Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 28, 2000 02:59am | #1

   *
   Installed one as in a small sunroom. I hear they don't put out very much heat. Very nice appearance. Easy to set up. Expensive.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 28, 2000 06:46am | #2

   *Alot of people like the asthetics of a wood stove and would rather carry a bag of pellets than cut down a tree and split fire wood.

2. 
   s_crawford | Jan 28, 2000 10:02am | #3

   *
   Fred I had my laugh and you've had your dig with that aside these people are currently heating with wood and were wanting a fireplace on a budget. After I pointed out several reasons why a fireplace wasn't such a good idea (very costly, ineffecient to name a couple). I unknowingly sent them on a hunt for a more effecient alternative heat source to their central heat. I think in their case old habits are hard to break. Not being familiar with pellet stoves I posted here looking for some ammo for our next meeting.

   While I've got your attention on another note does spray on cellulose have enough pounds p.c.f. to be dense enough to prevent sagging or settling over time in a wall cavity. I've seen it settle substantially blown loose in attics. Maybe that doesn't effect the R-value?

3. 
   Guest_ | Jan 28, 2000 11:30am | #4

   *
   I disagree that seeing a stove pipe does not mean problems. And unfortunately it comes across that you are just in it for the bucks. Kind of like pulling up to a house and seeing a mercedes and saying "well lets double our rates." then again maybe that is why I drive a 7 year old truck. Pellet stoves do have their place out here in the Northwest. There is something about working outside in the rain all day and coming in to the heat you would get from a fire or woodstove. And if you do not work outside, the dampness always seems to find its way in. It makes a nice aux. heating system and is cleaner and easier then a wood stove,and to some it is a form of recycling since the pellets are made of scraps. the local power company did a cost analysis and found that heating a house with a pellet stove is the same or cheeper then the natural gas or electricity costs per BTU. Far cheeper then propane, coal, oil, or buying firewood.

4. 
   Larry_Boese | Jan 30, 2000 01:54am | #5

   *
   S-
   I live in the Pacific Northwest and pellet stoves are plentiful. I have one in my home, along with a gas fireplace and central air/heat. I've used all when we've had a Siberian Express come howling through here. The pellet stove pumps out lots of heat and looks pretty neat when it's burning. If I were to build and include a pellet stove, I'd place ceiling fans to help move the heated air through the house and pay close attention to how it's vented to the outside. If vented out a side-wall, any time you don't get the burn rate dialed in you run the risk of some smoke residue going up the outside wall. Another thing, provided you get the burn right and use GOOD QUALITY pellets, cleanup is a snap. They are extremely fuel efficient and the resulting low ash means once in a while you shop-vac it out. Of course, make certain the ashes are cold first........LJ.

1. 
   s_crawford | Jan 30, 2000 02:10am | #6

   *Thanks for the informative info guys.

5. 
   Guest_ | Feb 01, 2000 03:43am | #7

   *
   looking at this question again yu also mentioned blown in insulation. I have done remodeling and opened walls where the insulation has setteled but very little, usually it is a matter of not blowing enough in to a wall.. In attics it does settles and it does loose R value according to our insulation contractor. If we have to go into a blown attic we rake the stuff back up to fluff it where we walk.I know that it is supposed to be the best way to insulate but being someone that has to open walls or ceilings in remodels, I hate the stuff.

6. 
   Steve_Bezanson | Feb 08, 2000 07:07am | #8

   *
   You are wrong on a couple of counts. The 21st Century starts Jan 1st, 2001 and you mistakenly make some connection between what you call auxiliary heaters and rotten roof decks, leaky windows or lack of insulation. Maybe the real problem here is attitude...

   Folks in Burlington, Vermont don't enjoy warming up (& snuggling) in front of a nice open flame? Whoops, I shouldn't assume everybody there has your values... It seems that you would rather see people use gas or oil rather than a renewable resource. Pellets are made from waste from lumbering industries. Pellet stoves are efficient, produce fewer airborne solids than any other alternate fuel device and I can't speak for everybody but I don't mind carrying a bag of pellets as I come home from work or spending 10 minutes to empty the ashes every few days. On average a bag of pellets lasts about 24 hours, you don't need to cut, split and stack it to dry 12 months in advance. You can stop at the local building supply store and pick up a few bags or by them by the pallet.

   My advice - get a life and stop trying to assert your values on others while trying to masquerade it as advice...

7. 
   s_crawford | Feb 08, 2000 07:07am | #9

   *
   Has anyone had any experience with them good or bad. I've got a customer that asked about them. I figure this is a good place for some honest opinions.
   Thanks S Crawford