not now just base charges>

$13.26 per 24 hours of heat or $4.42 for 8 hours


avg for me <78-80 hours a week> burning at 6hrs each weeknite and 48 hours each weekend....


$44.00 a week or $176.00 a month....WOW ne one make it this far.....seem right?

cheers and warmth to all

Ryan

Not really impressive IMO. Burn it 24/7 and you`d be spending nearer to $400 a month.
I think your electricity calculation is a bit high though.

 

[Lobstah]

Not sure how 150 bags of pellets will provide the same heat that 825 gals of oil did.

 

[MCPO]

Good post. I have a new SHP22L...(Summers Heat). I hooked up a "save-a-watt" meter to it the other day. After 24 hours of "burning" (which included 2 start ups over 2 days)...I used 4.2 KwH. Here on ridiculously priced Long Island...electricity is about 20 cents/KwH. So I figure $0.90 to $1.10 a day for power.

What I noticed as a difference....you say you are using 350W all the time? When my stove fires up...it uses about 350 (I assume due to the auto ignitor)...but when its burning and the blower is running it only uses about 180W. So lets say 200W on avg if you include the start up. If I burn 24/7 I'll use 1000W in 4 hours X 6 for a whole day....so 6 KhW a day. About $1.20 per day I'll add on a Kwh/Day for fans (although I do not think its that much)

I paid $6 a bag for Ligetics (incl delivery)...and burn one bag per day.

I also like to include the price of the stove and materials...but pro rate that cost over the life of the stove. Paid $2300 for the stove, vent, hearth pad materials...including $60 for the stupid building permit! I did the work myself and I'm CHEAP!! What I do not have a good feel for is how long I'll have the stove...lets say 20 years for estimation purposes. $2300/20 is $115 a year.

I plan to burn for 150 days (Nov-April). So 0.77 a day for overhead costs...which is also probably too much as we probably won't burn all the time in April.


So...

$1.40 for electirc
$6.00 for pellets
$0.77 for the stove itself

$8.15 a day or so. ($1225 for the season assuming I burn through April)

I think the biggest difference in our price is amount of pellets per day. If you are using two bags a day then our numbers are pretty consistent (because I added in the cost of the stove itself prorated over the next 20 years). Lots of estimations. Did I screw up the math anywhere?

Should also note that the pellets are our primary source of heat. The oil burner is set at 50deg and has not come on once yet.

Just for laughs...I used about 825 gal of oil last year. Even at the current price of $2.29 a gal...thats $1717 dollars in oil. Amazing how even with the drop in oil you can save $500 with pellets.

One bag a day huh? 825 gallons used last year? Something tells me there`s more to this story.

 

[thebenchmaker]

Hey Hey,

Hope power comes on soon for those in need......

First season with Breckwell Big-E, self-installed...... loving the heat and low-enviro impact.

On this board, which is awesomely huge and filled with most anything I have needed so far,
has anyone done a true run cost of pellet stove including electric?

At 300-400 watts a run hour <avg>, using 350 for calculations
that is 2.85 hours for a kilwowatt hour <1000 watts> of power ..............charged by <Central Hudson Elec>
at <$.15> per kilowatt hour ............<figured using 22 month average> Central Hudson Elec
add to cost of pellets $5.98/bag .................here in Hudson Valley NY......

2 bags for 24 hours? <24 hrs/3= 8> 2/3 is .66 or just over half a bag for 8 hrs burn.....

OKAY running steady for 24 hours......

<<24/2.85 is 8.42 kilowatt hours............@$.15 hour <KWH Price> = $1.26....

$1.26 electric X 24hr
$12.00 pellets <should gas and handling be added? woooe okay not now just base charges>

$13.26 per 24 hours of heat or $4.42 for 8 hours


avg for me <78-80 hours a week> burning at 6hrs each weeknite and 48 hours each weekend....


$44.00 a week or $176.00 a month....WOW ne one make it this far.....seem right?

cheers and warmth to all

Ryan

Not really impressive IMO. Burn it 24/7 and you`d be spending nearer to $400 a month.
I think your electricity calculation is a bit high though.

Hey Gio-

Hi. Relax old fellah, think ya mighta missed the point, I was not putting on a show for ya! Just some figuring and asking. You don't have to be impressed or have any reaction at all...did something in these figures rattle ya?

