Thinking about a pellet stove this winter? You may want to consider it, they burn cleanly, produce tons of heat and do not require much maintenance. Most people that already own a pellet stove say they love it.

Pellet stove are similar to wood stoves but burn pellets rather than cord wood. Pellets are compressed hardwood that are approx. 1/4 inch diameter and 3/4 inch long. Pellets are commonly available in 40# bags and made from compressed sawdust and waste wood, thereby making them very eco friendly. The byproducts would otherwise be dumped into landfills or left somewhere to rot. Another great point, the CO2 level exhausted by a pellet stove is similar to the carbon released when wood decomposes naturally.

The Pellet Fuel Institute grades pellets and it is important to buy high-quality hardwood pellets from a manufacturer that is a member of the Pellet Fuels Institute. Pellets are typically sold by the ton with the average home consumption being 2-3 tons per heating season. A ton of pellets is 50 of the 40# bags and costs from $200 to $300.

Pellet Stoves

How does a pellet stove work? Pellets are poured into the storage hopper located on the top of the stove. The pellets are transferred from the hopper to the burn chamber by means of an auger (similar system to that which the old coal fired units used). Electronic sensors activate the auger when additional fuel is needed in the firepot. Generally a small handful of pellets is all that is ever in the pot at any given time.

Air for combustion is pulled from the outside via a blower which also causes the exhaust gases to be expelled through a stainless steel exhaust system. A separate blower, called a convection blower, draws air from the room into and around the stove and the heated air is then transferred into the room through a series of heat exchange tubes. A thermostat will automatically drive the stove to deliver a preset amount of heat into the room.

Similar to wood stoves, pellets stoves come in different configurations - freestanding models and inserts for existing fireplaces. Pellets stoves have a lot of heating power and while they generally provide only supplemental heat, some models are capable of heating entire homes.

Pellet stoves can produce up to 50,000 BTU or more, enough to heat up to 2000 sq ft of living area in your home. Smaller units are available for smaller areas and prices will vary from $1000 to $5000.

Given the extreme hot temperature that the pellet stoves operate, there is very little ash left behind, nothing like wood stoves. Pellets stove ash dumps generally require only weekly maintenance with daily use of the stove. Also the clean hot burn eliminates any build up of dangerous creosote (main cause of chimney fire) in the chimney vent.

If you are considering purchasing a pellet stove, a few things should be considered. The weight - up to 400 pounds) of the stove is important considering where you might want to place the stove. If you are installation yourself, you will need plenty of help moving the stove into your home. Also you should consider the structure of your home making sure that there is ample support in the location you choose for the stove. Also you must set the stove on a non-combustible surface such as a hearth pad.

The pellet stove venting must be done precisely according to the manufacturer's installation instructions. Each pellet stove manufacturer will have different requirements regarding how the stove is vented and where you can locate the stove with regard to windows, doors, and other combustible materials. Many online suppliers, such as woodstoves-fireplaces.com offer free technical assistance for the purchase and installation of the pellet stove.

Pellet stove thermostats come in various models, some wireless and others are hardwired. Wireless is generally used more due to the simplicity of installation - no wires to run in walls.

As with a wood stove in a room, having a ceiling fan with your pellet stove will help move the heated air off the ceiling and into the area the is occupied.

With 8.8 million households in the United States using wood stoves as a secondary source for heating , regular maintenance and cleaning of the appliance is a necessity for many people nationwide. However, many wood stove owners may not be familiar with the importance of cleaning their stoves, how to do it, or when to let a professional step in. Whether you’ve just installed a wood stove in preparation for winter or you’ve had one for some time, here are some of the basics about care and cleaning that you should know.

The importance of proper care

While cleaning your wood stove might sound redundant (until it becomes noticeable), it’s an important part of owning a wood stove that should never be overlooked. This is because an unclean stove — including both the chimney and flue — can not only prevent it from working properly, but can easily become a fire hazard due to the build-up of creosote , which also makes it a health hazard as well. With that said, the cleaning and proper care of your wood stove are necessary for proper efficiency and safety, as regular maintenance can help keep your stove in an ideal condition that doesn't harm anyone's health.

