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dadof1
LIF Infant
Member since 8/14 208 total posts
Name:
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Alternative forms of heat
I have oil heat, and hate it! Anyone with any better/cheaper alternatives? I read about pellet stoves, coal stoves, electric panel heaters...Just looking for a cheaper option...My oil company salivates every year around this time. Thanks for all opinions!
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Posted 10/5/15 11:09 AM  |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
We got a pellet stove about 6 years back and I can tell you , it was teh BEST investment ever and has paid for itself many times over.
Best thing we have ever done in our house.
Heats the whole house (we have a pretty small ranch)
We get an oil delivery in say August and not again until Feb. No joke.
We only use oil to heat the hot water.
Oil companies HATE us 
no smell when you burn the pellets- nothing like burning wood.
Best thing ever!
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| Posted 10/5/15 11:18 AM |
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BabyBoy
is Skylar Elizabeth
Member since 5/05 4189 total posts
Name:
Tom
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
is gas available in your area?
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| Posted 10/5/15 11:24 AM |
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DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
Posted by NervousNell
We got a pellet stove about 6 years back and I can tell you , it was teh BEST investment ever and has paid for itself many times over.
Best thing we have ever done in our house.
Heats the whole house (we have a pretty small ranch)
We get an oil delivery in say August and not again until Feb. No joke.
We only use oil to heat the hot water.
Oil companies HATE us
no smell when you burn the pellets- nothing like burning wood.
Best thing ever!
Approx cost of the stove??
And what's a pellet? LOL 
ETA -- and where does this stove go? in the home? And you burn it like you would burn wood?
Message edited 10/5/2015 11:48:18 AM.
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| Posted 10/5/15 11:47 AM |
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DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
Posted by BabyBoy
is gas available in your area?
This was going to be my suggestion.
My parents converted from oil to gas about ten years ago and it has already more than paid for itself -- it was the best thing they did. It is so much more desirable, cleaner, cheaper, better to cook with as well -- and more efficient.
They are so happy they did. Not only was oil expensive, they suffered through TWO puff-backs during their time having oil.
The resale value of gas is great too - very desirable so if it is in your area, it makes the initial cost of converting really worth it.
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| Posted 10/5/15 11:49 AM |
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Millie3
LIF Adult
Member since 7/13 1280 total posts
Name:
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
We have oil (no gas lines), and it's too expensive. Such a waste of money. I don't want anything permanent like wood stove. Also don't want to store pellets/ wood etc.
Thinking of those electric fireplace things since we can put it away each spring. Can anyone weigh in if you have one of these?
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| Posted 10/5/15 11:51 AM |
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
My neighbors have a pellet stove and they love it. The pellets remind me of hamster food. I do not know costs but I know they buy the pellets very early and get a better deal. They have a small ranch and still use oil but it's very minimal and mostly for the basement.
We looked into a pellet stove but were told that our style of house would not work well with it- we have a front-to-back split with 3 levels. Instead we got a new gas furnace. Our street had gas already and NYSEG ran the line for 100 feet for free which got it to our house. The furnace was about $6k and I think we have already saved about $3k since we got it in Jan of 2014.
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| Posted 10/5/15 11:58 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
Posted by DaniJude
Posted by NervousNell
We got a pellet stove about 6 years back and I can tell you , it was teh BEST investment ever and has paid for itself many times over.
Best thing we have ever done in our house.
Heats the whole house (we have a pretty small ranch)
We get an oil delivery in say August and not again until Feb. No joke.
We only use oil to heat the hot water.
Oil companies HATE us
no smell when you burn the pellets- nothing like burning wood.
Best thing ever!
Approx cost of the stove??
And what's a pellet? LOL
ETA -- and where does this stove go? in the home? And you burn it like you would burn wood?
A pellet is just that- it looks like a pellet- as in a rabbit dropping! LOL. But it's made of wood.
Actually compressed wood, recycled sawdust, it's very green!
The stove can go in a current fireplace- which is what we did. Fireplaces are just not efficient as they suck the hot air from the room up the chimney. Not to mention they stink to high heaven
So we did an insert into our fireplace which converted it to a pellet stove
If you don't have a fire place you would just get a free standing stove- and it needs to be against an outside wall to vent.
Ours was around $3500 installed.
I think the freestanding ones are less money to buy and install
And you load up the hopper with the pellets, turn it on and it ignites quickly- then a fan blows the heat
And when I say heat- my house will crank up to 83 degrees in the dead of winter if I don't lower it or shut it off.
