I have been some more research... I think I've gotten a little obsessed with this! It seems like I've come full circle back to the Rinnai direct vented space heaters. Here in NJ right outside of NY I don't think that corn is ever going to be a readily available fuel. As it is pellets are going for 300 a ton. I am back to gas ($1.45 per therm), and now thinking about the Rinnai heater. It is an ugly thing but it runs at 84% AFUE. I've been trying to get some hard info on AFUE so I can compare apples to apples and what I've found from both pellet and the "aesthetic" gas stoves is that they are around 70%! All this and gas is cheaper per BTU even before you consider efficiency which just makes the gap larger. Hmmmm.

 

I have switched companies a couple times and they asked me.

 

Probably didn't give my wood stove a chance and learn everything about it's operation. I did use the controls (only had one) to help control the burn, but the house would still be cool when we got home after a long days work.

With that said, I glad I made the decision to go with our pellet stove.

Has anyone used the quartz heat boxes that I have seen advertised? They say that they heat for the cost of running a coffee pot and are very safe. They show a cat sitting on top of the cabinet when it is running. I think one is Suntwin and the other Edenpure.

 

I had a King wood/coal stove for about 15 years. It finally went on me the heating season of 05/06 so I replaced it with a pellet stove. It works ok but I think I will go back to a wood/coal stove next year.Reason being that the pellet stove just is to noisey. The blower motor the augers its annoying trying to watch TV. I payed $204 a ton at tractor supply for the pellets while a ton of chestnut coal is still under $150.

I have the metalbestos pipe for the flue so that is really the major expense.I have been looking into an add on unit and just plumb it into the ducted hot air.

 

maybe they're dog people.