Peace

 

[MCPO]

Hey Hey,

Hope power comes on soon for those in need......

First season with Breckwell Big-E, self-installed...... loving the heat and low-enviro impact.

On this board, which is awesomely huge and filled with most anything I have needed so far,
has anyone done a true run cost of pellet stove including electric?

At 300-400 watts a run hour <avg>, using 350 for calculations
that is 2.85 hours for a kilwowatt hour <1000 watts> of power ..............charged by <Central Hudson Elec>
at <$.15> per kilowatt hour ............<figured using 22 month average> Central Hudson Elec
add to cost of pellets $5.98/bag .................here in Hudson Valley NY......

2 bags for 24 hours? <24 hrs/3= 8> 2/3 is .66 or just over half a bag for 8 hrs burn.....

OKAY running steady for 24 hours......

<<24/2.85 is 8.42 kilowatt hours............@$.15 hour <KWH Price> = $1.26....

$1.26 electric X 24hr
$12.00 pellets <should gas and handling be added? woooe okay not now just base charges>

$13.26 per 24 hours of heat or $4.42 for 8 hours


avg for me <78-80 hours a week> burning at 6hrs each weeknite and 48 hours each weekend....


$44.00 a week or $176.00 a month....WOW ne one make it this far.....seem right?

cheers and warmth to all

Ryan

Not really impressive IMO. Burn it 24/7 and you`d be spending nearer to $400 a month.
I think your electricity calculation is a bit high though.

Hey Gio-

Hi. Relax old fellah, think ya mighta missed the point, I was not putting on a show for ya! Just some figuring and asking. You don't have to be impressed or have any reaction at all...did something in these figures rattle ya?

Peace

Yeah, sorry there young man. I do get your point. Your figures look honest and about right and they didn`t rattle me at all.
I think I might have got carried away trying to answer two threads at the same time.

 

[travlnusa]

If your stove is costing "x" in electric cost, you would need to subtract the cost of powering the furnace.

That is based on a forced air system such as I have (and yet to have it start it this year).

 

[MButkus]

There is no way you are using 425W on that stove.. 120 or so.. yes.. just a bit more then a bright light bulb..

 

[alexei27]

Good post. I have a new SHP22L...(Summers Heat). I hooked up a "save-a-watt" meter to it the other day. After 24 hours of "burning" (which included 2 start ups over 2 days)...I used 4.2 KwH. Here on ridiculously priced Long Island...electricity is about 20 cents/KwH. So I figure $0.90 to $1.10 a day for power.

What I noticed as a difference....you say you are using 350W all the time? When my stove fires up...it uses about 350 (I assume due to the auto ignitor)...but when its burning and the blower is running it only uses about 180W. So lets say 200W on avg if you include the start up. If I burn 24/7 I'll use 1000W in 4 hours X 6 for a whole day....so 6 KhW a day. About $1.20 per day I'll add on a Kwh/Day for fans (although I do not think its that much)

I paid $6 a bag for Ligetics (incl delivery)...and burn one bag per day.

I also like to include the price of the stove and materials...but pro rate that cost over the life of the stove. Paid $2300 for the stove, vent, hearth pad materials...including $60 for the stupid building permit! I did the work myself and I'm CHEAP!! What I do not have a good feel for is how long I'll have the stove...lets say 20 years for estimation purposes. $2300/20 is $115 a year.

I plan to burn for 150 days (Nov-April). So 0.77 a day for overhead costs...which is also probably too much as we probably won't burn all the time in April.


So...

$1.40 for electirc
$6.00 for pellets
$0.77 for the stove itself

$8.15 a day or so. ($1225 for the season assuming I burn through April)

I think the biggest difference in our price is amount of pellets per day. If you are using two bags a day then our numbers are pretty consistent (because I added in the cost of the stove itself prorated over the next 20 years). Lots of estimations. Did I screw up the math anywhere?

Should also note that the pellets are our primary source of heat. The oil burner is set at 50deg and has not come on once yet.

Just for laughs...I used about 825 gal of oil last year. Even at the current price of $2.29 a gal...thats $1717 dollars in oil. Amazing how even with the drop in oil you can save $500 with pellets.

One bag a day huh? 825 gallons used last year? Something tells me there`s more to this story.

Not sure what else to add. I burn a bag a day. I also used 825 gal of oil last year. This year I have used about 80 gal of oil.

