propane vs pellet stove

[9dreizig]

just finished a 50 x 50 ft steel garage 15 ft ceiling with 22 ft pk. moderately insulated. Was going to do a 250,000 btu propane heater but and thinking a pellet stove might be a) cheaper for fuel and b) on the ground so would not have the issue of getting the heat back down to ground level..
Thoughts??

 

[Bronson]

I think heat rises.

 

[RossOlsen]

just finished a 50 x 50 ft steel garage 15 ft ceiling with 22 ft pk. moderately insulated. Was going to do a 250,000 btu propane heater but and thinking a pellet stove might be a) cheaper for fuel and b) on the ground so would not have the issue of getting the heat back down to ground level..
Thoughts??

BTU per $
Imho, pellet stove only works well when you park it in the room you live in. The most popular way they are used, this way they satisfy the thermostat and the furnace doesn't run, saving fuel by hearing the room you are in and not heating the rooms your are not. Plus you get the benefit of the feel of"wood heat" when you are close to it and or trying to heat the whole house.
I have not heard any thing good about a pellet furnace. And not sure I would trust one too stay running when not there for any length of time.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Kaizen]

Pellet per ton prices are about 150-180. One bag runs mine for twelve hours. If you had one already it’s about even in cost. To buy new I’d stick with propane. Pellet does not have a great blower to get the room warm quick. Plus pellet stove parts are not cheap. Anything that goes wrong is a hundred dollar part. I only got one when oil was over four dollars. Haven’t used it in two years since oil is low.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mygarageone]

We just removed out pellet burner , taking all things into consideration we found our L.P gas heating to be a better deal . Unless propane takes a steep price increase.

 

[Bolson32]

We just removed out pellet burner , taking all things into consideration we found our L.P gas heating to be a better deal . Unless propane takes a steep price increase.

Any idea what Propane is where you guys are? Was thinking about getting a pellet stove at the "cabin" to supplement the propane heat. Cabin is loosely used in this term, in reality my parents live there full time but it's the lake house so I spend a lot of time there.

Propane seems to be expensive and doesn't really heat the basement living room all that well, was thinking of sticking a pellet stove in the basement living room which is right below the upstairs living room as well. I'm thinking it would heat both pretty nicely.

 

[Jackfre]

That would be a hell of a pellet stove to heat your space. I think you would have to have a commercial type unit and that I expect would be pricey. As noted, PS's require regular cleaning and can be touchy. You certainly have enough space to store the fuel. I think I would put the money into propane storage. Buy a 1000 gal tank and buy when the prices are low. I have a large enough tank to carry me for a full year. Negotiate a bit and you can do all right with propane, if you own your own tank. I think a couple horizontal 125k LP furnaces running into spiral duct would be the way to go.

 

[Jackfre]

Bolson, if the propane company owns the tank they are going to put only enough tank there to make it work for them, and you ride the market price all $eason getting filled every 3-4 weeks. You say your folks live there pretty much full time. Pellet stoves can become a problem with 40# bags 4-5' in the air. I would suggest that you look at a Rinnai Energysaver for your basement space. There is an optional vent ectension kit that allows you to vent up the basement wall and then outside. Depending upon size, placement and lay-out of the space it can heat the upstairs as well.

 

[Bretny]

That is going to have to be one huge pellet stove to heat that area. Are you sure your numbers are correct?
Pellet stoves take alot of maintenance and baby sitting.

 

[Schumi]

If you have never had a pellet stove before be ready for: lugging tons of pellets around, trying to find pellets if you should run out in February, cleaning the pellet stove a couple times a month or more if you use it daily, the stove deciding it just isn't going to light because of wet pellets, dirty stove, bad igniter, plugged air supply, clogged feeder, broken/jammed auger, etc.

They simply are not worth the trouble at any price in my opinion.

 

[TractorJeff]

Wow! You guys are definitely not "Alternative Energy" friendly!
A nice looking pellet stove rated for 2500 sqft will still look nice in the basement living room and WILL heat the upstairs above it provided there is venting between the two rooms.
As far as the OP heating his garage, Yes, its the Insurance company that needs to answer that question for him.
Lots of guys have woodstoves in their shops/garages regardless of the Law.
Me?
I heat with Kerosene currently but the next building will be propane heated.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The problem with pellet stoves is the cost and QUALITY of the pellets.

Do some research and see if there is a factory that sells HARDWOOD pellets within a couple hundred miles of where you live. It might be cheaper to rent a box truck, drive to the factory and fill it up, than to buy them retail ! The problem with buying in quantity is keeping them dry. They have to be OFF THE GROUND and that includes off the concrete ! A layer of pallets is the best solution.