OT: Pellet stoves

Okay, so I couldn't take the suspense for another 2 weeks and called dead river to get my new budget payment for our oil.  I thought I might get lucky and keep the same payment since I had a $280 credit from last year (from being extra cautious with the heat, blocking off the rooms we weren't using etc. ).  So my new budget payment (including the credit already on the books) is nearly $100 more a month (year round). So I was wondering if anyone has a pellet stove or knows anything about them.  How much they cost, how much pellets you would need for the season, cost of pellets etc.  I am sure the cost of those will go up soon too as everyone scrambles to try to figure somethng out,  With twins, the cost of our oil and propane payments going up so much...it just stinks on the pocket book.

My sister has one in the old farm house and it works well but goes through a lot of pellets I could ask how much if you like. We are going to get a new furnace this year hoping to save bout 50% on our oil bill.

My husband and I have decided to get one this year. He has done a lot of research and most people agree that it takes about 3 tons to heat a home for the winter. The cost is between 230 and 250$ per ton. That is 750$ for the winter. It costs that much for like 150 gallons which does not last too long like a month!!! I hope it helps cause we cant take this big hit we have been taking every winter. We also just put up a windmill. It is too early to tell you the benefits of that yet. (another of my hubby's ideas). We hope it saves us on our electric bill. It should. We are looking at a pellet stove that they have at Aubuchon and at Home Depot that is 1300 to 1500$ and should heat up to 1800 sq feet.

I talked to my uncle last night who used one all last year.  He said it cost him about $4 a day to heat his house (4 bedroom cape with upstairs.  He said 3 tons is about what you should have on hand.  He gave me some pointers to look for from his experience.  He si actually just got another (more pretty one) for the living room and is moving his old one out to an addition.  He said at least 34,000 BTU for my place (around 1200 sq ft (not counting the finished basement).  He also said to go for a bottom feeding one not top feeding.  And while his was great last year, he had wished he got one with the remote thermostat (which is what he got in the new one). He said you can get them anywhere from $800-$3000 depending on what you want.  He gets his from fireside stove shop in Auburn, but says you can get them cheaper at Lowes and Northern Tool online.  But if buysing from Northern tool make sure you now exactly what you want since returns would be pricey with shipping.  He said he installed it through his livingroom wall in about an hour. I am going to start looking for some and see if it is a possibility (don't want to charge one).