 

[North of 60]

OK sounds like you pellet heads may need to contemplate using a firewood burning stove to help offset the rest of your heating cost and justify the use of green heating/cost of aspirin to figure this out.. OK now back to my room. :lol: PEACE. ENJOY the NO FUSS wood storing ,splitting, packing and stacking. Iam convinced. I think Ive seen pellets for about $10.75 a bag here. Lots of power outages ect./.. Looks more feasible in the southern areas.

 

[alexei27]

Yeah pellet prices are high...nearly $100 a tom more then when I purchased them last spring. Hopefully this spring will being some relief.

 

[krooser]

I use about one bag per day on average... 1.5 during below zero weather. My electric bill in the summer is bout $60.00... this time of year it's $90.00... but I use a small oil filled electric heater in my bedroom since my pellet stove can only supply some of the heat to the bedrooms. And I use a small 600W fan-forced electri heater here in my office when I'm in here.

I normally pay $4.00 per bag for my pellets but right now I have a better pellet in the hopper that's costing me $4.30 per bag. So 30 days of heating costs me $129.00 per month plus $30.00 extra for electricity. $159.00 per month.

Two years ago, pre-pellet, I spent over $1200.00 for natural gas from October until March... my typical heating season.... that's for a 65 degree house. Now my place is 74 degrees and my total bill will be somewhere around $550.00 (plus the extra $30.00 per month for electric)... seems cheaper, and warmer, to me.

 

[flashbang]

Simple math, Just the cost of pellets, no elec., stove cost, etc.
avg. 1.5bag/day = $7.50/day or $52.00/week

#2 fuel oil is much cheaper for me as I would not use Over $200.00 of oil every month

 

[newpelletstove]

Good post. I have a new SHP22L...(Summers Heat). I hooked up a "save-a-watt" meter to it the other day. After 24 hours of "burning" (which included 2 start ups over 2 days)...I used 4.2 KwH. Here on ridiculously priced Long Island...electricity is about 20 cents/KwH. So I figure $0.90 to $1.10 a day for power.

What I noticed as a difference....you say you are using 350W all the time? When my stove fires up...it uses about 350 (I assume due to the auto ignitor)...but when its burning and the blower is running it only uses about 180W. So lets say 200W on avg if you include the start up. If I burn 24/7 I'll use 1000W in 4 hours X 6 for a whole day....so 6 KhW a day. About $1.20 per day I'll add on a Kwh/Day for fans (although I do not think its that much)

I paid $6 a bag for Ligetics (incl delivery)...and burn one bag per day.

I also like to include the price of the stove and materials...but pro rate that cost over the life of the stove. Paid $2300 for the stove, vent, hearth pad materials...including $60 for the stupid building permit! I did the work myself and I'm CHEAP!! What I do not have a good feel for is how long I'll have the stove...lets say 20 years for estimation purposes. $2300/20 is $115 a year.

I plan to burn for 150 days (Nov-April). So 0.77 a day for overhead costs...which is also probably too much as we probably won't burn all the time in April.


So...

$1.40 for electirc
$6.00 for pellets
$0.77 for the stove itself

$8.15 a day or so. ($1225 for the season assuming I burn through April)

I think the biggest difference in our price is amount of pellets per day. If you are using two bags a day then our numbers are pretty consistent (because I added in the cost of the stove itself prorated over the next 20 years). Lots of estimations. Did I screw up the math anywhere?

Should also note that the pellets are our primary source of heat. The oil burner is set at 50deg and has not come on once yet.

Just for laughs...I used about 825 gal of oil last year. Even at the current price of $2.29 a gal...thats $1717 dollars in oil. Amazing how even with the drop in oil you can save $500 with pellets.

One bag a day huh? 825 gallons used last year? Something tells me there`s more to this story.

Not sure what else to add. I burn a bag a day. I also used 825 gal of oil last year. This year I have used about 80 gal of oil.

A part (maybe only a part) of the difference could be that pellet stoves don't always heat the entire house, as an oil furnace might, and if they are above basement level, they don't lose much heat to the basement, as an oil furnace might. In my case, my oil furnace (in the basement) loses some heat to the basement and heats every corner of the house through its radiators, whereas my pellet stove (in the kitchen) doesn't lose so much to the basement, and doesn't heat every corner.

 

[Gumby1]

My Thelin stove only uses 27 watts per hour. :cheese: