I'm buying a condo with a fireplace and electric heat. I was
considering replacing the fireplace with a wood stove or pellet stove
but I'd like to have both in one.

Is there anyone that sells woodstoves that can take pellets in a
hopper also? I'd like the option of burning wood as well, because
sometimes around here cords are very cheap or people need to get rid
of wood.

Dez Akin wrote:

I'm buying a condo with a fireplace and electric heat. I was
considering replacing the fireplace with a wood stove or pellet stove
but I'd like to have both in one.

Is there anyone that sells woodstoves that can take pellets in a
hopper also? I'd like the option of burning wood as well, because
sometimes around here cords are very cheap or people need to get rid
of wood.


Pellet stoves = NOISY.

You will be so glad when it shuts off. There's usually two fans and an
auger and all these little motors are noisy.

Also, some brans of pellets cause 'klinkers' hard lumps in the firebox
that must be cleaned out or they effect the combustion.

My parents had two pellet stoves as primary heat sources for ~10 years
(backed up with a airtight wood stove) and were very happy to get rid of
the pellet stoves.

Spring in our house meant warm weather, sunshine and the ability to hear
everyone else.

Maybe they've improved, but make sure you get to review a working model
in a quiet place.

RS

I'm buying a condo with a fireplace and electric heat. I was
considering replacing the fireplace with a wood stove or pellet stove
but I'd like to have both in one.

My friend with pellet stoves hates the grinding noise of the pellet feeder,
and they are expensive to run no matter what you pay for firewood. Not only
that, when we have electricity blackouts, those with pellet stoves are out
of luck, since they don't run without electricity. For a comprehensive
answer re dual use stoves, try the newsgroup alt.energy.homepower. It is a
very active, helpful group, with lots of expertise in wood stove issues.

Think about what you'd do when electrical service goes out. The pellet
stove doesn't run if the feed auger isn't powered. In my book this is a
lousy design.

RB

Dez Akin wrote:
I'm buying a condo with a fireplace and electric heat. I was
considering replacing the fireplace with a wood stove or pellet stove
but I'd like to have both in one.

Is there anyone that sells woodstoves that can take pellets in a
hopper also? I'd like the option of burning wood as well, because
sometimes around here cords are very cheap or people need to get rid
of wood.

"Dez Akin" wrote in message
om...
I'm buying a condo with a fireplace and electric heat. I was
considering replacing the fireplace with a wood stove or pellet stove
but I'd like to have both in one.

Is there anyone that sells woodstoves that can take pellets in a
hopper also? I'd like the option of burning wood as well, because
sometimes around here cords are very cheap or people need to get rid
of wood.

Had to chime in about my pellet stove and I realize that not everything will
apply in your case. I do agree that the blower motors are a bit noisy. We
turn the TV up a bit & hardly notice. Major plusses for me are.......

1. In Denver we have about 2/3's of the days in cold months that are "NO
burn" days. You can be ticketed for using your fireplace. This does not
apply to the pellet stove.

2. My wife can fire it up by pushing 2 buttons. The stove is putting out
full heat in about 15 minutes.

3. When it's very cold here we burn about a bag per day. @ $3.30 per bag
that adds about $100 per month the heating bill, Much cheaper than gas or
electric.

4. It will burn about 12-14 hours without refilling or tending.

5. It's an "insert" and we could never have fit a good sized woodburner in
the very shallow firebox in this 100+ year old house.

6. After 4+ seasons we're very happy with it.

Good luck !!

"Storogoth" wrote in message ...
"Dez Akin" wrote in message
om...
I'm buying a condo with a fireplace and electric heat. I was
considering replacing the fireplace with a wood stove or pellet stove
but I'd like to have both in one.

Is there anyone that sells woodstoves that can take pellets in a
hopper also? I'd like the option of burning wood as well, because
sometimes around here cords are very cheap or people need to get rid
of wood.

