pellet stove vs. wood stove

[charlz]

Pellet stove is not 'instant' heat. Takes a bit for it to get going and heat up enough for the blowers to kick in. As someone mentioned the 'fire' is more like a blast furnace. Mine has a fake log set which helps hide the flame a bit but I wouldn't mind if it had no glass at all

Nice thing with using a thermostat is you can use a programmable and set it to come on at certain times etc. Maybe you can figure out a 'remote' option so you can turn it on from the main house and then it will be warm before you even go out there

Either wood or pellets you will need to figure out how to circulate air to the other floor.

What about a/c in the summer? maybe one of those electric heater, a/c units in one is the way to go.

 

[MikeD74T]

I have a 2 story vacation/retirement house in northern NH, 1000 sq ft. Sees -30F to - 45F frequently. Well insulated. Heat with propane , Warm Mornings heater w/pilot light, on the first floor. basement stays about 50F, first & second about 68F. Air circulates to the second floor by gravity. Can't seem to turn it down any lower but don't care as it's nice to be able to walk into a warm building anytime day or night. Not cheap to burn propane but very reliable with or without electricity. Lost power for 70 hours this spring. Also have a wood stove in the basement that gets lit as soon as we arrive just to keep costs down, free wood on our acreage. May switch to oil for lower cost when I live there full time but will loose the reliability of the propane. Have friends with pellet stoves all have experienced unavailibility of fuel & loss of electricity.
Pluses/minuses:
Even ugly wood will burn in a wood stove, lower cost, needs feeding, lag time when starting in a cold soaked building.
Propane is reliable, minimal maintenance required, will run unattended as long as there's fuel, cost not unreasonable if you factor the absence of maintenance costs. MikeD74T

 

[charlz]

My furnace is propane but I run pellets for the lower cost. One thing I really like about propane is that it doesn't go bad, get wet etc. I don't have a backup generator but if I did I would have to think propane is the ideal fuel, it can sit for years just waiting to be used.

 

[scott_vt]

My furnace is propane but I run pellets for the lower cost. One thing I really like about propane is that it doesn't go bad, get wet etc. I don't have a backup generator but if I did I would have to think propane is the ideal fuel, it can sit for years just waiting to be used.

Mornin Charlz,
The propane is the ticket for me at my Vt home. Especially now that I own my own tank and can shop for the best price rather than be held hostage by one company ! The little stove in the backround heats the whole house, only about 1000 sq ft, quite comfortably in the coldest of weather sometimes going down to 30 below zero !

Sorry about the hats in the foreground !

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/photos/51071d1140526203-show-your-hats-829542-100_0052.jpg

 

[4sarge]

I have a multi fuel stove and currently either burn corn, wood pellets or a mix of the two. I have a very efficient propane furnace but installed this stove as a supplement to the LP gas. The LP gas is very expensive and in the 2 years that I've used the multi fuel stove, I have saved quite a bit and have the warmth of a parlor type stove in the open loft concept living area (log cabin)

Drawbacks: Pellet & corn costs are rising dramatically, and the need for a constant electrical (power outage) supply

I may install an outside wood burning furnace. I've burnt wood before and didn't want to again because it is a lot of work (wood heats you twice). There has been a move for regulation of the smoke from wood burners and government regulation/interference may be forthcoming

 

[SkyPup]

We use a Vermont Castings "Defiant" woodstove to heat up our 3,800 sq. ft. cabin.

 

[charlz]

Fuel comparison calculators like this one can help:

Fuel Cost Comparison Calculator

For me I couldn't go wood insert as I would have had to build a larger hearth which would mean cutting wood floors etc. Wood is just slightly cheaper than pellets in my area for million BTU.

My furnace is propane and requires electricity same as my pellet stove. For me burning pellets is 50% of the cost of propane. I have a 3000 sq ft house and if it gets cold enough the pellet stove can't quite keep up so I run the propane over the top of the pellet stove. (set the pellet thermostat high so it runs all the time and then set the propane to whatever you really want the room at).

I have thought about getting a small generator that could power the pellet stove in the event of a prolonged outage. We could also just set up cots in the shop which has a wood burning stove

 

[brande]

Pellet vs wood stoves are a matter of convenience, as far as I can tell.

Wood stove= lighting fire, stoking fire, feeding fire, cleaning fireplace or stove.


Pellet stove=automatic lighting of fire, cleaning of ash once yearly, fill stove as needed.

As long as you have electrical power, the pellet stove is easier.

Power outage advantafes go to the wood stove.

I have both.

Good Luck

brande

 

[hockeypuck]

I would go with pellet stove, especially if you do not cut your own wood. Who needs another chore. With a pellet stove you could even call in with a phone line or remote control and start it an half hour before you get there so the place will be nice and warm for you. Impossible to do that with a wood stove.

I have an outdoor wood furnace and I love it, but I also do not mind cutting 6 to 8 chords of wood each year.

Puck

 

[Bill Barrett]

Been in the HVAC business for 35 years, all I can say is insulate and seal to the max, smartly. My shop 50' x50' two story over 20' of it, in Illinois with-2 degree design temp, won't freeze with no heat unless it's below zero for couple days. If you want plumbing keep it on one inside wall, insulate that room too, you can't heat that area with a light bulb.