Toying with the pellet stove idea.

Looking to replace this propane heater. It’s in the kids play room, it is the only propane appliance we have so the money grubbing propane company really sticks it to us as far as price per gallon. Cost about a g to heat this room last winter.
Thinking about the castle serenity pellet stove. The room is really only used nights and weekends. Thought about the heat pump route but upfront cost is much more. And there is an exhaust pipe already there so....

My experience is only with wood heat please educate me.

 

Here is the pipe from outside

 

First, gas stoves and pellet stove cannot use the same venting, but you should be able to use the same pathway. While opinions vary, you will want to install an outside air access for a pellet stove. Otherwise you are using inside air for combustion and sucking cold air in via negative pressure. Cost. It is going to take a while to recover your cost of your investment from propane to pellets. you really have to get the cost of propane in your area and compare that to cost of pellets in your area. If new to pellet burning, get a decent stove that isn't fussy about pellet brands. Buying $300/ton pellets vs $200/ton pellets has a huge impact on your total cost. Pellet stove require power to run. So if you loose power, no heat unless you use a generator with clean power. Overall, cost to run a pellet stove varies from region to region just as all other heating does. My first pellet stove cost me about $2500 and required constant attention. My second stove was a bit over $4000 and is really simple to run and maintain.
A heat pump mini split is by far the most economical way to go aside from wood heat. Both heating and cooling and best price to operate. I like the heat from wood stove, but a pellet stove is the second best option for us.

 

Thanks for the reply. This will only be heating the porch. Main house is heated by wood with oil boiler backup. Propane is over 4 dollars a gallon here. It shouldn’t be a big deal to cut a hole for OAK. I’m not too concerned about power outage I’ll just close the door until it comes back.
The heat pump is very tempting, I don’t care for the look of the outside part and the pipes running up the wall.

 

Another thing to consider is heat safety. Generally the outside of a pellet stove stays fairly cool to the touch (except the glass and vent pipe)
Looks like you have little ones in that room. The top and sides of my stove get warm but not hot when running full out.

That corner location looks like a great place for a pellet stove. There are many to pick from. Go with a good local dealer for service and also check around and see what is available for pellets locally.

Not sure where in NH you are. You are gonna need 3-5 tons of pellets if you want it to run all season to supplement your main house. You need a place to store the pallets that is dry. And a way to handle them from retailer to you.

Also a pellet stove needs cleaning. About once a week for general upkeep. And 2 or 3 times a season it needs to get shutdown and really disassembled to get all the nooks and crannys clean.

Depending on how much space you are trying to heat I'd oversize the stove BTU wise. You can always turn it down.
Many newer pellet stoves will run on a thermostat which saves fuel and keeps things comfortable.
---Nailer---

 

Noticed you are in NH, Have you checked with Fieldings for a propane price? I'm locked in at $2.40/gallon. But I have other uses for propane. Another option is to own your own tank. You would be surprised how much better you can do if you own your own tank.

 

bogieb got a better price on propane last year, IIRC. Maybe she can chime in on that, since she's in New Hampster too.

 

I have called everybody that delivers to my area because we only use a few hundred gallons a year they stick it to you. Pure horse manure!

 

Looks like a prefect set up for a pellet burner much easier and cleaner than wood and since you are only using that area nights and weekends and as nailer said you can run them from a stat turning down when not needed saving fuel .
Welcome to the pellet side my friend

 

Paging Rich250

 

Even if your stove, venting, and a few tons of pellets comes in @ 2k - 2,200, (doable if you DIY the venting), you're about halfway to recouping costs.

Did some quick math: I'd expect 3-400 / yr. savings with (pellets & electric costs to operate) vs. Propane each year after, based on 2 tons / year, if here.

We displace 1,100 gals. avg. of #2 fuel oil w/ the pellet stove per yr. as a primary heat source, which is approx. $1,000 savings / yr. w/ 4.5 tons of pellets, after electric costs are factored in.

 

He would probabaly only need a ton or two a year if he is only heating the room on nights and weekends.

 

What are the dimensions of that room? The Serenity generally gets good reviews. But since you are attempting to only heat one room, i would make sure to get a stove that you can turn on and off with a programmable thermostat.

It looks like the Serenity may have a built in Thermostat that would work well for you.

 

Exactly what I was thinking

 

I have a 500gall rental tank, and I am locked in at $1.65 a gallon for two years. I locked in when I first bought the house, and the previous owners only used wood to supplement. I would definitely call around first and get some propane prices before making a choice. Tell them you have your own tank and see what they say. Might make better sense financially to stay with propane vs buying pellets.

I am kicking around the idea of a pellet stove vs a small wood stove for my basement room, but the more I think about it, the more free firewood makes more sense to me.

 

Fully agree, free / owner-processed firewood will always win, vs. pellets. Good idea about doing some calling around / going with what makes the most financial sense. There may even be a wood stove solution that works there, the newer Catalytic stoves w/ room blower can get up to temp. pretty quick, so I've been told. Might be worth a look.

 

Hi Warner! While we love our pellet stove....We have a heat pump mini split and a set up just like yours.
So: Pros and Cons, the pipes on the outside can be Ugly! But can be hidden with Slim Duct, comes in colours to match your exterior siding.
I’m guessing, but the purchase and install of the mini split shouldn’t be any more than the cost of a quality pellet stove. Ultimately you want the maximum dependability and temperature capability and for that (either way) requires some cash/finance outlay.
While the pellet stove would work fine, you are creating a lot more work!!!
Your already heating the rest of the house with wood (Fine) but now it’s:
Getting Pellets, stacking Pellets
Cleaning, adjusting, fiddling and then deeper cleaning, fine tuning and just when you think it’s perfect.....then you start wondering, what if I........should I, could I???
Sometimes you might even YELL!
All the stuff that you’ve done with your wood stove does not come close to a pellet stove. Speaking only for myself here, I have come to accept the pros and cons of a pellet stove and while my wife and I love it, it’s a work/hobby that I love.
Bottom line, simplify your life for this one small room, don’t complicate it!, Good Luck, Bill

 

All very true, very good advice. Like you, we really enjoy the heat from pellets. I my opinion, next best thing to cord wood. A good stove with a stat is the best way to go.

 

yes sir