Pellet Stove Recommendations

[SAB1]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

They are NOT cheap. If you go on Harmon's web site they have the MSRP of their stoves clearly posted. Most places that sell them - the price is the price. For example I was looking at a Absolute 43 cast iron pellet stove with a porcelain enamel finish (that costs extra) out the door the price just over $4800. OUCH! Base stove is about $4200. The P series stoves are cheaper but I like having a cast iron stove and a more traditional look.

Then again when I bought my Harmon wood stove it was pretty expensive too but I do love it. Pellets may be easy but I can't stand listening to a fan running constantly and I'll never get the same kind of heat out of pellets nor the same ambiance as nothing is like a real wood fire. So I don't know - I may not be so quick to stop burning wood.

Definitely nice ambience and heat from the wood stove for sure. The pellet stove though is much cleaner, less work than wood and can easily burn a couple days un attended with a hopper extension. Cheaper than propane...

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by SAB1

Definitely nice ambience and heat from the wood stove for sure. The pellet stove though is much cleaner, less work than wood and can easily burn a couple days un attended with a hopper extension. Cheaper than propane...

I've yet to hear a pellet stove quiet enough to make me want it in my living space. Add the routine maintenance and repairs, and I'd never own one.

My wood stoves will last most of my life with close to zero maintenance. Cleanup is every few weeks for ten minutes, and it's silent, usable in power outages, pretty, and smells nice.

The differences come in work to prepare, and cost of, fuel. The day I have to buy wood consistently (I've had to buy one $50 truckload in the last 15 years) is the day I trade my wood stove in for a gas/propane fireplace.

That being said, in response to the OP, I've heard great things about Harmon, and my brother had great luck with his Quadra-Fire. The latter makes some real nice looking higher-end models, too (as opposed to the black boxes).

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[Garcia]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

I've yet to hear a pellet stove quiet enough to make me want it in my living space. Add the routine maintenance and repairs, and I'd never own one.

My wood stoves will last most of my life with close to zero maintenance. Cleanup is every few weeks for ten minutes, and it's silent, usable in power outages, pretty, and smells nice.

The differences come in work to prepare, and cost of, fuel. The day I have to buy wood consistently (I've had to buy one $50 truckload in the last 15 years) is the day I trade my wood stove in for a gas/propane fireplace.

That being said, in response to the OP, I've heard great things about Harmon, and my brother had great luck with his Quadra-Fire. The latter makes some real nice looking higher-end models, too (as opposed to the black boxes).

Sent from my SM-G950U using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

I felt the same way until I ended up with a Quadra-fire pellet stove - I love it. When I built my house I wanted a wood stove in the family room, but the high ceiling prevented it; I didn't like the way the pipe would have run. The pellet stove is vented horizontally and then vertically which allows it to be hidden. The noise is minimal and simply gets lost in the normal sounds of my house. I love being able to turn it on anytime, get the warmth and ambience of a fire, and have it turn itself off. I also have a Woodstock soapstone wood stove at the other end of my house, which I also love. The two complement each other - best of both worlds.

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by SAB1

Definitely nice ambience and heat from the wood stove for sure. The pellet stove though is much cleaner, less work than wood and can easily burn a couple days un attended with a hopper extension. Cheaper than propane...

Can't argue that - there are trade offs. Pretty much anything is cheaper than propane!