Looking for a small and low maintenance pellet stove that would be used in a sunroom. Suggestions? Thanks!
If it were me I'd see where the maintenance/cleaning is done, and make sure it's not near the floor. Like on a pedestal.
The only thing I'd have an objection to is the 3 small ash traps that have to be cleaned. On the Hastings those were a PITA to access and clean (and the previous owner obviously had not). At the same time, I was already spoiled with the P61a so that probably affected my perception. I also prefer bottom feeding for the firepot instead of top feeding - but that is just my bias. For continuous use, it's going to get tiresome filling that 18# hopper all the time. So, it really depends on how you are planning on using the stove. As long as the pellet stove is for occasional use, or just while you are out in the sunroom, I would think it would be fine. I've heard that Cleaveland Ironworks stoves are not long lasting, but I don't have any personal experience. And who knows if the people who complain actually keep up on maintenance.
Are these the 3 small ash traps you are referring to? The unit is sold at menards and is their entry level pellet stove so yeah, it probably isn't long lasting. Bottom feeds all have augers to feed the pellets into firepots?
I highly recommend reviewing the manual for the stove prior to buying. I call them ash traps, they call them passageways. they are not what you have pictured Yes, that is correct.
Thanks bogieb The venting on the pellet stoves would be easier than the venting on a wood stove, that's why I'm considering one. The size of the sunroom will be 200 sq ft and shouldn't be that difficult to turn into a 4 season room.
I looked up the iron works mini, most people have said there decent stoves for the money. Biggest complaints I seen was it has to be cleaned daily and a full hopper only last about 10 hours. Deep cleaning was needed every 5-7 days. After years of having a pellet stove I just picked up a different one that won't need that much attention. I had a cab 50. It would hold lots of pellets, but the burn pot needed to be emptied every day and deep cleaned once a week in cold winter months. The stove also had to be shut down to perform these task.
I would recommend a Castle Serenity over the Cleveland, It has a bigger hopper and very simple to clean ( no hidden passages like Bogie is talking about ) And I can tell you from first hand experience that they stand behind their stoves. Castle | Serenity Pellet Stove
It does seem that a lot of people like the Serenity and I don't remember hearing about a lot of issues with those.
It seems that every review I've read recommends cleaning on a weekly basis. Isn't there anything on the market that can be used without such frequent cleaning intervals? Beginning to wonder if a mini split might be the way to go for the sunroom......
If the stove isn't running 24/7, 7 days a week, many of them only need cleaning every couple of weeks. The pellets burned can make a big difference too. And many times it depends on the stove install itself - 2 stoves of the same model in different houses may require different things. My P43 requires weekly cleaning under the burn pot, but my P61 doesn't. Other people say they almost never have to clean under the p43 burn pot. OTOH, my P43 almost never needs the fines box cleaned, and the P61a can fill up the fines box in a heartbeat (burning the same pellets). As for a more thorough cleaning, that can heavily rely on the pellets and the ash bin size. Manuals can't possibly cover all the variables that affect cleaning needs, so they default to weekly minimum maintenance. If you are looking for a basically no maintenance solution, a mini split might be the way to go. Or if you want ambiance, a gas/LP stove might be better (if you already have other gas appliances).
The stove would not be used 24/7 7 days a week. It would be in a west facing "sunroom". It will have a real roof tied into the house's roof system; not one of the window thypes roofs seen on some sunrooms. I have to be prepared for the snow load in the winter months. It will be used mostly during the warmer months. A small pellet stove would be best for evenings/mornings when things are cooler. A mini-split would be able to offer cooling for the afternoon solar gain.
