Buying a Second-hand Pellet Stove
Many people are resorting to buying a pellet stove in order to save money on heating bills. But if you think about it, spending money on an expensive brand new pellet stove defeats your purpose of saving. Why buy an unused stove where you can get one for a half the price? With these enormous savings, you can even afford to pay for one year’s worth of fuel.
Buying a second-hand item has pros and cons. It is easier because you have limited choices plus you can save more money. However, it is very difficult to assure the quality of what you’re buying since you’re not its first owner. Moreover, there are updated models already out in the market. But if you do decide to settle for a second-hand pellet stove, here are a few tips on how you can make an informed choice.
Do your research first. You can immediately narrow down your choices to several pellet stoves once you’ve determined the following factors: the heating features of your house (i.e. the materials it is made of and kind of insulation), layout and size of your house (refer to the floor plan that has the dimensions of the rooms), intended purpose (heating whole or merely part of the house), and desired temperature range for both daytime and nighttime. Also determine what fuel type you need. Some fuel types are not available in all states. They may also be more expensive in some areas than in others, depending on the supplier. This factor may highly affect the cost-effectiveness of your setup.
Once you’ve identified what kind of pellet stove that you need, you should start searching for the model that would be closest to your preferences and needs. You may check the newspaper classifieds for ads or you may go to retailers that carry used pellet stoves. But if you want a more convenient way of shopping, you may start your search online. Web classified and auctions such as Craigslist and eBay contain a lot of listings. You may narrow down your search based on the brand or model that you want, and your location, among other filters.
Finally, check for the sweet extras that used pellet stove sellers include in the package. These may include the hearth pad, log set, venting pipe, and any leftover pellets. Free shipping may also be included. These small things can add up to a lot of savings on your part.
In general, buying second-hand pellet stoves can save you more money depending on their original retail price. The observed trend is that the higher the original price tag, the more the stove depreciates. No buyer would want to purchase a used item for a high price. Thus, sellers whose stoves originally cost a lot are forced to price their items lower, usually at 50 to 70 percent off.
After you’ve made a deal with a seller, talk with him/her about the delivery setup – how it will be delivered, who will do it, and when. Furthermore, don’t hesitate to contact him/her regarding any questions that you may have about, say, installation and the warranty of the pellet stove.