Forgive me, for I will be sinning

Well, I think I have come to the end of the road burning coal. As much as I hate to say it. Heading towards pellets.
With that said, is anyone interested in a Alaska Kast Console ii? The stove is at least 25 years old. It has been well taken care of. More than happy to post pictures if anyone is interested. Would also come with CoalTrol thermostat. This thing was a game changer in my mind.

I am in Carroll County Maryland.

Keep in mind that wood pellets only have 2/3 the heat value as the same weight of coal.. I dunno what pellets will cost you, but here they are $308 per ton for junk pellets. At $308 per ton you would need another 1/3 of a ton to match coal per ton. So it will take $411 worth of pellets to equal a ton of coal. Even if coal is over that cost now, I don't think it will stay that way forever.

Wood pellet prices are about to go up bigtime.

I hear you both. Not crazy about it. Main reason is I want someone to come check out the stove and give it a once over and I can’t find anyone around me to. I need to replace the gasket for the grate and would prefer a professional to get eyes on it. I’m a worrier. The last thing I want to do is mess up and run a higher risk of a hopper fire.
Definitely on the fence.

What is your plan when the pellet stove needs service?

Read up on how to make repairs. I just feel like Incant find enough information on how to replace that gasket. If I see it done once or am talked through it, I would be a lot more confident in replacing that gasket.

The grates shouldn't be all that difficult C--post pix of where you're talkin about--I bet ya get answers!!!