Question regarding a pellet stove for 1000 sqft?

I am looking to put mini-splits in the east end of our house. Three zones off one compressor. If that fails, I'd need to put another heat source into the family room. Previously we had the wood stove in there. That wood stove is in our living room now. The earliest I'd be able to get the mini-splits installed is mid-December. I have a small electric heater that gets the job done if I know that the minis are going in. If they are not going in, then I'd want something more permanent.

Any recommendations on a pellet stove in the event the mini-splits fall through?




Jason from RI

 

I am a big believer in a big hopper even if you don't need to heat a large space. The longer you can go without filling the better.

 

For that size, a P43 would do nicely. Since you have the wood stove in another part of the house, I don't think you really need to go any bigger (like a P61 or P68). I'm a big believer in making sure you get something with a large hopper (or at least get a stove that you can place an extension on the hopper - many stoves you can't), as well as a large ash pan. But, being in the family room, you may want something more aesthetically pleasing (I'm fine with how my stoves look), in which case Harman also has stoves that are more fancy looking. Those have smaller hoppers and ash pans, but that is pretty much the nature of that style in any brand.

Availability may be an issue. Many people are turning to pellet stoves again with other fuel options rising in cost. And of course there is cost. A P43 is not cheap, but should be a rock solid performer. I have never been disappointed in either of my Harmans. However, there are cheaper stoves out there that many people have enjoyed for years or you may be able to find a good buy on CL (if you are handy).

 

Don't forget FaceBook Marketplace too. I see pellet stoves listed locally there, and I'm in NC.