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thesbaine t1_j6i5j4h wrote

RIP my electric bill with electric heat.

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dirtyMETHOD t1_j6isyuh wrote

Look into a pellet stove, there is a 30% tax credit that started at the beginning of this year. I run one stove pretty much all winter long and turn my second one on when temps get below 30*F. They don’t pull too much energy and the exhaust system is simple and easy to maintain

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Yokiboy t1_j6itqi7 wrote

I was looking at these before winter. How much space does it need?

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dirtyMETHOD t1_j6iu4uh wrote

Not a lot, check out page 7, most stoves require little spacing. just a Hearth pad below(fireproofing

Pellet fuel is also tax exempt.

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Yokiboy t1_j6ivm6o wrote

Great! Thanks! Out of interest, what was your all-in cost?

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dirtyMETHOD t1_j6iwr23 wrote

Good Stoves anywhere from $2000-5000 depending on size, feature and what not. I would choose a Harman stove as those are workhorses, parts are available for servicing. I have a 10+ year old Harman Advance that just needed cleaning so far. Little graphite powder when it gets squeaky. I built my own hearth pad with Durock fireproof backer and ceramic tile for under $100. Exhaust can be 300-600 depending on your set-up. If you pay a company to do it, I think the tax credit covers more than just the stove. Call your local dealer and get a sense of what they are charging. Try to call at least 3 places. I found 2 local ones that were “gougy” when I was doing my research.

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yk78 t1_j6l8r02 wrote

I just got a Harman installed in a 1700 sq split level ranch and love it. The P43 model is what we went with and it sits almost right up against the wall.

Space wise there is a 2” gap from the back of the unit to the drywall and sits on a 36x36 bluestone which meets manufacturer recommendations and thus CT regulations. There’s a 2” pipe that goes straight out and up the side wall about 3’ up on the outside. Total cost installed was just under $6400. Keeps the living room where it’s installed at around 72 f and the back rooms about 67 f on medium heat. I burn exactly one bag over a 20 hr period. This is roughly in 25-30 degree external temps so it’ll vary depending on weather and of course house insulation. Cost wise I am running a killawatt device to measure cost and it’s only showing about $20 month usage based on Eversource effective rate of about $.35 kWh which I think might be low. Pellet fuel runs about $210 per month give or take.

Overall I’m very pleased because I can keep the whole house liberally warmer at lower cost. My ROIC is roughly 4 years. After that I should be saving an extra $200 month.

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mersh547 t1_j6kjny3 wrote

Absolutely love my pellet stove. Let's us barely touch the houses oil heat.

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dirtyMETHOD t1_j6kkylh wrote

Agreed. When I have them running it keeps it right around 70-72* average, on extra cold days when I turn both on, it’s usually between 70-74F, I keep my thermostat for the HVAC at 67F all winter long and it only burns oil when temps get below 15*F.

My wife loves it and has the X- shaped clothes drying racks, so on laundry days, she sets them up in front of the stove in the dining room to dry the clothes and it adds a nice touch of moisture and that nostalgic fresh laundry smell to our house. We run humidifiers in the bedrooms to help with the dry air (two daughters and our room too).

I’ve lived with a Pellet Stove since 2008 and can’t see life in New England without one. Efficient and adds a nice touch without much maintenance.

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burnout524 t1_j6koel8 wrote

This is good advice. While I’m saving up for one, my in-laws have one and heat their 1,600 sq ft colonial almost exclusively with their pellet insert. They use about 3 tons of pellets (~$900 this year) and 1 tank of oil a year.

I was quoted $6800 for a Harman pellet insert and install - pricy, but the Harman is the best of the best. And when I looked into this in September, they were backordered until late Feb/early March. I was also looking into mini-split heat pumps too, which are a much more efficient electric heat source, but was quoted $28,000 for that system (which also turns out was too small for my house anyway).

If you don’t mind the hard work, a wood stove works good too - I had one at my old house (with electric heat) and heated almost exclusively with the wood stove - that was back during all those crazy October storms, so firewood was free and plentiful. Too much work for me these days though.

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dirtyMETHOD t1_j6kpcp8 wrote

I think the feed/burn system on the Harman’s are much better than the burn pot style(my first stove was a QuadraFire Classic Bay 1200, still running from 2008). I prefer the cleaning/maintenance of the Harman above other stoves, that for me is the best selling feature since I’m doing the maintenance anyways.

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burnout524 t1_j6kq0nv wrote

I was looking into a Comforbilt for half the price but maintenance sounded like a nightmare (not to mention Made in China vs. USA). Plus Harmans have been around a long time. My in-laws and brother in law both have them and they’ve both been solid units.

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dirtyMETHOD t1_j6kqot2 wrote

I’m looking to replace my freestanding Harman Advance with the newer Allure model.

I went down the rabbit hole of looking at other brands and saw some nicely designed European stoves, but after maintaining Harman stoves for several years…. I don’t think I’ll go for other brands. They have gotten it right for so long, for me anyways.

Maintenance is very important to get the best efficiency, I’m not lazy, but I don’t need Land Rover type maintenance, I’m a Lexus type of guy.

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fprintf t1_j6i76le wrote

Back to early-mid December temps! It is really going to suck.

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dovakinda t1_j6jbpg0 wrote

Same. I’m getting a wood stove installed Feb 9th

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eleyezeeaye4287 t1_j6jwoep wrote

Same. My electric bill last month was insane.

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thesbaine t1_j6jz3xx wrote

Mine was north of $700 in a modest house, but to be fair it’s the stupidest version of electric heat I’ve ever seen.

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eleyezeeaye4287 t1_j6jzqdf wrote

Omg. Mine was $560 for a 2000 square foot house. We just moved here so it was sticker shock for sure.

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thesbaine t1_j6k0psd wrote

You probably have baseboard resistive or, at least, radiant floor. I have radiant ceiling, the most earth 70’s coke driven heating solution.

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eleyezeeaye4287 t1_j6k5o28 wrote

We have baseboard to my knowledge (which is very limited lol)

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thesbaine t1_j6kwbg1 wrote

All good. We're looking at switching to a heat pump. It isn't cheap, but my god it's better than what we have.

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reptarcannabis t1_j6kkbhy wrote

Radiant ceiling ? Like wat

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thesbaine t1_j6kvuyf wrote

Again, coke fueled early 70's design.

Twas a silly time.

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ImpossibleParfait t1_j6pbbj6 wrote

Literally makes 0 sense. If you own the place I would look into a replacement. Heat rises, bet its nice and toasty up near the ceiling!

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xomns13 t1_j6l0hom wrote

I've been doing great so far, only use it in my bedroom when it's in the teens.

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