Had to chime in about my pellet stove and I realize that not everything will
apply in your case. I do agree that the blower motors are a bit noisy. We
turn the TV up a bit & hardly notice. Major plusses for me are.......

1. In Denver we have about 2/3's of the days in cold months that are "NO
burn" days. You can be ticketed for using your fireplace. This does not
apply to the pellet stove.

2. My wife can fire it up by pushing 2 buttons. The stove is putting out
full heat in about 15 minutes.

3. When it's very cold here we burn about a bag per day. @ $3.30 per bag
that adds about $100 per month the heating bill, Much cheaper than gas or
electric.

4. It will burn about 12-14 hours without refilling or tending.

5. It's an "insert" and we could never have fit a good sized woodburner in
the very shallow firebox in this 100+ year old house.

6. After 4+ seasons we're very happy with it.

Good luck !!

So are there any pellet stoves that you can burn cordwood in?

Go to Google and do a search on pellet stoves....here is just one of the
links I found:
http://www.pellet-stoves-unlimited.com/PSU/home.asp



"Dez Akin" wrote in message
om...
"Storogoth" wrote in message
...
"Dez Akin" wrote in message
om...
I'm buying a condo with a fireplace and electric heat. I was
considering replacing the fireplace with a wood stove or pellet stove
but I'd like to have both in one.

Is there anyone that sells woodstoves that can take pellets in a
hopper also? I'd like the option of burning wood as well, because
sometimes around here cords are very cheap or people need to get rid
of wood.

Had to chime in about my pellet stove and I realize that not everything
will
apply in your case. I do agree that the blower motors are a bit noisy.
We
turn the TV up a bit & hardly notice. Major plusses for me are.......

1. In Denver we have about 2/3's of the days in cold months that are "NO
burn" days. You can be ticketed for using your fireplace. This does not
apply to the pellet stove.

2. My wife can fire it up by pushing 2 buttons. The stove is putting out
full heat in about 15 minutes.

3. When it's very cold here we burn about a bag per day. @ $3.30 per bag
that adds about $100 per month the heating bill, Much cheaper than gas
or
electric.

4. It will burn about 12-14 hours without refilling or tending.

5. It's an "insert" and we could never have fit a good sized woodburner
in
the very shallow firebox in this 100+ year old house.

6. After 4+ seasons we're very happy with it.

Good luck !!

So are there any pellet stoves that you can burn cordwood in?

Question for the group.....

One thing I dislike abt pellet stoves is that there is
just one more middleman between you and the btus and
heat in the wood.

By that I mean if I have a regular wood stove I can go
chop a tree down and split wood myself. Whereas with
pellets I have to "buy" them as I can not "make"
pellets myself.

Would everyone agree with that logic? Or do you feel
Im wrong?

John

On 16 Jan 2004 12:28:28 -0800, (Dez Akin) wrote:

I'm buying a condo with a fireplace and electric heat. I was
considering replacing the fireplace with a wood stove or pellet stove
but I'd like to have both in one.
-snip-

If you can get one that burns both, I suppose that would be OK-- as
long as you don't have to buy your firewood.

In upstate NY, despite the increasing cost of LP Gas, it is still
cheaper than buying wood-- or pellets, or corn. My ventless gas
stove is quieter, cheaper to run, takes 0 tending all winter and just
a good dusting in the off season; it also runs when the electricity
is out. Aesthetically it is just a pleasing, if not more, than any
pellet stove I've seen.

Jim

"Jim Elbrecht" wrote in message
If you can get one that burns both, I suppose that would be OK-- as
long as you don't have to buy your firewood.

In upstate NY, despite the increasing cost of LP Gas, it is still
cheaper than buying wood-- or pellets, or corn.

I've not burned wood for the past two years for that reason. In case of
power failure, I have a backup source of heat. Pellet stoves often require
electricity for the auger akin them useless in those conditions unless there
is a manual feed of some sort.

Wood is about equal in price to oil right now, but much more labor
intensive.
Ed