A pellet stove is a great alternative to traditional heating sources. It provides enough heat for the surrounding rooms and can often heat your whole home, and that’s why maintenance is so important on this common appliance. 

When it comes to the decision between making repairs and getting a new one, you'll often find that it's cheaper to make the repairs. A new pellet stove can cost a lot of money, not including the installation cost. Even if you buy the same model, you may find that it takes more time to install than you thought. 

However, sometimes the repairs and maintenance pile up and it’s easier and cheaper to just replace it. It really depends on each homeowner’s situation, so keep reading to learn whether you should go for pellet stove repair or replacement. 

“If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes." – John Wooden

Age

One thing to consider is the age of your stove. Pellet stoves last longer than you might think, especially if you have a modern one. Those built after 2000 use modern forms of technology and new parts with a long lifespan. 

You can expect to get between 12 and 15 years of use out of your stove. If yours is nearing the end of this time frame, buying a new one may be a better choice than paying for pellet stove repair.

Ignition Basics

All stoves have an ignition or an igniter. This is what you press to turn on the stove and light the fire that turns wood pellets into heat. Even stoves used solely for cooking have an ignition. 

A good ignition will last for eight years or up to 2,000 cycles, which refers to how many times you run or use the stove. Once you reach 1,500 cycles, you need to keep an eye out for warning signs that you need to replace it. 

With pellet stove servicing, a technician can ensure that the stove runs well and is in good condition.

Blower Issues

The blower is the part of the stove that fans the flames and keeps the fire burning. Your model may have a convection blower or a combustion blower. 

  • Combustion blowers usually last for eight years or 15,000 hours. This means that you can run the stove for nearly two years every day without having any problems. 
  • Convection blowers can last for a decade or longer. 

Blowers are often expensive and take a lot of time to repair, so when the blower goes out, opting for a new stove is usually your best bet.

Gaskets

Pellet stoves have gaskets that perform different functions such as sealing the fire inside to keep your home safe. It doesn't take a lot of time or experience to replace the gaskets. You can often find videos online that show you how to replace them in your specific model. 

Most gaskets last for a minimum of three years, but some gaskets last for as long as five years. As long as you just need to replace the gaskets, you can repair the stove.

Burn Pots

No matter what type of pellet stove you have, it will feature a burn pot. Usually made from cast iron or another durable material, it is the part of the stove that holds the fire. You'll often find that you can open the door and check the burn pot without removing anything from the stove. 

Most burn pots last for five to seven years. It depends on how often you use the stove and how hot the fire burns. You can replace the burn pot yourself or hire a wood pellet stove repair tech to do the job to make sure there are no leaks.

Experience Level

Another thing to keep in mind when looking at whether to repair or replace your pellet stove is your experience level. Have you worked on pellet stoves before or at least feel handy? Or is your pellet stove too old and too complicated for you to maintain?

A pellet stove technician can also come out and repair the stove for you and can often do the job in less time than it would take you, but sometimes opting for a more modern option can be the best choice if you would rather prevent any headaches. 

Cost

It all comes down to cost for many homeowners. The average pellet stove repair cost ranges from around $100 for a minor repair to $500 or more for more serious repairs. It's easy to get a quote or an estimate from a technician to find out what your stove needs. You can then compare that cost to the cost of a new stove. 

If your stove has serious issues that will cost more to repair than a new one costs, buying one is a better choice. You just need to make sure that you factor in the installation cost as well. 

With these tips, you will have no problem deciding between repairing or replacing your pellet stove!


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