Eagle Guns
Member
What's the general opinion of them?
Wood Pellet Stoves
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Jst1mr
Member
Great! Extremely clean and efficient, fuel is easy to handle and ash cleanup is minimal. Most can be simply vented and do not require an insulated flue. Europe is way ahead of us on this one, they even run large power plants on pellets...considered carbon-neutral if that's on your list of concerns. Pellets are made from lesser-value woods and residues, and are currently in rather short supply in some areas due to quickly growing popularity. The stoves themselves provide a warm, quiet ambience to a room and do not get hot to the touch.
truckemup97
Member
I've heard very good things about them, but my wife won't let me buy one. Sorry I can't give you first-hand info.
Efficient-however, when an ice storm knocked out power in 2007 for days (up to weeks in some cases) pellet heat was useless. Those of us with big fireplaces did OK. I now have a blower in my fireplace that I can hook a battety powered fan to.
Jst1mr
Member
Battery backup systems are available for most wood pellet stoves...the electrical requirements for the stoking and fans are quite low...highly recommended in areas that are historically prone to power loss.
I've been looking very closely at them as my wife and I move towards buying a house. Most people speak very highly of them but there are some things to remember: they need electricity, and they have moving parts.
I rather expect that I'll install one in whatever house we get in order to keep our winter bills down a little. $250-300/ton sounds much better than $3.50-4.00/gal for oil.
I rather expect that I'll install one in whatever house we get in order to keep our winter bills down a little. $250-300/ton sounds much better than $3.50-4.00/gal for oil.
BarbC
Member
We have a Harman and it does an excellent job of providing the main source of heat on $5/day.
When you install it, be sure to get the thimble that allows outside fresh air intake. There are back-up batteries for power outages, but we just hook ours up to the generator.
When you install it, be sure to get the thimble that allows outside fresh air intake. There are back-up batteries for power outages, but we just hook ours up to the generator.
460v LAC du FLAMBEAU
Member
A+ with mine. I leave mine going when I'm at work with no worries. Living in Wisconsin's Northwoods with 8 months of heating I overdosed on heating systems when I built the new lake home...forced air w/AC, in-floor & slab "tube hydronic" (the best), heavy duty wood burner at one of the lower level & pellet stove at the other end with a 6' wide stairway leading up to the main level. Also, back-up generator for those frequent electrical outages. $57K but I'm never cold!
jeepjeepwhat
US Veteran
I have one, but I wish I would have gotten a wood stove instead. The biggest downfall for me, is the price of the pellets for it. They are very market sensitive. I've had it for 3 years now, and the price of pellets of gone up, $100 and are hard to find during the winter months. The last time I went to the forest and the trees were the same price they've always been.
Other than that I think it is great.
Other than that I think it is great.
I have 2 Quadra fire stoves. $5.00 a day and my wife likes it hot in the house. The cats sleep on them all the time. The only problem I have had is with a power loss the generator will power all the essentials but not have enough left over to start the pellet stove. I just have to keep it running or manual light it. NBD
I have a Quadrafire too. They are very nice and I need to look into the back-up generator. We rarely lose power for too long, but it does happen.
The things are not cheap!
I don't think the price of pellets at $4+/bag is going to allow me to save much money. My house is pretty well insulated but is all electric. So far, when I factor everything in, it is looking like a wash. On the other hand, the stove does put out a lot of heat and gives me another alternative.
Cleaning the unit is simple. Very little ash to dispose of. Lugging the pellets around is more convenient than firewood. No particular worries about safety. Lots of electronics on my unit.
Bassamatic
US Veteran
Never owned a pellet stove as we have a large Heatilator fireplace with a blower and it provides most all of our heat except for the very cold days. I also have lots of acres with trees so that is not an issue.
A good friend bought a pellet stove about three years ago and just replaced it with a wood stove last month. His complaints were similar to what I have read here. Cost of the wood pellets and sometimes hard to find. He also was unhappy with the fact it did not come close to heating his whole place like he had hoped. He said by the time you factor in the cost of the stove, pellets, etc., it just was not worth it.
His opinion anyways.
A good friend bought a pellet stove about three years ago and just replaced it with a wood stove last month. His complaints were similar to what I have read here. Cost of the wood pellets and sometimes hard to find. He also was unhappy with the fact it did not come close to heating his whole place like he had hoped. He said by the time you factor in the cost of the stove, pellets, etc., it just was not worth it.
His opinion anyways.
m1gunner
US Veteran
If you are going to make yourself dependant on a refined energy source, might as well get a large propane tank and a state of the art furnace.
I prefer to be able to fuel my fire with sweat and effort, or pay the local guy to cut and split. The cost of pellets goes up every year, and they do not do well if they get wet.
Suitable wood is available for free for 6 months out of the year, and a saw and axe is all the processing necessary for its prep for the fire.
I expect the economy and our supply system to get worse in the next few years, and I'd hate to see pellets become the next "rifle and pistol primer" availability casualty.
I prefer to be able to fuel my fire with sweat and effort, or pay the local guy to cut and split. The cost of pellets goes up every year, and they do not do well if they get wet.
Suitable wood is available for free for 6 months out of the year, and a saw and axe is all the processing necessary for its prep for the fire.
I expect the economy and our supply system to get worse in the next few years, and I'd hate to see pellets become the next "rifle and pistol primer" availability casualty.
ridewv
Member
It depends on your situation....
Not for me, I have plenty of available wood for my Jotul wood stove. I'd have to buy "pellets" and also rely on electricity for a pellet stove to operate.
However my co-worker had a home where he wanted to have a stove in his basement. He went with a pellet stove due to the chimney cost (much easier and cheaper for a pellet)
Hermann
Member
I think they are very nice to have, but I have a regular wood stove, so I need just a little firewood and a flame - no pellets, no electricity to get heat.
Of course you have to take care to get your firewood in time, so for me it is not a phonecall to get the firewood delivered, it is 3 weekends out in the woods to cut that stuff down and take it home. So my firewood gets me warm several times ...
Of course you have to take care to get your firewood in time, so for me it is not a phonecall to get the firewood delivered, it is 3 weekends out in the woods to cut that stuff down and take it home. So my firewood gets me warm several times ...
model10
Member
JUST YOU BEGTWOD FO R HEAT CJHEAPFOREEW000D F
model10
Member
I AGREE THAT WOOD OIS AGREZATS-SHOEW OOOOOOOOOOO
Jack Flash
Member
I feel another wood cutting thread comming on...
BarbC
Member
shovelwrench
Member
My dad had a small coal stove in his basement, pretty much heated the whole house on a 5-gallon bucket a day, but ashes, coal bin, coal dirt, and ash dust.
He got a Harmon pellet stove, Heats the house on a bag every two days, no dirt, or dust and only needs vacuumed out every couple weeks. He burns a palet of pellets a season.
He has natural gas as a primary heat (central air/ natural gas) but it hardly ever runs.
He got a Harmon pellet stove, Heats the house on a bag every two days, no dirt, or dust and only needs vacuumed out every couple weeks. He burns a palet of pellets a season.
He has natural gas as a primary heat (central air/ natural gas) but it hardly ever runs.