It really is very efficient!
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| Posted 10/5/15 11:58 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
Posted by Millie3
We have oil (no gas lines), and it's too expensive. Such a waste of money. I don't want anything permanent like wood stove. Also don't want to store pellets/ wood etc.
Thinking of those electric fireplace things since we can put it away each spring. Can anyone weigh in if you have one of these?
An electric fireplace is basically a space heater that is designed to look like a fireplace.
It will work- but for a small room at a time.
It won't heat a whole house
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| Posted 10/5/15 11:59 AM |
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DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by DaniJude
Posted by NervousNell
We got a pellet stove about 6 years back and I can tell you , it was teh BEST investment ever and has paid for itself many times over.
Best thing we have ever done in our house.
Heats the whole house (we have a pretty small ranch)
We get an oil delivery in say August and not again until Feb. No joke.
We only use oil to heat the hot water.
Oil companies HATE us
no smell when you burn the pellets- nothing like burning wood.
Best thing ever!
Approx cost of the stove??
And what's a pellet? LOL
ETA -- and where does this stove go? in the home? And you burn it like you would burn wood?
A pellet is just that- it looks like a pellet- as in a rabbit dropping! LOL. But it's made of wood.
Actually compressed wood, recycled sawdust, it's very green!
The stove can go in a current fireplace- which is what we did. Fireplaces are just not efficient as they suck the hot air from the room up the chimney. Not to mention they stink to high heaven
So we did an insert into our fireplace which converted it to a pellet stove
If you don't have a fire place you would just get a free standing stove- and it needs to be against an outside wall to vent.
Ours was around $3500 installed.
I think the freestanding ones are less money to buy and install
And you load up the hopper with the pellets, turn it on and it ignites quickly- then a fan blows the heat
And when I say heat- my house will crank up to 83 degrees in the dead of winter if I don't lower it or shut it off.
It really is very efficient!
It makes me think of my rabbit from when I was little - Chester.
I used to have to clean out his cage lol pellets everywhere.
Now, there's no odor at all?
Some people like that burning wood smell - personally, it doesn't do anything for me one way or another, but does it have any kind of a burning smell?
Very interesting!
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| Posted 10/5/15 12:23 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
Posted by DaniJude
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by DaniJude
Posted by NervousNell
We got a pellet stove about 6 years back and I can tell you , it was teh BEST investment ever and has paid for itself many times over.
Best thing we have ever done in our house.
Heats the whole house (we have a pretty small ranch)
We get an oil delivery in say August and not again until Feb. No joke.
We only use oil to heat the hot water.
Oil companies HATE us
no smell when you burn the pellets- nothing like burning wood.
Best thing ever!
Approx cost of the stove??
And what's a pellet? LOL
ETA -- and where does this stove go? in the home? And you burn it like you would burn wood?
A pellet is just that- it looks like a pellet- as in a rabbit dropping! LOL. But it's made of wood.
Actually compressed wood, recycled sawdust, it's very green!
The stove can go in a current fireplace- which is what we did. Fireplaces are just not efficient as they suck the hot air from the room up the chimney. Not to mention they stink to high heaven
So we did an insert into our fireplace which converted it to a pellet stove
If you don't have a fire place you would just get a free standing stove- and it needs to be against an outside wall to vent.
Ours was around $3500 installed.
I think the freestanding ones are less money to buy and install
And you load up the hopper with the pellets, turn it on and it ignites quickly- then a fan blows the heat
And when I say heat- my house will crank up to 83 degrees in the dead of winter if I don't lower it or shut it off.
It really is very efficient!
It makes me think of my rabbit from when I was little - Chester.
I used to have to clean out his cage lol pellets everywhere.
Now, there's no odor at all?
Some people like that burning wood smell - personally, it doesn't do anything for me one way or another, but does it have any kind of a burning smell?
Very interesting!
I cannot STAND the smell of burning wood. Fire pits in the summer KILL me.
We used to burn our fireplace and not only would it do nothing to warm the room, but the house would STINK of that burning wood for days. It would be 4 days later and a draft or something would come down the chimney and it would STINK.
I get migraines and I can't take that smell even a little.
