Wow, these pellet stoves are great!

[Vito Manzione]

If I sound like a newbie that's probably because I am.

A friend of mine had been trying to convince me to purchase a pellet stove for some time now but he knows my personality is usually to be skeptical until I see it for myself. To help me get me started he had an older Quadra Fire 1000 that he was no longer using and offered it to me to help make my decision. He also said if I liked it I could just keep it or move on to a new stove, right now I am keeping it. The stove was in decent condition other than a combustion blower which was making a lot of noise and it needed a paint job. After doing research and getting some help here and there I found out that working on these babies is not all that hard. I tore everything apart, re-painted and totally cleaned it so it looks almost new. I changed the combustion blower and now it sounds great, while not quiet it's not as bad as some say.

This stove has been running a couple weeks like a charm, I love it!

My house is 3,000 sq. ft. and I never expected this stove to heat the entire house. Here in NE PA we have already had lows of 12 degrees at night and it worked like a champ.

I wanted to post here because I had done a lot of research from this forum and and most of the information I received came from you guys. I also now know what so many of you love your pellet stoves.

Thanks!

 

[The Ds]

Welcome to the pellet family!

 

[iceguy4]

I also now know what so many of you love your pellet stoves.

I never thought I would burn pellets...Now I wonder why it took me so long to discover them I think once you experience the convenience of a pellet heater it makes it hard to go back to wood..

 

[john193]

When i was first introduced to pellet stoves in 2008, I said "no way am I getting one of those." They look silly and are cumbersome. Eating my own words today...

 

[bbfarm]

We wouldn't have any heat without ours. We just could not afford $400 a month in fuel oil.

 

[Countryboymo]

I grew up around wood heat and purchased a used one for the basement for emergency heat in a power outage and supplemental heat to help the heat pump so I am not running on strips hardly at all through the winter. I started with a ton of pellets and now am up to two. The more electric rate increases come through the more pellets I am going to buy.. I have a feeling one day I will have a stove on the main floor and another in the basement. Even with the heat pump running and the stove in the basement on low it makes all the difference in the world in real comfort. When it gets below 10 my stat shuts off the heat pump so I am relying solely on strips so I crank the stove.

It is a whole lot more enjoyable than I ever imagined. And before anyone calls me out on the power outage my 4500 watt generator will run the stove and other basic necessities but will not run the heat pump or air handler. My basement is going to be incredibly comfy one day when its fully finished also.

 

[Phil Do's fire.]

Welcome and for more than 10 years, real happy with pellets. Even though Natural gas is now cheaper in my area, my pellet stove is still my primary source. Enjoy

 

[Jim H.]

Welcome, my 1st stove was a Quad 1000 also. Got it at what was Coal Heat in Alburtis. We had it for 12 years before we moved and I had it in
great shape for the new owners. We had propane stove/fireplace that was unreal how expensive they are to run (with little heat), then since
we had the great experience with the 1000 went with the Harman XXV. Love the pellet stove, wish the prices of pellets were a little cheaper
but all in all not bad.

 

[Bioburner]

Been burning them little logs now over 30 years. Europe buying them may drive up our prices.

 

[bill3rail]

Welcome to the boards! Great to hear your story! I see that you are already enjoying it. Take your friend out for a dinner, but fill the stove before you go out.

Where in N.E. PA are you located?

Bill

 

[reg1952]

Been in current house 3 years. 2nd year heating with pellets. When I searched for the pellet stove I have now I discovered they also make fire place inserts as well. Wish I would of looked sooner there would have been one in my last house. Wont of had to vacumn bark up in the living everyday.

 

[Vito Manzione]

Bill, I am in the Poconos near the big lake as they call it. That would be Lake Wallenpaupack.

 

[Proud Sub Vet]

We wouldn't have any heat without ours. We just could not afford $400 a month in fuel oil.

Looking forward to getting our pellet stove as well! (we have a 2,300 sq. ft. home with ELECTRIC baseboard heat - plus electric stove, hot water heater, dryer, etc) so our 'balanced' monthly electric bill is $400/month as well - I feel your pain! OUCH!

 

[Madcodger]

Looking forward to getting our pellet stove as well! (we have a 2,300 sq. ft. home with ELECTRIC baseboard heat - plus electric stove, hot water heater, dryer, etc) so our 'balanced' monthly electric bill is $400/month as well - I feel your pain! OUCH!

So, knowing you are waiting on your stove I thought you might want some encouragement... We spent about the same to heat about 3,000 SF before our stove went in, in an all-electric house with heat pump. Last month, our total was $137.57, the lowest ever. And we both work from home, with 5 computers, 2 printers, and two separate offices that are occupied most days. I think you'll like this pellet stove thing...

 

[Proud Sub Vet]

So, knowing you are waiting on your stove I thought you might want some encouragement... We spent about the same to heat about 3,000 SF before our stove went in, in an all-electric house with heat pump. Last month, our total was $137.57, the lowest ever. And we both work from home, with 5 computers, 2 printers, and two separate offices that are occupied most days. I think you'll like this pellet stove thing...

Wow $137.57 sounds nice! (I think our last January electric bill came to $940 before it was balanced) Sounds like your house is never empty similar to our house - she works days, I work evenings (5pm - midnight) so it's basically at 70 degrees 24/7!

I am looking forward to saying TOO BAD to Connecticut Light & Power lolololol

 

[jjones139]

I grew up in the upper Hudson Valley NY where my parents still burn their 35 year old wood burning furnace. Every Sunday back in the day was spent cut and splitting wood and I vowed to NEVER own a wood stove after all of those dreaded Sundays. Now at 46 years young I am truly enjoying my Englander 25-PDV No mess, no hard labor and best of all it's so easy to do My Dad is 81 and is shocked by what my Englander PELLET STOVE can do This is a great site, thanks for all of the knowledge that is shared!!

