Questioning decision to buy Drolet Eco-65, Opinions needed

After 6 months of research, our better decision is the Drolet Eco-65!! Your input and experience was priceless in narrowing down the possibilities. The final contestants were outlined quite nicely for me, thank you @DexterDay. I looked at all 4 stoves, but the logistics of getting it shipped here led me to the Drolet.

I am ready to pull the trigger at Northern Tool for it, 3% cashback and $20 coupon code with reasonable shipping......But I need more info on the vent pipe.

If I understand the Eco-65 manual correctly I will have to vent from the bottom rear, come up the back of the stove, then use elbows to come back to the existing wood stove pipe in the ceiling. If I pull it out for a straight run through the existing pipe it will block our walking area. (please see post #12 in this thread)

Thanks,

 

That pic shows like a 2 or 3 foot length of pipe. You don't need that..

You only need a 90° off the back of the stove and then go straight up to your Class A and use the reducer.

The one thing I would do, is use 4" pellet vent and not 3". I believe the Drolet calls for 4" anyway (my Enerzone does and it's made by the same company).

Terrible pic, but you get the idea. A stove can sit close to a wall or corner.

 

I read that wrong.. My apologies.

Of you do go straight up it will be in the way?

Seems like you have room, but you can angle the stove as well. It does not have to face out in that room. Angle it to blow where you want the heat and to give you the most room..

The Drolet is a great unit (Harman is as well) and the duct option is great. If my Pellet furnace ever fails? I will buy a Enerzone Euromax or Drolet Eco -65 to replace it.

 

They have never burned a Pellet stove and just said they were gonna store 8 ton? If they are burning a BK insert? I doubt they use more than 4? Unless they rely more on the pellet stove. But a house that big, in Co? If using pellets only should be over 4 to 5 ton.

Most I used was 4.5 ton and heating just under 2,200 sq.

 

That 4.5 ton was pellet only and a Quad CB 1200. I use wood now and I used 3 ton last season (bad winter) and under 2 ton the 2 previous winters). And I have updated my Pellet stove upstairs to an Enerzone and a furnace downstairs. I only run one or the other based on outside temp (above 30° it's the Enerzone. Below 30° it's the Fahrenheit)

 

Thank you! Can you help me better estimate on how many tons we will need? Last year we burned ~~8 cords of wood and I ran 4 electric radiator space heaters, $350 per month electricity bill for 8 months... (along with electric blankets, one in every room lol). I am hoping to cut my electric bill with this pellet stove. I don't want to spend more on pellets if we don't need them

I didn't mean to confuse anyone, I WAS a Colorado native but have since moved to the high plains in Wyoming. 7500 ft and the most wicked winds I have ever seen, only here they are sustained, not just gusts. We do not have oppressive humidity here like winters on the coasts or summers in the southern states, but we do live on a lake that surrounds the north and south ends of home.

Also, any news on rumors I read in late spring that about a pellet shortage? Europe using them more? I would be in big trouble healthwise if we ran out of pellets, so I need to be prepared.

I appreciate any advice,

Thanks

 

I've burned pellets since 1999 and have seen 2 shortages and 2 skinny season's so far. A shortage usually accrues in the midst of winter. And mainly effects the users that purchase as they go or the users that can't store large quantities.

So if you have plenty of storage and can stash more than you need in a dry location? This should be a none issue if you plan ahead and store more than you use in a season Purchase your supply during the off season or as early as possible in the beginning of the season. Try to get more than you need and you will avoid any mid to late season rush to add to your stash. Buying them when others aren't usually means you will not have an issues getting them. Waiting for the seasons rush will be when times get lean and supplies get low,

Buying early can also have other benefits? Usually pellet suppliers have spring specials that can help save a little $$$. Pellet prices will usually climb as the season goes on and as the supplies get low. At least in New England region and possibly other regions as well.

As for what amount of pellets you may need? We can get you close, But variables may effect it. I would look at some fuel calculators. See what your last seasons total of wood and electric convert into wood pellets and be sure to add a ton or two as insurance to be sure you'll make the season. If storage is not a problem and you have some extra cash? Add even more JIC.

 

8 tons or more IMHO. 8 cords of wood is pretty close to 6 tons of pellets(I like the 1.5 cords to 1 ton rule) . Its the electric usage that could be the variable. I'd get at least another 2 tons if not more for that. Of coarse adding insulation(pink pellets) should reduce the usuage. But having more the first season doesn't hurt unless your on a budget.

