| If you think about it, spending a ton of money on | | | | heating capacity of your pellet stove. A heat |
| a new pellet stove for the privilege of burning | | | | output control will ensure maximum comfort from |
| cheaper fuel defeats the whole purpose. | | | | minimal fuel. Heat output controls can take the |
| However, if you can buy a slightly used pellet | | | | form of a thermostat, hi/lo blower or variable |
| stove for half price - or less, you've saved | | | | speed auger that controls the rate pellets are fed |
| enough money to pay for a year's worth of corn | | | | into the burn pot. |
| or wood pellet fuel. | | | | Air Washing System |
| Buying a used pellet stove for your home | | | | Believe it or not, the #1 complaint people have |
| requires no more time or effort than buying a | | | | with pellet stoves is dirty viewing glass. An air |
| new one. In one respect it's easier since you have | | | | washing system, now standard on many new |
| fewer choices. But lack of choice doesn't have to | | | | pellet stoves, removes the fly ash from the |
| mean lack of quality. I'm sure the current owner | | | | viewing window and eliminates frequent cleaning. |
| of any stove you look at will tell you it was the | | | | Extras |
| best stove they could get at the time. | | | | Many sellers of used pellet stoves include the |
| If your search for a pellet stove has just begun, | | | | venting pipe, hearth pad, log set, and any left |
| new or used, the following buying guide will | | | | over pellet fuel in the purchase price. These |
| provide the information you need to make an | | | | extras can add up to hundreds of dollars in |
| informed decision. | | | | additional savings. |
| Visit your local building department | | | | Where to Look for a Used Pellet Stove |
| Installing a wood or pellet stove usually requires a | | | | Start with craigslist. Since most used pellet stove |
| building permit. While you're picking up your permit | | | | sellers offer pick up only, craigslist enables you to |
| application, tell them the type of heating appliance | | | | refine your search by City or State. This is a big |
| you plan to install and ask what kind of additional | | | | time saver. A recent check in the Boston area |
| documentation, if any, is required. This is especially | | | | turned up 12 used stoves within a 50 mile radius |
| important if you own a mobile or modular home. | | | | of my home.ebay has plenty of listings too, you |
| When I talked to the City of Quincy building | | | | just won't find as many local sellers as you will on |
| department, they said a product brochure with | | | | craigslist. When I narrowed my ebay results to a |
| clearance and venting information would be helpful. | | | | 50 mile radius of my zip code using the Search |
| You can get all this information by visiting the | | | | Option function, it returned only 1 seller. |
| stove manufacture's website, downloading the | | | | However, ebay will conveniently notify you by |
| owner's manual and printing it out. | | | | email whenever a new listing pops up. Another |
| Choose your fuel and stove size | | | | option is to delay payment for 3 months by using |
| If you live in the Corn Belt, the choice of fuel is | | | | the ebay credit card. |
| obvious. If you live in the Northeast, the fuel of | | | | Here's a search tip: A search on either craigslist or |
| choice is wood pellets. Since fuel corn is | | | | ebay will turn up MORE used pellet stoves if you |
| "imported" to the Northeast, the price of wood | | | | use the term "pellet stove" rather than the |
| pellets is competitive with corn. Wood pellet fuel is | | | | narrower "used pellet stove." Also try "pellet", |
| also becoming a common commodity in home | | | | "wood pellet", or a brand name, such as |
| improvement stores as more home owners in | | | | "Englander". |
| this region purchase wood pellet stoves. | | | | How Much Can I Expect to Save? |
| You don't need a big stove to save big. Most of | | | | Generally speaking, the higher the original retail |
| the used corn and wood pellet stoves I've seen | | | | price, the more you will save percentage wise. |
| produce 35,000-45,000 btus - enough to heat a | | | | Stoves that sold for $3,000 new can often be |
| typical 1,200 square foot ranch or the main living | | | | purchased used at savings of 50-70%. Stoves |
| areas of a two story home. | | | | priced new under $2,000 seem to depreciate less. |
| If you can get a good deal on a larger, 50-60,000 | | | | Delivery |
| btu stove, one of these will work great too since | | | | If you choose to pay for delivery, call someone |
| these high output models come equipped with 5 | | | | like Yellow Truck or a courier service to make |
| heat settings ranging from a low of 8,000 btus | | | | arrangements. If you buy from an ebay seller |
| for chilly days, to max power for the coldest | | | | willing to ship the stove, a freight shipping |
| weather. | | | | calculator is provided on the sales page. |
| Look for these features and extras: | | | | No matter who ships your stove, make the sure |
| Electronic Ignition | | | | the truck they send has a lift gate so you can |
| Just because you're buying a used pellet stove | | | | get your 300 pound stove off the truck. |
| doesn't mean you should return to the dark ages | | | | Installation |
| of pellet stove heating with gel starters. Frankly, I | | | | Most cities and towns require a licensed pro to |
| wouldn't buy a stove without electronic ignition. | | | | complete the installation. If you're an experienced |
| Large Hopper Capacity | | | | home owner, finding one shouldn't be a problem. If |
| A standard size hopper holds 40 pounds of pellet | | | | you're new to home ownership, I recommend a |
| fuel. This is enough fuel to heat your home for | | | | service like Need Contractor for a list of |
| 20-30 hours. A larger capacity hopper, although | | | | pre-screened contractors is your area. |
| not necessary, adds convenience by requiring less | | | | Contact the Seller |
| frequent fillings. | | | | Don't hesitate to contact the seller with any |
| Heat Output Controls | | | | questions you might have. He or shecan be |
| During the months that transition in and out of | | | | especially helpful in determining whether the used |
| the heating season, you won't need the full | | | | pellet stove for sale is stillunder warranty. |