farthest you've driven for pellet stuff

Ok, so I am crazy. Crap.

Anyone used U-ship? The place that has the furnace has agreed to put it on a pallet and help ship it. Thoughts?

 

I think that's a big chance you would be taking buying that site unseen unless you would be getting it for a killer price. Is that thing in a basement and hooked up yet?

 

A heating and cooling place has it. It's not hooked up, but it's cleaned up and ready to go. Price is fair, but not killer.

 

I would go get it, Make a weekend out of it!

 

Figure out some rough numbers for mileage there and back, and what the gas would cost vs having it shipped. At least if you get it yourself, you'd be able to check it out firsthand and ask questions, etc.

 

I'd love too, but my work schedule sucks for out of town stuff. I work reasonable hours during the week, but I'm on call a lot, and 50% of the time on the weekends. Can't leave town on call, so half my weekends are shot already, and wifey and kids and rest of family torpedo the other 50% of the weekends. Although, we went to Saugatauck (sp?) a few years ago, and really enjoyed it. Maybe I can wrangle an extra day off from work and check it out.

The furnace is in 343's territory, and he's vouched for the dealer as being a good guy. Might just have to pull the trigger and hope for the best.

 

They are a good dealer. About 14 miles from me. I've bought several tons of pellets from them. They've been in business for at least 5 years, maybe more.

I sent you a PM - I'll be back in town next weekend and have to drive right by their place next Monday (the 10th) on my way to a customer just north of them. If you haven't pulled the trigger yet I'd be willing to stop in and give it a once over.

 

Told 'em I'd take it. Pending inspection by a very kind and generous forum member that lives in the area. Thanks a ton 343amc!! I owe you one my friend.

 

Officially bought the furnace today! A HUGE thank you to 343amc, who was kind enough to stop by and confirm that it worked as advertised. Probably going to make a weekend out of it with the Mrs. and enjoy the trip, provided we can make our schedules work out.

I'm really really looking forward to a self igniting furnace, especially one that has the power to heat the house by itself. If all goes well, I should be able to sell the SCF and the CPM. Looking at adding an addition onto the house in the future, and hopefully have a spot for wood burner there for back up and power outages, etc, but that's another thread for another day.

 

Glad you got it. It looked to be in good shape. I will say that watching that critter self ignite made me wish my furnace has that capability.

Congrats on the purchase!

 

I think back to nights when I spent the first 20 minutes home from work just getting the SCF going...can't wait to hook up my Skytech 3301P thermostat and let it go to work.

 

Thanks Dex, I'm really excited to get it. I'm NOT really excited to drag it down the stairs and drag the SCF back up the stairs.... Good thing I've been procrastinating on getting the oak treads on the basement stairs.

I owe 343 a big steak and some blue smoothies at some point. We'll have to figure out a way to make it happen.

 

The only thing you owe me is pics of it installed and running. Happy to have put my eyes on it for you.

I can sympathize with the up and down the stairs part. I had the Fahrenheit wedged at the bottom of my stairs and had to get creative with floor jacks and wood scraps to get it off the landing. I don't know how I'd ever get it out of the basement. It's most likely going to be a permanent fixture in the house for eternity, working or not.

 

Dex - I'll let you know when I get the new furnace home. I'd rather not have to do the song and dance number associated with selling stuff on Craigslist. Took two weeks to get rid of my old table saw with people not showing up, etc.

I'll tell you now though...it burned corn very well for me. Good heat, and very clean burn. Only difficult part was getting the corn ignited, then it was off to the races. Pellets burned well too, but needed more tending. With ashy Somersets, the burnpot needed dumped every 8-12 hours when burning on high. It was happier burning softwoods or bedding pellets. It got slightly annoying having to watch the pot more closely with the Sets. If they are retired, and home all the time, it's probably not as big of a deal. I'm regularly gone for 12+ hours on thursdays, and the pot was pretty full when I got home sometimes. If he can get corn, and handle it ok, that might be a better option, if the cost of the multifuel vent doesn't scare him away. I had a longer run, and the venting cost me $600 iirc.

 

Ashy Somerset s...that doesn't sound normal!

 

about 3 miles to my shop