Pellet Stoves

[pixiegirl]

Right now we have a fireplace that is not on a wall of the house. It is almost a room divider if you will. We will totally not be using it because the one year old likes to try to climb in it. The other half has decided that he wants a pellet stove and would like to take out the fireplace. He doesn't think that we'll be able to find an insert to fit into the fireplace because it's fairly small. We looked at Lowe's yesterday and the selection stunk. Is there a place locally that may have a better selection so that I can at least attempt to save the fireplace?

 

[CMC122]

Hearth and Patio in Waldorf

 

[Sharon]

Hearth and Patio in Waldorf

That's the one I was thinking of too.

Tri-County Energy and Patio Ctr.
2475 Old Washington Road
Waldorf , MD , 20601
Phone: 301-843-1771

 

[huntr1]

Hearth and Patio in Waldorf

Me three.

 

[wmburdette]

That's the one I was thinking of too.

Tri-County Energy and Patio Ctr.
2475 Old Washington Road
Waldorf , MD , 20601
Phone: 301-843-1771

We bought an insert model about five years ago from Tri-County. Very pleased with the service the stove has given so far. One note of caution, if you are thinking of getting a pellet stove, American Hardware in Waldorf, had a sign posted last Saturday that there is a six to eight week wait for stove orders to be filled. Apparently the energy costs are driving a lot of folks to the pellet stoves and the factories can't keep up with the demand. American Hardware and Tri-County have the pellets at about $4 per 40 lb bag. For the last couple of years Wal-Mart had pellets at about $2.75 a bag but there was a lot of dust with that brand. We normally run through about 75 bags (3000 lbs) in a normal season and usually have it serviced in the spring for about $100.
Hope this helps.

 

[wmburdette]

The other half has decided that he wants a pellet stove and would like to take out the fireplace.

...and one other thing about pellet stoves, bringing in a couple of buckets of pellets from the garage beats the heck out of having to whack a layer of ice and snow off the woodpile on a cold snowy January night!

 

[Vince]

Hearth and Patio in Waldorf

That's where I bought my Pellet stove. Best move I ever made. No more wood pile, splitting wood, hauling, etc. Went through almost 2 ton of pellets last year. I know that seems like alot, but not really when you consider I paid a total of $360 to heat my house for the whole winter. Pellets were running about $180 a ton. Great thing about the stove is you can leave it on during the day while you're at work. Anything happens, it shuts down. Set up on a vacumm system where if you even open the door to the flame compartment while it's running, it will auto shutdown.

 

[chrissyhh]

We bought ours from American Hardware about 3 years ago...The service they give is great. The only draw back I have found is that you have to clean the ashes out about everyother day. We still use our wood stove downstairs and the pellet upstairs.

 

[jenileigh]

Someone is giving us a pellet stove. Who do you called for installation? Who do I call to clean the pellet stove? Also, when you buy a ton, how much extra is delivery?

Sorry for the stupid questions. I know nothing about pellet stoves. Thanks.

 

[CMC122]

Someone is giving us a pellet stove. Who do you called for installation? Who do I call to clean the pellet stove? Also, when you buy a ton, how much extra is delivery?

Sorry for the stupid questions. I know nothing about pellet stoves. Thanks.

Good luck finding someone to install it. Most places will only install a stove you've bought from them.

 

[SamSpade]

We have a wood stove already, installed in our downstairs fireplace. After many years of non-use, we got it fired up last winter, to offset the cost of heating.

What we found though, is, without better circulation of air, we only ever manage to heat up the downstairs. The rest of the house is only marginally affected.

My wife is persuaded that a pellet stove would be advantageous to us. I can see ease of use and cleanup, plus availability of fuel - it's basically *sawdust*, compressed. Much easier than stacks of cords of wood. And much easier to keep the fire going.

What I *don't* see, is how it helps heat the house any better, without any direct access to our heating ducts. Our current wood stove just blows air away from the stove itself, and most of the heat is lost before it makes it upstairs and down the hall to where I sleep.

When people have these installed - is it typical to have the hot air connected to the ventilation ducts?

 

[huntr1]

No, you do not connect them to the heating system.

 

[kwillia]

No, you do not connect them to the heating system.

Then how does one disperse the heated air throughout the house... good question, Sam.

 

[huntr1]

Then how does one disperse the heated air throughout the house... good question, Sam.

If it's in the basement, leave the door open, and turn on ceiling fans. Hot air rises. My parents had one in the living room of their McMansion in Mt. Airy. It kept the entire entry level and second floor warm. But then they had a 2 story foyer, and ceiling fans in every room. Their electric bills were less than 1/2 of what their neighbors' electric bills were (everybody started out with heatpumps, until the gas line was run 2 years later, when they all switched over to gas heat).

 

[Dukesdad]

If you have a forced air heating system, you turn the fan selector to"on" as opposed to automatic. Leave the heat switch "off". it will draw air back into the air return and distribute it throughout the house.

 

[kwillia]

If it's in the basement, leave the door open, and turn on ceiling fans. Hot air rises. My parents had one in the living room of their McMansion in Mt. Airy. It kept the entire entry level and second floor warm. But then they had a 2 story foyer, and ceiling fans in every room. Their electric bills were less than 1/2 of what their neighbors' electric bills were (everybody started out with heatpumps, until the gas line was run 2 years later, when they all switched over to gas heat).

This wouldn't work for the layout of my house. However...

If you have a forced air heating system, you turn the fan selector to"on" as opposed to automatic. Leave the heat switch "off". it will draw air back into the air return and distribute it throughout the house.

... sounds like it could work with one's current forced heat system.

 

[marissa'smommy]

I have a pellet stove that I'm trying to get rid of. I'm remodeling and switching to a gas fireplace if anyone is interested just let me know. It's only two years old...

 

[huntr1]

I have a pellet stove that I'm trying to get rid of. I'm remodeling and switching to a gas fireplace if anyone is interested just let me know. It's only two years old...

Free standing or insert?

 

[SamSpade]

This wouldn't work for the layout of my house.

Mine either. The house is just too damned big. By the time the hot air from the pellet stove made it to my room, it'd be lost - it would have too many stairs and turns to make. Basically, I'd have an extremely hot family room, and I *might* notice a difference upstairs and down the hall. I'd have to position fans strategically throughout the house to see a difference.

I know, 'cuz I've tried it with the current setup. Plus, no ceiling fans downstairs - a drop ceiling.

 

[wmburdette]

Someone is giving us a pellet stove. Who do you called for installation? Who do I call to clean the pellet stove? Also, when you buy a ton, how much extra is delivery?

Try calling Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps listed on this page. We have them do the service each year and I thinik they will also do installations. You'll note they are listed at the same address as Tri-County that's been mentioned earlier in this thread and they are affiliated. As for delivery, usually pick up my own at 20-25 or so bags at a time. Wouldn't hurt to ask the supplier about delivery. Also, this past weekend, American Hardware was still placing a limit on each purchase of 20 bags until they get a larger supply in stock.