Pellet stoves are a new and efficient means of heating the home. Gradually gaining in popularity, they reside in hundreds of thousands of homes. They are often smaller than their wood stove brethren and do not require the installation of a full-height chimney or flue. This saves money in the long run. They burn pellets made of wood shavings, sawdust, corn and other biomass materials. Pellet stoves burn with 75 to 90 percent overall efficiency–coming in as the most efficient heat source on the market. Families with young children may rest easy with the pellet stove as it uses convective heat, meaning it does not get hot to the touch.
Types of Pellet Stoves
A free standing pellet stove heats one room well, but needs a fan to force the heat into other rooms. It also requires an electric outlet to run the motor. Pellet stove fireplaces take the pellets from the holding bin and deliver them to the combustion chamber with something called an auger. A control or a thermostat regulates the auger, controlling the heat of the room. An alternative to the free standing stoves is a pellet stove fireplace insert. For homeowners with an existing fireplace this may be a more cost-efficient means of installing a pellet stove.
Homeowners also have the choice between a top-fed or a bottom-fed pellet stove. Top-fed stoves have a different burning system and as such, have less of a chance of burning back into the holding chamber. However, ash tends to build up in the combustion chamber, requiring special low-ash pellets. Bottom-fed stoves have an ash pan that collects the ash. Owners of this kind of pellet stove will have to empty the tray about once a week, but do not have to buy low-ash pellets.
Stove Pellets
The fuel burned in these stoves are 3/8 to 1 inch long pellets made out of sawdust, corn, wood shavings and other biomass materials. Most of these materials would end up rotting in a landfill if they were not otherwise employed. The pellets are sold in 40 pound bags. In the stoves, they burn hot and efficiently, as they contain little moisture.
Pellets used to be expensive because of shipping costs and a lack of suppliers. Over time, however, as the popularity of the stoves increased, so did the supply of pellets. Now, thousands of garden and hardware stores carry the pellets in addition to suppliers who specialize in pellet development. Homeowners should make sure they have a reliable supplier before installing the stove.
Save on Energy Bills with Pellet Stoves
Pellet stoves cost between $1,700 and $3,000. The installation costs are less than that of wood-burning stoves, so homeowners will save money with this alternative. On the whole, it costs less to fuel pellet stoves as well over the course of a year. Most of these pellet stove fireplaces qualify for a tax credit worth 30 percent of the cost of installation up to $1,500 if installed in 2010.
Homeowners should consider purchasing a pellet stove as an alternative option to heat their homes. With the correct installation and maintenance it is an efficient, environmentally friendly and cost-effective investment over time.
Sources:
- The Old House Web. "How to Choose a Pellet Stove" (accessed April 27, 2010).
- Consumer Reports. "Buying Guide for Pellet- and Wood-burning Stoves" (accessed April 27, 2010).
- Don Vandervort's Home Tips. "Pellet Stoves: Advantages of Burning Pellets" (accessed April 27, 2010).
Sarah Morse - Sarah Morse recently graduated from Smith College with a degree in English Language and Literature. She is soon attending graduate school ...
