Pellet Stoves

[LastSTRAW]

I am thinking about taking my woodstove out of our house in the city and moving it to our farm house in the country.

It is much easier to get wood out there and there is lots of scrap to burn. I thought I would get a pellet stove for the wife in the city as it would be a lot easier to start and maintain.

Does anyone have any experience with pellet stoves?

Right now a 40lb bag of wood pellets is $5.00 so I am wondering if it would cost more to heat the house during the winter with pellets or wood. If it is only slightly more for pellets it might be worth it to avoid the hassle of splitting, stacking and lugging wood in the winter.

Any advice is welcome.

 

[5030]

Don't know if your primary fuel source is NG or LPG or fuel oil but you need to take the average btu per pound of pellets you are looking at (it's on the bag), multiply by the bag weight (usually 40 pounds) and take that figure and compare it to the cost per thousand BTU's of the fuel you now use.

Wood pellets are cheaper than corn, fuel oil and LP per thousand BTU's here in Michigan but more expensive than NG.

A pellet stove is almost as much work as a woodstove from the maintenance aspect and the fueling aspect and the cost of venting is pretty steep, however it is (pellet stoves) more urban friendly.

 

[LastSTRAW]

Thanks. I am currently on electric with the woodstove and LP fireplace to assist. I try to use the woodstove as often as I can. Unfortunately there is no NG in our neighbourhood.

Does a pellet stove need different venting than a woodstove chimney? If so that's enough to keep me with what I've got.

 

[tractordog]

Venting is not a problem, last house the pellet stove guy ran a pipe about five feet up the chimney, with a blocking piece of sheet metal in the chimney.

The new house I am in, already had a simple double walled pipe out the side of the house. The only problem I have with it is when you lose power there is not enough natural draft and you get a little smoke.

 

[whistlepig]

Our pellet stove is vented straight out through the wall. Other than cleaning the fire box every 24 hours ours doesn't require that much maintenance. Pellets are sure a lot easier than cutting and splitting wood. Pellets are going for $199.99 a ton around here right now. I do like the pellet stove.

 

[Willl]

Been a pellet convert for 10 years, I'll never go back.

We could argue pluses and minuses all day long.

All depends on your situation.

 

[Tollster]

Happy with my Harmon P61, I burn 5 tons a winter, get em off season when they are a little cheaper. The ash pan requires once a month or more clean out., very effecient and hassle free. They use convention, with 3 knobs, fan speed, auger speed, and temperture control. They only thing that I don't care for after burning wood for a long time is "no pwer, no heat". Unless you have clean generator power.

I have had mime since 04 and have not had to replace a thing. The glass get abit dirty, I scrape it with a razor, then use Muriatic Acid on a shop paper towel for easy cleaning, then wipe it down with windex. Also use small pieces of fire starter log and propane torch to start the pellet stove after a cleaning, which is about 3 times over the course of 5 tons.

 

[brokenknee]

Here is one of many cost comparison calculators. Wood for me is by far the cheapest even if I have to pay $70 a loggers cord.

I can get pellets for about $180 a ton on sale. I have thought about getting one for when I am away so the wife can stay warm without putting us in the poor house to the electric company.

Pellet Fuels Institute - Compare Fuel Costs

 

[whistlepig]

Here is one of many cost comparison calculators. Wood for me is by far the cheapest even if I have to pay $70 a loggers cord.

I can get pellets for about $180 a ton on sale. I have thought about getting one for when I am away so the wife can stay warm without putting us in the poor house to the electric company.

Pellet Fuels Institute - Compare Fuel Costs

Thanks for the link brokenknee. This one of the best comparisons that I have seen. I do know that wood is cheaper. It's a tradeoff I guess. With pellets I am paying a bit more for the convenience.

 

[brokenknee]

Thanks for the link brokenknee. This one of the best comparisons that I have seen. I do know that wood is cheaper. It's a tradeoff I guess. With pellets I am paying a bit more for the convenience.

Your welcome.

I am also currently weighing in all my options for an alternative heat source. I do have an old wood furnace now that I use. I am looking to upgrade that either with the newer EPA wood furnace or an out door wood boiler. Still thinking of adding a pellet stove for the convenience along with the wood furnace or boiler.

 

[5030]

Thanks. I am currently on electric with the woodstove and LP fireplace to assist. I try to use the woodstove as often as I can. Unfortunately there is no NG in our neighbourhood.

Does a pellet stove need different venting than a woodstove chimney? If so that's enough to keep me with what I've got.

If you read the next post down.... No. If you tell your insurance carrier or your local fire inspector that, they'll shut you down or pull your policy.....

YES, you need specialized venting, a stainless inner pipe with an air gap and a galvalume ooter pipe and the sections twist lock together. Normal pellet vent is 3" inside diameter and long runs need 4" for restriction issues.

You need a cleanout tee down fron the stove outlet to access the inside of the venting and the venting needs to be pull apart every year to clean it too.

Pellet stoves need regular removal of fly ash from the stove and the venting system because they are negative draft, that is, the combustion is controlled entirely by the draft inducing fan thats controlled by the on board computer. The draft rate controls the output. Pellet combustion produces fine ash that has to be removed, regularly.

You can't use a masonry chimmney to vent a pellet stove, it must vent with the proper diameter venting and the vent must be installed in accordance with National fire codes and that includes Canada.

I suggest you consult a licensed installer or stop by a retail store that specialized in pellet stoves or solid fuel appliances and talk to them beforehand.

