Wood Pellet Furnaces

This weekend I was talking to the local dealer for wood pellet stoves and supplies and he told me that he has a wood pellet/corn furnace that he wants to sell. He bought it on spec last year and hasn't sold it. I have a wood pellet stove and like it alot, matter of fact I can't say enough good about it.

I think I'd stay with the pellet fuel for now simply due to the ease of handling the pellets versus the corn.

I was wondering if anyone here has a pellet furnace and what their view is of it. I would like to hear the good, the bad and the ugly issues to do with it. And if you have advice for handling and using it with corn as well, I'd be interested in hearing from you.

Thanks in advance for your help.

We've talked before, You're in Newcastle right?

I just moved north east of you to Concession 5 just east of the Newtonville road, known as Starkville.

I have a good memory... it's just short.

We finally got out of the city/suburbs and back to the country summer of 2003. The transfer from Pickering to the Bruce took 12 years of scheming,begging and planning. Now I'm close to work with a hobby farm 45 minutes north of my other property and my Father's property. Wish we could have brought our castle from Newcastle. It was one of those monsters backing onto the Newcastle arena from the south side of the ravine. This &*^%$^** house is only 35 yeras old but has cost 20% of the price of a new home in repairs and still isn't done. Put an end to tractor projects and farm expansion for a while. Is Barb Taylor and family still running "Tractor Supply Company or what ever it's called? On Hwy #2 just east of Newtonville. restoration parts at great prices. And parts for odd makes that no one else has. While it doesn't bitter cold like Timmons there, it feels colder than 40 below with that damp raw wind sweeping in off the lake.

I went there a couple of times looking for parts for my Oliver 60 (actually a Cockshutt 60) and the first girl I talked to had no idea what I was talking about, she'd never heard of such a model. The second time I talked to a guy who knew, without even touching a single parts book, that he couldn't get me any Oliver parts. I finally found a guy in Blackstock, Trewin Farm Equipment, that got me some parts. Maybe that Eastern place is fine if you own a Ford, MF, IH, AC or something else common to this area but I won't darken their door again.

Good to hear you like where you are and that you have some land to play with.

How are things at the Bruce? I worked for about 1 yr at Pickering NGS for Siemens as part of the Pickering A project. I hear it's easier to get things done at the Bruce now that it's privately owned.

Good talking to you.

It's the GBU130

• Pellet Furnace Info

I have a pellet stove and understand how it works I am just looking for some experiences with a furnace.

Here in Minnesota a stove really doesn't do much for a house when it's minus 20 outside - never really saw the point of a stove. Now a furnace, that I can see..... My house is radiators & water, so not just anything bolts in...

Is it an add-on unit, works in combo with your current furnace, or kind of seperate, or?

And yes, a pellet/corn fueled device is way different than a wood stove/furnace. They are not interchangable on fuel. At all.

--->Paul

I bought a house with electric baseboard heaters, no furnace.

I have a wood pellet stove but it only heats 1 or 2 rooms.

I am familiar with pellet stoves, I just want input on pellet furnaces.

The furnace is a standalone unit, no add on. If I were to install the furnace I would still have the electric baseboards for backup heat.

I live in Ontario Canada and I too see serious winters temps.

Thanks for your input.

So, you will need to be adding duct work to your house then? I think that would be the issue? I assume you are looking at forced air, not hot water?

--->Paul

You need to buy fuel for a wood pellet. Kind of a specialty product.... corn has been and will be available for a long, long time....

I was at the box store yesterday, & 40 lbs of pellets cost $3.19.

They are offering $1.67 for 56 lbs of my corn today.

I'd sure look for a stove that can handle either fuel, not just wood pellets. Both reliable fuel supply, & fuel cost would be a bigger factor than the inital cost of the stove. Penny wise & pound foolish....

I've used neither, so just my simple opinion. :)

--->Paul

Handling - Where can you purchase corn bagged? I have no means of handling bulk.

Rodents - Corn is food, wood pellets are not. If you fill you basement with corn you will undoubtedly have problems with mice.

Cleanliness - Corn hulls can make a big mess where as pellets are fairly clean with minimal dust.

These are the major reasons I'm thinking that I would stay with pellets for now.

Thanks for replying, I appreciate it.

I actually use a wood furnace (boiler), and corncobs from my corncrib as well as wood. I'm not sure either a pellet or corn stove would be for me currently. :)

--->Paul