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[Scott7m]

Well for one, John Deere lawn mowers don't come from a box store.  Those are MTD and simply bought the rights to use John Deere logos n such. 

Do you folks not remember a time when you purchased locally to support your own community, sometimes things go wrong that arent so simple configure out.  It's nice to have someone with personal experience to help. 

Lets say your stove leaks, that hardware store won't do anything for you, company will tell you to send it back and you end up having 500 in freight both ways, where if you had a good dealer he could have brought the stove back tom his place and fixed it for you..   

Another thing, companies making these stoves often learn aboutnthere stoves from there dealers, there not then ones doing the leg work.  So when changes are made it usually comes from a dealer explaining something to the co to improve the stove.

[MattyNH]

Well that mower I bought was cover under John Deere warranty.. In it has a home service sticker on the mower by a john deere dealership same with scotts...

 Totally agree with buying local.. Keep the small guy going...These days its hard.. being the cost..
I guess what Im saying theres nothing wrong with the guy doing it on his own..I don't know anyone personally that had a dealer install the OWB..Like me..I hired a electrician and a plumber..I had access to a tractor to dig the ditch..The dealer wanted crazy money to do the whole job and that was 5 yrs ago. As far as parts I either call the dealer or manufacture  up or buy it online..No problem..In fact he's been over in the past when I had a problem at first..
 Far as what your said about freight..bro-law had a problem with boiler..went to the dealer.. OWB had to be sent back to manufacture..Still  had to pay for the freight...Maybe its different from dealer to dealer...

[Freekazoidd]

I checked out the stoves they sell and don't really know what to expect.  They do have a deal on a couple of their models that you can get a log splitter or a trailer with them, but no one was around that knew anything on Sunday, so I will be going back there to get the details. I saw a few that looked to be scratch and dent models, maybe were damaged in transit? Will post more on them when I get the information. All I have now is brochures. Still not sure on what types are good or bad, or what I should be looking for in a OWB.

[MattyNH]

I checked out the stoves they sell and don't really know what to expect.  They do have a deal on a couple of their models that you can get a log splitter or a trailer with them, but no one was around that knew anything on Sunday, so I will be going back there to get the details. I saw a few that looked to be scratch and dent models, maybe were damaged in transit? Will post more on them when I get the information. All I have now is brochures. Still not sure on what types are good or bad, or what I should be looking for in a OWB.

           Well you will get a lot of information on here..Do you know anyone personally that has a OWB? This site lists a bunch of manufactures web sites good way of getting what each brand is like..Another good indication is when you drive out and about.. What brand of OWB's you see in people yards..Probably the # 1 brand i see in my area is Central Boiler..Then I see Aqua-Therm, Woodmaster, Wood Doctor, Hawken are the other brands that I see in people's yards..I do see a new dealership in Maine for Portage & Main..Im sure I'll be seeing them around

[Scott7m]

Well I guess that's where I get screwed...  I've been doing the complete installation including the ditch for like 600 bucks....  It is worth way more than that, but I've been trying to help the folks as much as possible

[Freekazoidd]

I checked out the stoves they sell and don't really know what to expect.  They do have a deal on a couple of their models that you can get a log splitter or a trailer with them, but no one was around that knew anything on Sunday, so I will be going back there to get the details. I saw a few that looked to be scratch and dent models, maybe were damaged in transit? Will post more on them when I get the information. All I have now is brochures. Still not sure on what types are good or bad, or what I should be looking for in a OWB.

           Well you will get a lot of information on here..Do you know anyone personally that has a OWB? This site lists a bunch of manufactures web sites good way of getting what each brand is like..Another good indication is when you drive out and about.. What brand of OWB's you see in people yards..Probably the # 1 brand i see in my area is Central Boiler..Then I see Aqua-Therm, Woodmaster, Wood Doctor, Hawken are the other brands that I see in people's yards..I do see a new dealership in Maine for Portage & Main..Im sure I'll be seeing them around

Amazingly enough there are only a  couple of OWB  that I see driving 35 miles to work. I have taken many different ways in. I think most people in my travels have either propane or natural gas. The two that I do see are dark charcoal gray. Keep telling myself I need to stop in and ask.

