I have been bitten by the pellet stove bug for sure. As evidence for this I ordered my Harman XXV cast iron pellet stove, from Bernardston Farmers Supply, 2 months before we moved into our new house. My friend Bruno, who is all knowing when it comes to pellet stoves, showed me his stove and this had me hunting  for my own.

We settled on the Harman XXV stove since it fit all our needs. We where looking at something to heat our entire house, which is approximately 1900sq ft. The stove would be installed on an existing pad in the finished basement which once held a wood stove. Cast Iron was preferred since visually it looked like an old fashion. The hopper had to be big enough to run all day without refueling.

Eventually our choice of pellet stoves narrowed between the Quadra-Fire MT Vernon and the Harman XXV (pictured to right). After getting quotes from several places we went with the Harman XXV. With installation and a free ton of pellets from Harman the price difference between the 2 stoves was well over $1000, so the Harman was the logical choice.

I can honestly say that purchasing a pellet stove is #1 on our list of best purchases for our home.

Pros

• Approximately 3 months in and we have used ZERO oil to heat our house.
• Our house is toasty warm, always between 68-75 depending on the room.
• Low maintenance, a quick vacuum of the ash and a wipe of the glass.
• Very efficient in burning pellets
• Using locally made pellets, New England Pellets made 15 miles from our house
• Not using oil shipped half way around the world
• Does not get burning hot like a wood stove, much safer for my child.
• Not having to deal with fluctuating Oil prices

Cons

• Fan noise can be heard when the stove is on high (we don’t even notice it anymore).
• Keeping the hopper full with pellets
• Emptying out ash tray
• Uses Electricity

As for if the stove would save us money, it all depends on how you look at it?
I filled my 1/4 full  oil tank and it was the same cost as 2 tons of pellets delivered (our hot water uses oil for NOW). These two tons of pellets have kept my house nice and toasty during the worst of winter for going on 2+ months. I very much doubt I could say the same if using oil.

Did we save money?
I am sure if we kept the house at the temperature we would have if we where heating with oil we would save money. One of the main reasons we got our pellet stove is to not have a freezing house especially with a little one. Having a house in the low 70’s in the dead of winter was great.

June 2, 2010 update.

With the heating season officially over I am sure glad we had our stove. It really came in handy on some of those days in April when Vermont decided to drip back into the 30’s for the day. It was nice to just fill the hopper, and have a toasty house in a short amount of time.

One thing we did notice, when the outside temp towards the end of the season was 40 or so, the Harman XXV kept the house very warm and went through very little in the way of fuel. The maintenance during this time of slow burning through fuel was very minimal which was great given our busy schedule.

Fuel wise, we went through 3 tons of pellets plus maybe 20-30 bags which we bought a few at a time during the end of the heating season. In retrospect, we probably should have had another ton delivered, but buying it by the bag isn’t too bad. Still have plenty of oil in the tank, and hopefully it will be that way this time in 2011.

We are enjoying out new house, and renee is getting huge. Life seems to be going quickly which I guess is a good sign. Looking at what concerts we can go to in the new year. Festivals will be high on the list so we can bring renee.

Anyhow, she is doing great and is getting huge, probably 30″ now, how did that happen??

Even better, the minute Bush’s face came on the screen, she let out a loud dissaproving poop in her diaper. That’s our girl!!

• Tattos’s went great, tracey of luck soul tattoo did a great job yet again.
• A nice ice cream stop at ikea. Some pepe’s famous pizza for dinner.
• Me being the designated driver for kathy when we went to John Harvards for drinks and she had a few.
• Being able to sleep in late even though we both did not sleep well without renee’s constant noises.
• My parents telling us they sold our child on ebay and such when kathy called.
• Having to take the cell phone away from Kathy

All in all it was a great test run for the upcoming several days away from her. Even though we missed her, my parents had a great time with renee and she seemed to have a great time too.

1. That “new baby” smell. So intoxicating! apparently it’s so strong that other mothers can smell it from across the room and come flocking. it’s indescribable. We have some lavender baby lotion that we put on her after a bath, and when it mixes with her baby sweat….mmmmm. If only Yankee Candle could make a “lavender-tinged baby sweat” candle….

2. The fact that her hands and feet can fit right into the palm of your hand. and the way those little hands grasp at everything without yet putting it into the mouth to taste-test it!

3. The way she stretches her little body out and sways from side to side when she’s on the changing pad.

4. the beginning of those first smiles–and giggles and coos! ah, heavenly…

5. when she’s over the squalling phase but not yet into the “talking back” phase.

6. the sighs she makes in her sleep, especially when she falls asleep over your shoulder and sighs right into the crook of your neck.

7. when her hair is all messy when you pick her out of her bassinet in the morning.

8. that fat little belly and her “outie” bellybutton!

9. The fact that she stays put where you leave her for now.

10. the awe of everything. we just put up our christmas tree and she is absolutely mesmerized by the lights.

11. her fast little breathing

12. snorting through her nose when she eats

13. mouthing everything because she can’t quite tell the difference–people’s shirts, her hands, etc…especially cute is the fact that she’s just discovered the joy of sucking fingers–but hasn’t quite got the focus for it, so usually she messily slurps on a fist if she can see it.

i’m sure i can think of some more!

So far I’ve been surviving solo at home with her, still trying to get out with her a little every day, and succeeding most days. I do miss the hubby though, it was a special kind of happiness to have us both enjoying the baby together and watching her cute antics. It gets a bit lonely at home, especially when the weather is crappy. But I’ve managed to visit a few folks and attend the “new moms group” at the hospital, which has been nice. Just have to take it one day at a time with my little sidekick.

she’s been starting to smile more and even coo a little…in fact the girl never shuts up,with all the cooing and grunting that goes on! it’s hilarious.

hope everyone is staying well and keepin warm and avoiding s.a.d!!