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  #1  
Old 11-26-2012, 08:53 PM
Inna-propriate-da-vida
 
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Pellet stove - anyone have one?

Swapping out a woodstove for a pellet burner. Just waiting for the chimney liner to show up before I make the change.

Anyone here have experience burning pellets or other biomass fuels?

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  #2  
Old 11-26-2012, 08:59 PM
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I used a rice coal stoker stove. I loved it.
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Old 11-26-2012, 09:10 PM
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Do you have a source for the pellets?
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Old 11-26-2012, 09:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by engatwork View Post
Do you have a source for the pellets?
Walmart!
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Old 11-26-2012, 09:17 PM
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Originally Posted by engatwork View Post
Do you have a source for the pellets?
Not yet. You got some pine straw pellets?

Lowe's TSC, or HD.... Everything else around here seems like boutique pellet$...
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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

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Old 11-26-2012, 09:18 PM
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what prompted the switch?
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Old 11-26-2012, 09:21 PM
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You would not have to pelletize the pine straw but it would burn fast.

Pellets are cheaper than firewood? I have a lot of firewood that thankfully, I don't have to pay for other than my labor and running a chain saw/log splitter.
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Old 11-26-2012, 09:25 PM
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here is a cool little comparison calculator just change the prices accordingly.

Fuel Comparison Calculator for Home Heating
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  #9  
Old 11-26-2012, 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by daveuz View Post
what prompted the switch?
If all goes well, we will be moving and our current house becoming a rental.
Didn't want to leave a woodstove..... but also didn't want to leave our tenants at the mercy of electric heat only either.
Thought it was a good compromise.
I have one month to install it and figure out how it works best.
I also bought one for the fireplace of the new house, so I will have one to play with too.
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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif
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  #10  
Old 11-26-2012, 09:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by engatwork View Post
You would not have to pelletize the pine straw but it would burn fast.

Pellets are cheaper than firewood? I have a lot of firewood that thankfully, I don't have to pay for other than my labor and running a chain saw/log splitter.
Wood is still cheaper up here. I typically can buy cords between 140~175.
Pellets are around 210~265 a ton. All mixed hard/softwood.
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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif
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  #11  
Old 11-26-2012, 10:09 PM
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My friend has a pellet stove and really likes it though it is his first "alternative heat" appliance. I think you will be happy with the ease of use.

It won't put out the heat of a woodstove and be sure to keep the pellets dry.

I went from burning wood to coal and really would never go back. Coal burns alot hotter then pellets and is fairly cheap here in NY. If you ever get a chance to check out a coal stove for your place take a look.
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Old 11-27-2012, 07:20 AM
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I lived in an old frame house one time that had a coal stove. It was one of the best ways of heating I have ever had the experience of using. Put a baseball sized piece of coal in it and it would keep the house warm all night. Only problem with it was finding a place to purchase the coal. Had to get it from a place in Atlanta. I would buy a grocery bag at a time.
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  #13  
Old 11-27-2012, 10:57 AM
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Wood Pellet grill

I bought a Traegar grill this summer. It uses wood pellets and I love it for cooking. The 2 things I really like are the flavor added and the "no waste" --- when you get finished cooking, turn it off and the only fuel wasted are the very small amount of pellets that are still on fire in the combustion chamber.

I seriously doubt I will ever own another charcoal or gas grill in the future.
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  #14  
Old 11-27-2012, 11:15 AM
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I've had a pellet stove since 1995. Prior to that, I burned anthracite coal. The problem with coal is getting rid of the ash. It's about 8% by weight, but closer to 50% by volume. When I saw my first pellet stove, that was the end of the coal.

The first stove was a Whitfield Quest, which in the 12 years I had it, worked quite well. When I moved to PA, I bought a Harman P68, which is in a whole different league. It is fully automatic, and due to its burner system, can burn any grade of pellet. I empty the ashes after 25-30 bags of fuel, depending on the fuel. All maintenance can be performed without moving the stove. Pellets here sell for around $200/ton, and that's for good hardwood, not the trash that's made directly from trees.
IMO, the best pellets come from hardwood floor manufacturers, such as Hamers or Pennwood.

If you have a stove that drops fuel onto a grate, the quality of the fuel is important. The Harman feeds fuel from the bottom, and since it's not using a grate, the quality of the fuel or its tendency to clinker is not that important. Before committing to a quantity of fuel, buy a couple of bags and try it out. I've made that mistake once (or twice).
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  #15  
Old 11-27-2012, 07:53 PM
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The variety of pellets out there is somewhat daunting, as are the reviews which seem to be all over the place.
Some people love the softwood, some say only hard.... Others burn cherry pits and corn..
Seems like it will be kind of fun to play around with.

Found a place not too far from home which carries a bunch of different pellets, and am going to experiment with a few bags of different composition to gauge the difference.

Have actually been considering buying some anthracite coal to augment the wood fire. Seems like tossing some of that into the wood burner at night could really help hold heat in the house.

I decided to go with Quadrafire stoves. Santa Fe insert and a free standing for the other house. Seems like they are very well regarded, as are Harmon. Other than those two brands, the reviews and descriptions get pretty scattered.

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif
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