[woodman]

I checked out the stoves they sell and don't really know what to expect.  They do have a deal on a couple of their models that you can get a log splitter or a trailer with them, but no one was around that knew anything on Sunday, so I will be going back there to get the details. I saw a few that looked to be scratch and dent models, maybe were damaged in transit? Will post more on them when I get the information. All I have now is brochures. Still not sure on what types are good or bad, or what I should be looking for in a OWB.

           Well you will get a lot of information on here..Do you know anyone personally that has a OWB? This site lists a bunch of manufactures web sites good way of getting what each brand is like..Another good indication is when you drive out and about.. What brand of OWB's you see in people yards..Probably the # 1 brand i see in my area is Central Boiler..Then I see Aqua-Therm, Woodmaster, Wood Doctor, Hawken are the other brands that I see in people's yards..I do see a new dealership in Maine for Portage & Main..Im sure I'll be seeing them around

Amazingly enough there are only a  couple of OWB  that I see driving 35 miles to work. I have taken many different ways in. I think most people in my travels have either propane or natural gas. The two that I do see are dark charcoal gray. Keep telling myself I need to stop in and ask.

I can't remember exactly where you said you lived in Michigan but, if you are ever near South Haven area you can take a look at mine which is a Hawken.

[skyking]

I live about  15 miles north of Marlette and have P&M 250 Optimizer (gasser) that I put in last fall and have been running all winter.  You're welcome to come look at it if you want.  PM me and we'll talk.

[Freekazoidd]

I can't remember exactly where you said you lived in Michigan but, if you are ever near South Haven area you can take a look at mine which is a Hawken.
[/quote]

 Thanks, but that would be an extensive trip! I am in the thumb, 4 miles east of Mayville.

[merrellroofing]

I am between flint and Lansing. Probably an hour away.

[Freekazoidd]

I live about  15 miles north of Marlette and have P&M 250 Optimizer (gasser) that I put in last fall and have been running all winter.  You're welcome to come look at it if you want.  PM me and we'll talk.

Check your PM's

[Drifter]

Another new wannabe here. I am in west central Illinois about 200 mile north of St Louis right along the big river. I saw something I have to chime in on as unfortunately I have experience with.

Guys need to be careful buying stoves from box type stores.  If they don't install and service them your best to walk on by and find someone who does this for a living

I bought an Englander brand corn burner through a box store. Service from them was to give me an 800 number. The resulting service was after a couple problems they would not answer the phone or Emails. ended up it is now a garage ornament. Between the frustration of trying to get it to burn right and high grain prices it is just another of life's experiences.

Tri state stove is fairly close by as is a Yoder by Donelson Iowa. Yoder handles the Acme OWB . I have a neighbor that is on his 2nd season burning an Aquatherm. Seems with the wide open access to the stack it would loose a lot of heat.

I have base board finned tube in the house already so am looking at a boiler. My old gas forced air furnace is pretty much toast at 30 years old. We now heat with an inside wood burner but is a pain as we are sometimes gone for over 12 hours a day. I am thinking of putting up a garage with a room separate for the OWB. Any thoughts and advice is welcome as I m still procrastinating like always.:GRIN:

[Bull]

Welcome to the site Drifter

[Scott7m]

Thanks for joining drifter

Now more so than ever is finding a good dealer/manufacturer more important.  Most companies we know today likely won't be here when the EPA gets there regulations set in place.  So shop smart and hopefully buy from a company that already has a well developed phase 2 program whether you buy a gasser or not

[woodstovemomma]

Ridgewood Stoves are great. Any issues are unlikely but the owner will help you asap, I mean  asap! So affordable too