Pellet Stove

[Wormdrowner]

Thinking of installing a wood pellet stove, probably an insert. Would like to do stone with a hearth and mantle. Looks like it would be a fun Summer project. Looking for anyone that has a Pellet stove....pros/cons, ideas. Talking to the salesman today, it also qualifies under the Stimulus Plan for a 30% tax rebate.

[river-rat4]

I would look into the rebate

Quote:

Talking to the salesman today, it also qualifies under the Stimulus Plan for a 30% tax rebate.

I am a corn/pellet burner and have been told about a rebate for years. My rebate is the reduction in gas. I save hundreds each heating season.

I really like mine, but consider the effort involved. Hauling a pallet of wood pellets,(50, 40 lb bags to a pallet) 2000lbs. Would it supplement or be your main heat source. If your only heat source (gas backup), do you have an open floor plan? If not you may want to look into a pellet or corn furnace. Storage of pellets/corn is also to be considered.

Unlike gas, there is daily/weekly and yearly maintenance. I have to drop a "Clinker" (corn ash brick), every day to day and a half. It is nothing to me; just have to remember to do it. "Clinker" is dropped into an ash pan that should be dumped every week (sooner/later) depending on the temperatures and fuel burned.

Do you travel? I can leave the stove for about 2 days, 3 would push it. It just over flows the burn pot and goes out. Or the fuel hopper goes empty and the flame starves. For me it is not an issue. I have a propane (pilot, no electric needed) furnace set on low that will take over. That said, pellet/corn stoves need electricity for the feed auger and exhaust fans to run. If there is a power outage the stove shuts down and won't relight. (There are battery back up options available).

It is a dry constant heat. There are thermostats available. Furnaces are available that have self igniting features (some stove models do also, just not mine).

I would not choose to go back to gas. I have an 85 bushel (4760 lb) silo in the yard for corn storage. I will go through about 100-120 bushels a season depending on the year.

Solid fuel heating may change your insurance policy/rate. Make sure to check into it before hand.

I bushel of corn = 56 lbs (on average)

river-rat4

[Wormdrowner]

riverrat,

Thanks for the info. I checked into the rebate, there is no efficiency standard set yet, but they are trying to come up with stoves that qualify for rebate. I have an open floor plan/1300 sq.ft. and stove won't be a primary source of heat. Someone is usually home so won't have to worry about it going out. Propane is costing about 10.00 to 12.00 a day on average with thermostat set at 64 degrees. I am hoping to save half that cost going with wood pellets. I pre-bought propane this year at 2.50 gl, I've heard of a few friends that have already been offered pre-buy for this years heating season at 1.79. Wonder how they know this far in advance, guess I'm trying to find an alternative because I'm sick of getting ripped off by these people.

[river-rat4]

WD,

I looked at it as a savings more than a rebate purchase. 64 degrees is WAY TOO cold for my house.

I paid 4.40 per bushel (dried to 13.5% moisture, and cleaned).

1 bushel of corn equals.....(3-5 gallons of propane (btu wise)) I have not done the math. There are many online conversion charts if you want to look.

Propane- $2.50/gal. x3 gal.=$7.50

x5 gal.=$12.50

Corn- =$4.40/bu. (same heat value?(research))

Even if corn doubled, I would burn it. This is what I enjoy, but it requires time and effort. (Hobby to me, not an hourly job, cost wise)

river-rat4

[Wormdrowner]

Thanks river-rat4,

Probably going with the pellet stove, really just looking at heating the living area. We have a very open floor plan, when living area zone is set at 65, the back bedrooms stay around 60. We are kind of torn between wood stove or wood pellets, like the look of a wood fire but pellets are more convenient. If yours is in the living area, does the fan and auger noise bother you much? I thought there would be more people on the site using pellet stoves.

[Bobcat45]

I have a corn stove so pellets I have no personal experience. For me the auger is not annoying but the fan can be. It is in our living area. Its not that loud but some times I like just plain quiet. But between wood or corn I'll take corn. Only have to tend it once a day. My advice is to take your time to look because there are a lot of manufacturers or stoves out there and some may be quieter than others. Mine is 5yrs old and things could have changed a lot since then. Good luck Bobcat

[1900_LE]

For whatever it might be worth, I have a Breckwell wood pellet stove. We don't have much in the way of corn like you do in Mn. Breckwell is a good stove, heats the entire house (1400 sq ft) without a problem. Stove is rated for 2500 sq ft. Bad thing about it is if you dont have the right pellets it clogs up the auger. I've tried 4 different brands of pellets before I found one that would work right. 4.99 a bag. Which is more then I have ever paid for pellets. My uncle lives in So. Mn and has a corn stove. Says he never has a problem with his. One thing he mentioned is the corn doesn't burn as hot as wood.

[gregg52]

my brother sells those stoves

he a carpenter to so he can install it to i think and has pellets and corn

[email protected] i give you his number if you want

[river-rat4]

WD,

If you took a "ball" canning jar, and tilted it at a 45 degree angle, slowly poured a 1/2 handfull in. You have the noise level of the "CLINKER POT" style stove auger dropping in the solid fuel every 20-30 seconds (which I have).

There is a difference in stoves. Some use a stirrer and others us a clinker pot. You may want to compare that also. Some have a control board that regulates fan speed/auger feed rate & some have to be manually set. Do some research.

As far as fan noise, I would rate it like a ceiling fan on med/high depending on temps outside and stove heat level.

Wood stove vs. pellet/corn? That is up to you. I almost bought a wood stove. I am very happy with my decision, would & will do the same when it wears out.

river-rat4

[hunter101]

i am searching for a corn stove as well, i have found out that there are alot of things to look at. I wish someone could tell me what to buy, i want it as an add on to my furnace.

[BoxMN]

I don't have one, but my neighbor does, and I help him unload the bags of pellets every so often. No real big deal, but I can see as a person gets older this might "get old".

He likes his, and it keeps his gas bill pretty low. Sound isn't bad, but one thing he said is that his house is dustier than before the stove. He is pretty a-nal though, and a pretty clean guy, but something to consider.

For me, I guess I would only consider a wood burner if I had good supply to free wood, a corn burner if I had a good supply of free corn or cheap corn, etc. But I really do love the idea of a secondary heating source.

[river-rat4]

101,

There are many manufacturers that can be hooked up to your existing ducting. Search for "Corn or pellet Furnace"

river-rat4

[Sarpy Creek Boy]

I had a pellet stove in my old place, but it was way too hot for me, I kept it on the lowest setting and it was still 90 deg in that room, and 80 deg in the livingroom. It is now installed in the pole barn, works great out there and I don't have to have a gas heater installed. I had to move my thermostat to a different room, so my main heat source would keep functioning.

[gregg52]

again my brother sells these and has been for bout 5 yrs

he can get you into what you need and has supplys for bot pellet and corn hes in maple grove

more info

[email protected]