pellet stove payback period?

14 years ago

Thanks to everyone's responses regarding pellet stoves earlier.

Given people's responses, I am wondering whether getting a pellet stove really is a financially sound decision to supplement the heat pump or instead keep my money and get an electric space heater for those occasional nights when it gets really cold (this year is obviously an exception). While coal sounds attractive it sounds messy and I was also hoping to get on the low carbon bandwagon.

I've been looking at the Heating Fuel Comparison Calculator by the Dept. of Energy and based on my electric rate (11 cents/kWh), and entering the proper HSPF for the heat pump (6.4 adjusted), the cost per million BTU is $18.54. Wood pellets cost $260 a ton here (not including tax+delivery) and with a stove that gets 85% efficiency that ends up costing $17.23 per MBTU. Adding the delivery charge (around $50 I guess) to the calculation for a ton of pellets cancels out any savings. It seems pellet prices keep going up and are really just a good alternative if heating with oil or propane (or straight electric resistance heat), or if electric rates skyrocket.

However, I do wonder if one can save substantial money using a pellet stove by turning down the heat during the day and at night and then "cranking" the stove up to heat the house up fast when you get home or after waking up. Also the heat pump keeps the whole house warm when we really just need it in a few rooms (they don't connect so I could not shut off the heat pump entirely)

Or should I just stick to a space heater to stay warm on those nights when it gets into the teens? The initial outlay is obviously less. I would really like the $2000-3000 outlay for a pellet stove to pay itself back in 4-6 years to be worth the investment. Any opinions? Does adding a pellet stove add to the value of a house should I have to sell it?

Does the cost of stoves and pellet drop enough come spring/summer to make the numbers more favorable?

Thanks for any input!

Featured Answer

countryboymo

14 years ago

Some have or can be adapted to run off of battery backup and will run up to 8 hours on a deep cycle battery. Also it takes very little generator power to operate one. This gives another large heat option if there is a long term power outage. If your all electric and its very cold out the options for a nice cozy spot in the house is slim unless you have a monster generator in the backyard. I am going to go craigslist for a unit that has some nice features to its easy to maintain but not top of the line since I don't plan to run it unless its down where the strips are coming on quite a bit or if the power is out.

The cost of the pellets do drop in the summer out here to around 170 a ton sometimes all the way to 150. Winter prices ride around 200.00 a ton.

If you solely want savings and efficiency buy some mastic and paint all of your hvac seams and insulate the ducts. I would buy some good heaters for the really nasty days and save the rest of the money.

2-3k from a strictly payoff standpoint isn't going to happen very quickly. If you calculate the peace of mind factor in it becomes more edible. If you calculate a good used stove and pipe off craigslist or elsewhere for @1k with pipe and accessories and a 400.00 generator you could use for summer outages also starts to be more easier to chew to me. I would love a new 3k$$ Harman stove but there is no way I can justify it. But a week of sub freezing weather with no power or heat and I will wish I did something.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