With this- nothing. It smells like nothing at all. The pellets burn very clean
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| Posted 10/5/15 12:27 PM |
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Lara&Aidansmommy
For mom i miss u ETC ILOVEU
Member since 3/07 13921 total posts
Name:
ETC I LOVE YOU
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
Everyone here in NH has a pellet stove. Its really everything NervousNell has said!
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| Posted 10/5/15 12:36 PM |
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DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
wow - sounds great!! 
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| Posted 10/5/15 12:38 PM |
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BlueDiamonds
mommy to 3 boys
Member since 2/07 3885 total posts
Name:
proud mommy
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Alternative forms of heat
I think I've asked this before, but do you run the pellet stove at night while you sleep? We are not home all day (keep it at 62 all day) and use the most heat at night while sleeping (my son's room gets super cold so we have to keep the heat at 70 or else his room is freezing). I keep going back and forth on the pellet stove idea.
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| Posted 10/5/15 1:08 PM |
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LiveandLearn
LIF Adult
Member since 4/10 1588 total posts
Name:
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
Posted by Millie3
We have oil (no gas lines), and it's too expensive. Such a waste of money. I don't want anything permanent like wood stove. Also don't want to store pellets/ wood etc.
Thinking of those electric fireplace things since we can put it away each spring. Can anyone weigh in if you have one of these?
We have them really more for decor not for heating purposes. They do not provide real heat at all. Yes it warms up the den but only in addition to having the heat on, not as a replacement at all.
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| Posted 10/5/15 2:14 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
Posted by BlueDiamonds
I think I've asked this before, but do you run the pellet stove at night while you sleep? We are not home all day (keep it at 62 all day) and use the most heat at night while sleeping (my son's room gets super cold so we have to keep the heat at 70 or else his room is freezing). I keep going back and forth on the pellet stove idea.
You can, but we don't
We have those electric panel heaters in the bedrooms (e-heat I think it's called)
They are amazing.
Look into those- for your situation they'd be great!
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| Posted 10/5/15 2:56 PM |
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MommaG
Yay Spring!
Member since 5/05 5133 total posts
Name:
Gloria
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
Posted by MrsProfessor
My neighbors have a pellet stove and they love it. The pellets remind me of hamster food. I do not know costs but I know they buy the pellets very early and get a better deal. They have a small ranch and still use oil but it's very minimal and mostly for the basement.
We looked into a pellet stove but were told that our style of house would not work well with it- we have a front-to-back split with 3 levels. Instead we got a new gas furnace. Our street had gas already and NYSEG ran the line for 100 feet for free which got it to our house. The furnace was about $6k and I think we have already saved about $3k since we got it in Jan of 2014.
We actually have a front-to-back split that we expanded (added a floor on top of the entire house) and we have a pellet stove - it works awesome! We have it all the way downstairs, and the heat winds its way up the staircases. We shopped around a lot and one place did tell us it wouldn't work well but obviously they don't know what they're talking about.
We love it. We leave the stove on all day and night - no problems. A little nervous about that at first but basically its the same as your boiler, which also has a flame inside. The stove is sealed tightly so no real difference there.
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| Posted 10/5/15 3:11 PM |
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Jenn79
One more?
Member since 2/12 2410 total posts
Name:
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
We have a wood burning stove. It's amazing! Completely enclosed so you don't smell it. We have a colonial and it can heat the second floor if we have it going all day. The best part is dh just collects free wood a few times in the fall and we have enough to get through the winter completely free! We have a converted garage so bc of where it's situated we have an electric fire place in that room. That's great too! I think it heats up to like 500 square feet.
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| Posted 10/5/15 5:27 PM |
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dadof1
LIF Infant
Member since 8/14 208 total posts
Name:
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
Posted by BabyBoy
is gas available in your area?
No, I have no gas available..unfortunately
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| Posted 10/5/15 5:30 PM |
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dadof1
LIF Infant
Member since 8/14 208 total posts
Name:
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Re: Alternative forms of heat
Posted by NervousNell
We got a pellet stove about 6 years back and I can tell you , it was teh BEST investment ever and has paid for itself many times over.
Best thing we have ever done in our house.
Heats the whole house (we have a pretty small ranch)
We get an oil delivery in say August and not again until Feb. No joke.
We only use oil to heat the hot water.
Oil companies HATE us
no smell when you burn the pellets- nothing like burning wood.
Best thing ever!
Hmmm, I'm gonna have to look further into this...thanks...seems like a no brainer...you should be in sales for them...lol
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| Posted 10/5/15 5:34 PM |
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