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.