Winter Prep Already?!?!

[RCW]

Just replaced the Igniter on mine, just need to replace the door Gasket once I start to run it.
Found this place for OEM parts Wood Pellet Stove Parts and Grill Replacement Parts (pellet-stove-parts-4less.com)

Tom - - do you have a Harman also? Seems like there was someone else on OTT with a Harman, or even a Harman XXV???

I've used the vendor you link many times too with good results.

Also use this one. Pellet Stove, Fireplace Inserts & Grill Store | Earth Sense (pellethead.com)

I think both are on Amazon.

 

[Tughill Tom]

Yea, I have an Absolut here and had 2- XXV's one in NJ and the other up here in a house I flipped. The only board I replaced was due to a lighting strike in NJ stove.

 

[RCW]

I had a Harman pellet stove, and I was happy the day that I bought it, and sad also. I lost my greyhound that day to her hips finally failing. The next happiest day with that pellet stove was the day that I gave it away. I can't count the number of circuit boards that I had replaced in that stove. I have no idea why the boards go bad, since the rest of the stove worked so well. Had the stove about 10 years, but with the cost of pellets getting more expensive, it made propane a better choice for heating.

Dusty - - what dirtydeed and I bantered back and forth was component replacements.

In 17 seasons and nearly 100 tons of pellets, I've replaced a lot of stuff. Some preventive as it's our primary heat. Some due to failures.

Changed out combustion blower this week as preventive, might still have to do ignitor.

Probably replaced circuit board 2 times, but twice in last week...

What had me baffled was the circuit board was OEM and new in box, sitting in my garage for 3 years. Was obviously FUBAR.

New board received yesterday is same vendor, same part #, same dipswitch settings, and I'm apparently okay now.

Do you think the board in the garage got "whacked" by something (lightening?) or was it bad when I got it? Maybe I f'd it up installing, but I've done them before......

 

[RCW]

It's Alive....It's Alive.....

Geddy approves - - was in front of it within 30 seconds (not very cold in here either).

 

[RCW]

Yea, I have an Absolut here and had 2- XXV's one in NJ and the other up here in a house I flipped. The only board I replaced was due to a lighting strike in NJ stove.

Got it - - you were the one with a couple XXV and still have a Harman.

Have you had any circuit board issues? My earlier replacements seemed warranted. One board might have been aftermarket.

Kind of glad the ignitor is okay so far. Pain in the neck to replace on the XXV for me. Have one on the shelf.....that is aftermarket, but seem to past better than OEM for a fraction of the $$.

 

[DustyRusty]

I have no idea why the boards kept going bad on my stove, but it was the only thing that I ever had to replace on the stove. Possibly because I cleaned the stove every few months and vacuumed out the dust that the stove didn't approve of my care of it? I would even attempt to keep the glass in the door clean as best as I could.

 

[RCW]

I have no idea why the boards kept going bad on my stove, but it was the only thing that I ever had to replace on the stove. Possibly because I cleaned the stove every few months and vacuumed out the dust that the stove didn't approve of my care of it? I would even attempt to keep the glass in the door clean as best as I could.

That sounds like normal cleaning during the heating season. I do the same and wouldn’t expect it to shorten the life of a circuit board.

I haven’t documented same, but guess I generally get several years from a circuit board - maybe 5 or so?

That’s until today when I went through 2….

 

[ctfjr]

My winter prep started here also. We loaded my 55 gallon drum / diesel tank onto my son's pickup & filled it at the local gas station ($3.29 / gal). Added some Sta-Bil and Opti-Lube to it all. Should be enough fuel until next spring.
I have it stored on a rolling drum dolly. Used the forks to pick it up - dolly and drum. Took it off the same way.

Powered from 12 volt 20amp outlet I installed on the front of the tractor.

 

[Sidekick]

I have no idea why the boards kept going bad on my stove, but it was the only thing that I ever had to replace on the stove. Possibly because I cleaned the stove every few months and vacuumed out the dust that the stove didn't approve of my care of it? I would even attempt to keep the glass in the door clean as best as I could.