baymee
14 years ago
I don't know where you live, but anthracite coal is the most economical way to heat. Very popular in the Northeast.
Related Discussions
Recommendation for small compact pellet stove
Q
Comments (8)
If you're looking a really compact stove, about the smallest one out there, and it's the one I use is the Thelin Gnome. At only 16" in diameter, it's ideal in my small sunroom. This is much small than anything else out there. Believe me, I looked hard. I have the ivory enamel with 24K gold trim, it's beautiful, and it fits ideally into the light colors in my sunroom. Now, it's a top loader, and contrary to what heard on this site concerning top loaders, I've had no problems what so ever with it. It has battery backup, and will float charge the battery when not in use. It also will control the auger speed with an external thermostat if desired. Two negatives: Due to its compact size, there is no ash pan. You must vacuum the burn chamber every couple of days. This is not a problem for me as the stove is used only a few days a week if we're in the sunroom, and not as a primary heat source. Secondly, and one that annoys me is due to the proximity of the fire to the door, the glass ashes over quickly regardless of the pellets used, and by the end of a 12 hour burn period only a yellow glow can be seen from the window. Not that the flame is attractive to look at anyway. All pellet stoves burn ike a blast furnace, but it's still nice to see the fire. Here is a link that might be useful: Thelin Stoves
...See More
Preventing frozen pipes when using wood/pellet stoves.
Q
Comments (3)
My pipes froze and burst twice. My basement flooded until the well went dry trying to replenish the water in the heating system. There is a product called ThermGuard which you attach to your thermostat and it will circulate hot water periodically. You can program it for whatever rate you want. I have mine set for 3 minutes every 3 hours. I live in Montana and it does the job. I am not worried about freezing pipes with my wood stove. It does not sense outdoor temperature, but you can easily turn it on and off when you want. It remembers all your settings even when powered off. Good luck! John
...See More
Wood vs. Corn/Pellet vs. Gas fireplaces; any one best for seconda
Q
Comments (3)
Hi Zuren, I have a pellet stove and it is my primary heat source now. I have a new oil boiler but when oil went uo last year I went with pellets. Paid about 200 a ton. Now there $219 a ton x 5 tons and $100 for delivery. $1200 will supply most of my heat for 2,600 sq ft house. Its still cheaper than oil for me. I really like the cleanliness of it and it renewable. Unless you have a generator or battery back up you are out of luck when the power goes out. You might want to see how long a battery back up system will last. I don't loose power too often for very long. The stove is expensive , about $3,000 installed but a wood stove and chimney is going to be expensive also. I like burning wood but just don't have time to cut it myself. I might get a log truck load next year and whittle away at it. I guess it depends on where you live and whats available - pellets, coal, gas or oil. I am very happy with the pellet stove but I am concerned with prices. I figured it will pay for itself after two years maybe three at the worst. Not sure if this helped you but its my 2cents worth. good luck.
...See More
Newbie here. Whats better, pellet/corn stove or Appalachian wood
Q
Comments (3)
I don't have experience with Appalachian stoves, but I am certain your salesman is blowing smoke. There are no 92% efficient woodstoves that I am aware of. Visit http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/fswood.htm for a good read on stove efficiencies. In general a pellet stove will always be more efficient than a woodstove. However, I agree that if you have a free source of wood, that may be the best choice.
...See More
creek_side
14 years ago
I don't like pellet stoves for a couple of reasons.

They require a commercial product for fuel. I prefer a wood stove. In a really serious long term emergency, pellets may not be available. Although wood may be in short supply, short is better than none.

Pellet stoves require electricity. Generators are a short term option, but running a gasoline burning generator to operate a pellet stove is not fuel efficient.

A decent wood stove requires nothing but wood.
ferricoxide
Original Author
14 years ago
My house is brand new, so all ducts have been insulated, all electric. I am just outside of city limits so no natural gas service available.

I am kind of new to heat pumps, had one in an apartment in Durham, NC a few years ago and it was nice, but here (western Virginia) where it gets colder not so nice and the thing runs 24/7 and I see the meter racing in circles and the house is always chilly. Already burned through 1500 kWh this month and it's not even half over.

I really dislike the idea of cutting wood, dealing with mice and bugs in the woodpile and stoking a fire in a woodstove several times a day and dealing with the ashes, the smoke stains on the ceiling and the mess. Plus I hear the homeowner's insurance goes up when installing a woodstove. My insurer told me a pellet stove will not raise it.

I'm not concerned about power outages. Realistically, in the last 15 years the longest power outage I've experienced living in various parts of the country was 14 hours so I'm not concerned about the once-in-a-lifetime power outage. For me it does not justify paying for generators, the gasoline and the maintenance of those things (I can't imagine those are cheap) for a rare event.

Even though I live in coal country, in Virginia about 80 miles from the border with WV, I don't want to go the coal route. It's messy and pollutes quite a bit -- just look at those pictures of Beijing smog.

I guess I'll watch out for pellet and stove prices come spring and decide then. Right now it seems I'm better off saving my money and then installing a geothermal system several years down the road when the current heat pump dies.
vhehn
14 years ago
as i told you on the other thread. you will never see any payback with a pellet stove.
baymee
14 years ago
In defense of anthracite, it produces no smoke at all. China is using bituminous.

I'm sure everything will work out OK with your final choice.
lsirois
14 years ago
I agree with vhehn...I don't think that you will see a payback with a pellet stove, BUT it will make your house (or part of your house) very cozy.
countryboymo
14 years ago
I think the payback would come into play after the third day without power and you have a rather large area of the house that is still warm and toasty while most everyone else is trying to find enough blankets to keep even somewhat warm. I already have my generator fuel paid for if we have another outage here and I get a pellet stove and generator set up. The neighbors will come over and crash with us through the night so they can sleep comfortably and keep the generator running.

pellet stove payback period?

countryboymo

Comments (8)

baymee

Related Discussions

creek_side

ferricoxide
Original Author

vhehn

baymee

lsirois

countryboymo

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

pellet stove payback period?

countryboymo

Comments (8)

baymee

Related Discussions

creek_side

ferricoxideOriginal Author

vhehn

baymee

lsirois

countryboymo

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

ferricoxide
Original Author