Why I love my pellet stove!

[Bank]

Five years ago I was researching pellet stoves due to the high cost of HHO. I spent a lot of time researching them and talking with friends who had them. I went with the Harman Accentra FS and I couldn't be more happier.

Now everyone told me this is thing is only suppose to be a space heater; OK no problem. Turns out this thing heats my whole 1,872 foot colonial and it's the oil fed furnace that has become supplemental heat, and I only use that for the domestic hot water.

My Harman has been flawless going on it's fifth winter. I've had it professionally cleaned in October each year and clean it every Sunday during the heating season. I still have the original igniter to boot.I buy my pellets in the spring/summer to get the best deals. Also, I've some cheapo pellets and the Harman burns them no problem. Now those cheap pellets may not burn the hottest, but they burn. So I say the hell with the oil guy and his lousy OPEC henchman

 

[subsailor]

I took it one step further and installed electric hot water. I no longer have an oil man.

 

[61snowrider]

I also agree!! We have had our St. Croix for 6 years now and it is our main heat. ( 2 story home ) We also bought a Sears Geo electric hot water tank this year. So far works great. Cheap on electric. We bought 100 gal of oil at beginning of heat season just to have, but have not used a drop of it yet. No more heating oil.

 

[P38X2]

I still use oil for DHW and ain't planning on forking over the coin to re-equip but couldn't agree with your post more. As a bonus to the savings, a pellet stove makes a house much more cozy feeling with the flame n stuff.

And staring at multiple tons of stacked pellets is much more entertaining than looking at a black tank.

 

[Bank]

Plus, looking for pellet deals all year is kinda a sick, but harmless hobby!! Don't feel like using any $$ to change my DHW system either.

 

[Justin M]

I took it one step further and installed electric hot water. I no longer have an oil man.

I'm planning to do the same.

 

[ebbtide357]

yes sir bought my stove harman accentra and have not turned the boiler on all year 2 story cape nice and cozy just leave the doors for the upstairs bedroom open and the heat finds it way there

 

[Montnl]

Same here, no more oil for DHW, switched to electric water heater last year. Oil heater is off line and is still there just in case is needed.

 

[boosted3g]

I got mine just because i dont like the heat from my heatpump. I worked for years as a sheet metal worker and loved walking into a warm house after a long day out in the freezing cold. Ive since moved into the office as an autocad sketcher but i still like it in the upper 70s and there is no way a heat pump can do it with temps falling in the lower teens at night this week. I save a little bit of money but the important thing is that i can keep it nearly 10 degrees warmer. Not to sound like heat pumps are junk they have their place. In spring and fall they are super cost effective.

 

[subsailor]

I still use oil for DHW and ain't planning on forking over the coin to re-equip but couldn't agree with your post more.

It cost me less than a tank of oil costs you to make the switch.

 

[LMPS]

Have been thinking of switching to one of these for DHW, (broken link removed to http://www.nyle.com/water-heating/).

 

[Labrat]

I took it one step further and installed electric hot water. I no longer have an oil man.

Right there with you subsailor. I replace my Propane tank this year when it finally died. I costs less to run and keeps the money here.

 

[P38X2]

It cost me less than a tank of oil costs you to make the switch.

I have a 330 gal @$3.49/gal. I know they're more efficient at the current fuel/kWhr prices but might take a loooong time to break even. Maybe someday.

 

[subsailor]

I have a 330 gal @$3.49/gal. I know they're more efficient at the current fuel/kWhr prices but might take a loooong time to break even. Maybe someday.

My boiler was 40 years old. It was a no brainer for me.

 

[P38X2]

My boiler was 40 years old. It was a no brainer for me.

I hear ya, definitely a no brainer there.

My stuff is fairly new so I'm in no rush to change anything....nor do I have the $$$

 

[Bioburner]

With the weather now being in the third month of below normal temps here, my pellet stove has been keeping things warm even though it's below 0 every night since Christmas eve and have hot water too. Only bumped the gas to check to make sure it works if power failed. Hope there is some pellet sales this spring!

 

[subsailor]

My stuff is fairly new so I'm in no rush to change anything....nor do I have the $$$

A Whirlpool hot water heater can be had at Lowes for $200 +/-.

 

[P38X2]

A Whirlpool hot water heater can be had at Lowes for $200 +/-.

That's a decent price. Then there's installation fees and I have space constraints as well, softener, brine tank, holding tank......PELLETS

 

[subsailor]

What about those Orfords?

 

[P38X2]

What about those Orfords?

I posted in the Where are you buying your pellets in SoNH thread.

 

[rwthomas1]

Here in RI, National Grid is offering a $1000 rebate on any new GE Geospring heatpump electric waterheater. The waterheater costs $1000 so the total cost to you is NOTHING, except installation, which if you can sweat copper and run a bit of 12-2 romex is next to nothing. Might want to check your local incentives.

 

[Mrpelletburner]

About 3-4 years ago we purchased a Harman Accentra and have heated with pellets since. We have a 1,100 sq ft ranch, with the stove on one side of the house. With the temp set at ~72 deg F the other side of the house stays between 65-67.

 

[Mrpelletburner]

For the other folks that have a Harman Accentra, what temp is your stove set at? Also how cold does the furthest room away get?

 

[Augmister]

On our 7th year with the Castille and knock on wood, all original parts. I clean religiously after every ton and the total clean at the end of the year. Dumped the conventional electric water heater this year and went tankless electric, with a Stiebel Electron on demand unit. Could have gone propane and Rinnai..... nah!

 

[Dollabill]

Come spring time some sort of electric water heater will be installed in my house ,the oilman is just not nice ! My oil system is not that old it can sit there in case we decide to go on vacation in the winter in the last 5 years the only use it gets is DHW and that's still to expensive !