Vacuuming can cause bad static that could possibly damage boards if everything isn't grounded properly. Also power line surges are bad in my area as they are trying to balance the overloaded grid lines constantly and can easily blow a board. We lost a cook stove board over them. Try a surge suppressor if you don't already have one.

 

[dirtydeed]

X2 on the surge suppressor. I have one here as well since I'm the very last house on the line.

While I don't wish to jinx myself, I haven't needed to replace the board in the stove. The stove was here when we bought the place 8 years ago. I don't recall when the original owner bought it (2010?).

In any event, I wish that I had brought my wood stove from my last house. Very reliable. I just didn't think I'd have enough free wood to support it here. I had an endless supply of free good hardwood at my last place.

Lopi Liberty wood stove

 

[JRHill]

Firewood is sufficient. Oil is fresh in the genset. Only one rig left to drain and refresh some antifreeze and additive. Propane delivered today. The Almanack calls for chilly and wet which at our elevation could mean some interesting snow. It's been at least 4 years since we've had anything the req'd all four on the pickups to be chained.

We'll See!

 

[Tughill Tom]

Just finished changing out the gear box, front diff oil to full synthetic, greased chassis and rotated the tires. All set for winter and plowing with the Can-am Limited.
Just need 1 more ton of pellets to pick up and I'll be set.

 

[Lil Foot]

After clearing my property lines for my new fence, I now have the largest stockpile of oak, juniper, & cedar
I've ever had. (about 3 real cords)
But half of it isn't dry yet, and only about half is split.
But at the rate I use it, that will be a few winters' worth.

 

[RCW]

Just finished changing out the gear box, front diff oil to full synthetic, greased chassis and rotated the tires. All set for winter and plowing with the Can-am Limited.
Just need 1 more ton of pellets to pick up and I'll be set.

I have a half ton left from last season and typically burn about 5. Haven’t gotten any yet.

Last couple years burned 100% Hardwood from Lowes. Short trip and burn well.

Was in Lowes this morning and they have them for $8.48/bag. Better than last year ($9.25) but still steep. Softwood blend was $6.88.

 

[Tughill Tom]

I have a half ton left from last season and typically burn about 5. Haven’t gotten any yet.

Last couple years burned 100% Hardwood from Lowes. Short trip and burn well.

Was in Lowes this morning and they have them for $8.48/bag. Better than last year ($9.25) but still steep. Softwood blend was $6.88.

Found a place North of me that has Dry Creek for $299 a Ton

 

[RCW]

Found a place North of me that has Dry Creek for $299 a Ton

That's a super buy in this era!

I burned Dry Creek from a local guy for a few years at $250 or so - and that was a while ago. I think I got New England from him as well.

I sent a lot of business his way, but after a while I got so couldn't do business with him. My choice and I'll leave it there.

Haul was 20 miles or triple the haul that I can do now.

Not a fan of Lowes or the price. Short trip is good. Product is good.

I'll deal with it. Convenience comes with a price. In this instance I've been okay with the convenience factor.

Still a lot cheaper than fuel oil.

 

[Moose7060]

Wood stove cleaned as well as the chimney. Only use it as a backup. Natural gas heats the home, garage, shop, water heater and the boss's gas stove. Last year came to $1020.00 in gas bills.
Haven't had freezing temperatures yet, but won't be long before I'll need to put away hoses and rain barrels, etc.

 

[RCW]

I’m late getting the winter stockpile finalized but I should be good until March. Depends on what Mother Nature sends our way this season.

My garage is always full this time of year

 

[Sidekick]

I’m late getting the winter stockpile finalized but I should be good until March. Depends on what Mother Nature sends our way this season.

My garage is always full this time of year

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I recently read that the pellet cost is very high this year making heating with electricity cheaper in most areas.

 

[Stmar]

Have been $225-250/ton last few years, but at $375 this year. Use about 1.3 +/- bags/day, or about $10 worth.

Last I heard oil was $4.79/gal. When only on oil, use about 5 gal/day, or about $24.

We are about $350 per ton, no preseason sale this year which is unusual. Cleaned and did annual maintenance last month on pellet stove. Put chains and snow blade on the Kubota yesterday, expecting storm later this week.