Don't take comments on here as gospel because they aren't and it's your home and your life. Be safe, not foolish.

 

[mbohuntr]

We heat exclusively w/ pellets. Had a Quadrafire, and a Vulcan in other houses and didn't like em. They needed frequent cleanings, and the Quadrafire broke down frequently.

Our present home is 2400 sq ft, with the stove in the finished basement. It is a OLD bottom feed Englander. We shut it off twice a month for cleaning, oiling, and vacuuming. Other than that it runs 24/7 from late October till April. We burn around 3 1/2 tons / year. The propane boiler might kick on if it gets below zero, and we didn't turn the feed rate up to compensate.

The bottom feeder is immune to clinkers and buildup as it will force the crud out of the pot by pushing more pellets into it. As you can tell we like it a lot!

The others are right. have it installed by a pro and tell the insurance co. That way your covered if something happens.

 

[Combustix]

Switch to a pellet stove a few years ago and love it. Yes you gotta do a little maintenance, but it is not that hard. Ran the the exhaust right out the side of the house, did the install myself. I use a little over a ton a year to heat my house just a touch over $200. I am thinking of replacing my other furnace which is propane with a pellet furnace.

 

[Ken45101]

We bought a pellet stove (Harman Advance) some years ago. BIG MISTAKE, big waste of money.

Two years later, we bought a good wood stove. Much, much better. There is no comparison in the quality of the heat produced from the wood stove vs. the pellet stove. I have actually felt chilly sitting five feet from the pellet stove.

We only use the pellet stove now for days when it's too warm to run the wood stove.

A cord of hardwood weighs 3-4000#. In most places you can buy that for under $200. A ton of pellets weighs 2000# and costs $200-250 in most places. So you get twice as much weight (and heat) from a cord of wood.

"Have it installed by a dealer". Yeah right The Harman dealer neither followed code nor Harman's instructions. They won't do anything about correcting it, and all Harman will do is say they will talk to the dealer, which does nothing.

Our particular model is a difficult and filthy job to properly clean.

The other issue is that most pellet stove users have found pellet quality to be very variable and a lot of bad quality in recent years. Even brands that were very good in the past are now hit and miss. And in general the prices have gone up.

The one very positive aspect of a pellet stove is the thermostatic control on the more expensive models. It is nice to just set the temperature and have it come on and off as needed.

Ken

 

[5030]

Economy is predicated on location and fuel supply. If you have the wood and ir's available at a lowers cost, then the answer is simple.

Far as installation is concerned, there have been many bad installs so it's always a good idea to check references prior to comitting to any dealer or install.

I always buy pellets that are certified as 'Premium Peller Fuel' as predicated by the Pellet Fuels Institute and have the seal affixed. However, because pellets are made from scrap wood products there is always the chance of mixed quality, even in one bag.

I suppose you never got cordwood that was less than perfect....right....:laughing:

I heated with wood for many years simply because the woodlot was out back and readily available. I didn't like the mess, the bugs, hauling it in the house or hauling out ashes (woodstoves make a lot of ashes) plus they are hard to regulate unless it's a central system.

Pellet stoves on the other hand are much less intensive as far as maintaing them, no bugs and little mess.

However, I have a multi-fuel unit so I can combust anything pelletized. My usual fuel is corn but corn prices are too high (per BTU of fuel used versus cost) so I'm running pellets this year which are less than propane which is my only other alternative.

They aren't for everyone (Pellet stoves or multi-fuel appliances) but when it's a good fit, why not.

 

[5030]

Switch to a pellet stove a few years ago and love it. Yes you gotta do a little maintenance, but it is not that hard. Ran the the exhaust right out the side of the house, did the install myself. I use a little over a ton a year to heat my house just a touch over $200. I am thinking of replacing my other furnace which is propane with a pellet furnace.

A straight out exhaust is simple. It becomes complicated when it's not. My unit is in a corner in the great room so I had a 45 right off the coupler nipple on the appliance, a straight 3 foot run through the wall thimble, then a clean out TEE and a vertical run outside of 15 feet with another 45 and short straight and 45 and the upright and vent cap. I went 4" from the cleanout TEE upwatd as specified in the owmers manual with the appliance (I oftentimes wonder if anyone reads the manuals.....).

My intake is next to the cleanout TEE and feeds the appliance through a foil corrugated 2" pipe.

I run combustion air in from outside as well. Why use heated room air to provide combustion air.

I've been roasting pellets, corn, cherry pits and wheat for over 16 years now and it's all been good.

 

[LastSTRAW]

Thank you everyone for the detailed replies. It is not as easy as I first thought.

I think we will wait a bit before the install. After replacing all the windows in the house this year (4 months later I only have to replace the trim on the last two) I don't need another project. My current woodstove will do for now. Maybe I will buy a small wood stove for the farm and wait until I have more time to do a pellet stove install.

 

[5030]

If you have the wood and it's plentiful and inexpensive, stick with it.

 

[Marty38]

Ive been using both a pellet stove (7 years ) and a wood stove to heat. The wood is free , bonus, I enjoy harvesting , but of course messy. I mostly burn wood on weekends when I can tend it , definitely not a new efficient model. The pellet stove has been incrediblely stable heating source. To know what your heating costs are for a New England winter ahead of time is a major relief

 

[Marty38]

Due to living in a log home and not wanting to butcher a wall , I've customized and insulated , thimbled, double insulated vent threw a window. Not up to code worthy , but safe , and seasonal. Complete with duct tape seal.