My average wood usage previous to pellets was 7 cords. I got 5 ton the first season and I had very few left in the last stack. IIRC it was around 10 bags or so.

2 seasons or more even??? I got me some vintage Hamers from the 2009 season and some Cubex from the 2010 season. All be just fine in my humid basement. Likely to go a few more as I can't afford to replace the high dollar stuff anytime soon. Saving them for the super cold spells!!

 

Thanks J! I thoroughly confused myself googling calculators this morning. 1.5/1, 1/1, and 1/1.5. There difference here is pine vs hardwood and all the calculators I found were from the east and used hardwood..... I'd like to get my total BTU's and work backwards to determine pallets but like you mentioned my space heaters are a variable.....As well as I didn't move up here till Mid Oct when winter was already in full swing. My e- bill has fallen by almost half since June with the e- heaters off, or $1500 per year.

The wood calculators resulted from 5+ pallets to 12 pallets not including my space heaters, so I am leaning towards 8 pallets. We have to room to store them and the means to buy them. I plan on buying additional shrink wrap to ensure the unrelenting wind here that WILL penetrate the pole barn and carry dust and ice pellets with it doesn't wet them. Then we will tarp the pallets. It still sounds easier than splitting and bringing wood! If we have extra pellets they will stay sealed til next season.

I am only a few hours from the Rocky Mountain Pellet factory so that along with your response to a shortage, I am not going worry about it. We still have the Blaze King and the e- heaters IF we run out and IF there is a shortage.

Thanks for your time,

 

Awe, Thanks Savemoney I know alot of things on alot of subjects but I am green to pellet stoves. All the advice here is invaluable! And I feel welcomed.

We have addressed and fixed the worst offenders for heat loss along with many minor heat loss issues. Exterior gaps spray foamed, then insulation between the studs, and in the process of drywall with a great contractor that is overbooked...So that will take longer. This particular room, my main room, is a handyman's special, though a handyman from the depression era that used what he could find resulting in exterior & interior gaps, and poor insulation. We replaced two leaky windows (serious heat loss offenders! If the heat was not leaking out, the wind was blowing freezing air with ice and dust crytals!!!) with a 16' triple pane slider door on the south wall. Easy decision, for the meadow, mountain and lake view and the passive solar gain! I'd like to spray foam insulate under the floor but the clearance is only a few inches from the ground, and its not the budget anyway. We will caulk and seal any leaks in floor decking and pergo over the top. I'd like to add 1/8" iso under the pergo but I worry the tongue and groove snap system it uses will crack and buckle under the weight of the pellet stove or other heavy objects?......

Next summer, (the summers are short here), we will repeat this process in remainder of the house which is much better shape. It is fortunate that 2 of the 3 main entries to this home are already double entries They help with dogs as well as cats! Next summer I may have the attic in the "main room" doubled up with blown insulation over the existing roll insulation, we will see how this winter works out.

I researched the "home audit" at energy.gov and we have the major bases covered, thank you for the tip! (though I am not switching out light fixtures haha). We have all new appliances ready to install for our new kitchen, they are all 2014 so will be energy efficient, and FANTASTIC electrician that has rewired most of the house for safety, as well as handle my e- load......apparently I am an electricity pig? hog? too!

Thanks for your time savemoney,

 

Thank you DexterDay,

Yes it will be straight up all the way through the roof. I need the heat the most and will be towards the west side of the kitch island most of the day. Any ideas? Might a few elbows work? I think the NE corner would be an ideal place for it but again, that is not in the budget...What do you think?

I apologize for the drawing, my scale is packed up with the rest of our belongings during the remodel, but its darn close to accurate! This remodel is far from done but this should the final outcome with the exception of minor changes.

 

hmm try drop and drag

 

You know you can Direct vent with these stoves?

You can do a corner install with minimal amount of Pellet vent?

What is the distance between those 2 windows? If it's 6' then you could go right in the mid point of the windows? Unless it's over a porch (I didn't go back and read if there was)? Or go up one foot above the windows and then a 90° and out?

Or a corner install? And put it straight out the wall?

You don't have to use the existing Class A wood stove flue. It would probably be cheaper in any type of install (corner or otherwise) to just use pellet vent all the way out?

My phone won't open the file, once it's downloaded. So I will look at it in a bit on the iPad or PC.