 

[Proud Sub Vet]

I grew up in the upper Hudson Valley NY where my parents still burn their 35 year old wood burning furnace. Every Sunday back in the day was spent cut and splitting wood and I vowed to NEVER own a wood stove after all of those dreaded Sundays. Now at 46 years young I am truly enjoying my Englander 25-PDV No mess, no hard labor and best of all it's so easy to do My Dad is 81 and is shocked by what my Englander PELLET STOVE can do This is a great site, thanks for all of the knowledge that is shared!!

What type of pellets have you been using? I'm looking forward to not having to babysit my wood stove (Jotul F3) which the wife refused to load or keep an eye on after 2 seasons and getting the pellet stove! I chose the Harman 52i over the Quad because the Harman has a larger hopper (translation = I'll be home before the wife 'oops - forgot again' to load the damn thing!! (I pick my battles wisely)

 

[jjones139]

I have an Englander 25-PDV and currently burning New England pellets (NEWP) with 3 bags remaining then I'm onto Greene Team Platinum (GTP). Both burn very hot, but NEWP give off considerably more ash, which doesn't bother me because I'm in it for the HEAT! I've tried 2 other brands Green Supreme & Stove Chow, but prefer the other 2. Honestly, our stove has been in service for just 2 weeks so it's all new to me. With that said, I am taking the time to read these posts to see what different types of pellets are working for others. You must keep in mind that not all pellets are available in your area so research and choose wisely. Good luck

 

[Proud Sub Vet]

Thanks! I was kinda stuck purchasing a stove when I did and finding an adequate supply of a good pellet as well. I read a lot here as well and I seem to have stumbled upon a good brand (Barefoot) whereas most places have sold out of those. Best of luck with your stove and pellets - I'm looking forward to updating everyone here soon!

 

[PPLcangotoh...]

Chiming in from Center Valley pa.

I heated the house with an EcoTek Veronica for two two seasons before adding a Harman Accentra to the downstairs (Bi level)

I think we'll be going through 4.5 to 5 tons this winter.... but the electric bill is never more than 150 in the winter since we installed the first stove.

I run a 450 gallon salt water reef as well... If not for the tank, our bill would be even lower.

 

[Threerun]

Looking forward to getting our pellet stove as well! (we have a 2,300 sq. ft. home with ELECTRIC baseboard heat - plus electric stove, hot water heater, dryer, etc) so our 'balanced' monthly electric bill is $400/month as well - I feel your pain! OUCH!

OUCH Our house is all electric too, we're at $200 a month average pay plan.. I thought THAT was high. Yeeikes!

 

[Proud Sub Vet]

Chiming in from Center Valley pa.

I heated the house with an EcoTek Veronica for two two seasons before adding a Harman Accentra to the downstairs (Bi level)

I think we'll be going through 4.5 to 5 tons this winter.... but the electric bill is never more than 150 in the winter since we installed the first stove.

I run a 450 gallon salt water reef as well... If not for the tank, our bill would be even lower.

Wow that's a lot of pellets! I hope the four tons I pick up in a few weeks will do the trick this season. (Remembering last spring... we would put our electric heat on in select rooms to take the chill off well into May (May 31! lol) It is not terribly practical to fire up a wood stove for removing the morning or mid-day chill from a room, which is another reason I'm looking forward to having a pellet stove. And with all this cold weather lately (and snow tonight), the sooner I get that stove delivered and installed, the better!

 

[Proud Sub Vet]

OUCH Our house is all electric too, we're at $200 a month average pay plan.. I thought THAT was high. Yeeikes!

Being a CT resident, I believe we are blessed with the highest utility rates in the country, so with that and 2,300 sq. ft. to heat (plus electric stove, electric hot water heater and clothes dryer), it's really outrageous! (Trust me, your $200 per month is more than enough too)

 

[newbieinCT]

Bill, I am in the Poconos near the big lake as they call it. That would be Lake Wallenpaupack.

A little late to the thread but wanted to say - my friend has a lake house that was his grandpa's hunting lodge back in the 20s. Great place right on the water. We are up there every summer for 20 years now. They usually close it up for winter but sometimes we go up - the oil heat never works, so we use the fireplace and huddle around it. After getting into the pellet world, I have no clue why he would not invest in a used pellet (or even wood) insert and use that. We are sleeping with space heaters and shivering as soon as the sun goes down. It's miserable...come to think of it, it's hard to figure out why we go up there just to suffer A pellet stove in that house would be amazing....if only he could see the warm, glowing pellet light at the end of the tunnel to guide him..

 

[newbieinCT]

Wow that's a lot of pellets! I hope the four tons I pick up in a few weeks will do the trick this season. (Remembering last spring... we would put our electric heat on in select rooms to take the chill off well into May (May 31! lol) It is not terribly practical to fire up a wood stove for removing the morning or mid-day chill from a room, which is another reason I'm looking forward to having a pellet stove. And with all this cold weather lately (and snow tonight), the sooner I get that stove delivered and installed, the better!

Please keep us posted on you like (love?) your new stove! I'm in NE CT, as well, and it is has been COLD here. Old leaky house with oil heat and a broken wood stove. Not a good combo
btw: barefoot pellets are wonderful - did you get them from Trading Post? We are getting a stove from them hopefully 2nd week of Jan - waiting to hear more tomorrow. You are going to love 'em. We tried out a bunch on our old (now broken) pellet stove. It's a junky old stove that we inherited when we purchased the house and it was picky about what pellets it would burn (unlike the harmans, from what I have been reading, they eat and burn everything!). Barefoots were one of the few pellets that burned HOT in our old junker. I'm guessing in your new harman they will be wonderful!
Meg