Cleaning your stove

While how often your wood stove gets cleaned depends upon how often it’s used, it should still be done at least once a year. When it does need to be cleaned, always begin with the stove completely cold in order to avoid burning yourself. Then, you can scoop out the ashes with an ash shovel and wire brush and put them in a metal bucket. Next, scour the buildup and rust off with a wire brush. The exterior of the stove can easily be cleaned with a vinegar solution and rag. As for the glass, a cold piece of charcoal can easily rub away any soot, and after you wipe it with a paper towel, you’ll find that it’s clean. However, when it comes to cleaning more complicated aspects of your stove — like the chimney and flue — calling a professional can be a good idea.

When to call a professional

Calling a professional to clean your stove is never a bad idea, especially if you don’t feel comfortable with cleaning the stove yourself or don’t have the proper equipment to do so safely. Professionals can ensure that your stove is properly and safely cleaned , inspected, and safe for use. Many may use high tech equipment as well, which can be expensive to buy and hard to obtain for personal use. Thus, calling a professional can prove to be a quality and convenient service for wood stove owners, in addition to bringing peace of mind and reducing stress surrounding the issue.

While it’s definitely possible to clean your wood stove yourself, it’s necessary to be informed of the several safety precautions to take when doing so. For example, when disposing of the ashes, it’s necessary to do so properly by keeping them in a metal bucket for 24 hours (in case they contain any live coals). It’s also very important to take care when cleaning the chimney in order to prevent falling off the roof. Due to the extent of safety precautions needed, utilizing a professional is always a great idea.

Cleaning your wood stove and keeping up with its maintenance is an absolute necessity in order to keep it working properly and safely. While many may call a professional to do so, others may choose to take care of it themselves. No matter the situation, it’s important to be aware of the safety precautions involved.

Winter is just around the corner, which means that an increasing number of Americans will start their preparations for the colder weather. While many households make use of electric or gas heating sources, as many as 4.8 million homes use a wood stove , according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency. Despite rendering exceptional heat and being very economical, many homeowners wonder whether wood stoves affect indoor air quality. Although excess smoke can pose a problem, there are a number of ways to ensure that your wood stove is as safe and eco-friendly as possible in its maintenance and usage.

Use dry wood

Dry wood not only creates substantially hotter fires but less smoke as well. Where possible, collect your wood, chop it, and leave it to air dry for at least a year before using it. This will not only result in a reduction in indoor air pollution but also save you money as no heat will be wasted on evaporation. You can make your fires even more eco-friendly by collecting branches and trees that have already fallen or using wood that would otherwise have been destined for the landfill. You can even try and source offcuts from your local joiner or sawmill but take care to not use anything that has been painted or treated in any way.

Allow enough air to circulate

If you want the air inside your home to be as clean as possible you need to ensure that there is adequate ventilation . Apart from making use of a sound chimney system, you also need to make sure that there is no furniture blocking the vents. You should also consider opening a window or two a bit in order to have fresh air enter the home while letting any excess smoke and gas emissions escape. Take care not to open your windows too much, however, as you don’t want all the lovely heat your stove is generating, to escape.

Give your stove and chimney some TLC

One of the simplest ways to make your wood stove more environmentally-friendly is to keep both the stove and your chimney well-maintained. Remove creosote build-up from your stove on a regular basis with a special detergent and limit future build-up by only making fires with seasoned, dry wood. Your chimney is a very important component of your wood stove. Apart from posing a fire risk, a chimney that is filled with soot and creosote can also leave the house filled with an unpleasant smoke. In order for a chimney to remain clean, it has to be thoroughly inspected and swept at least two times a year.

A wood stove can be a great addition to any home, especially during the colder months. As long as you take the necessary steps to combat any indoor air pollution as much as possible, you will be able to enjoy the wonderful heat omitted by your stove without suffering from any adverse effects.

All fireplaces start with a good operating and well maintained chimney. Using your fireplace when there is a build-up of creosote is very dangerous and can lead to a chimney fire also resulting in a full blown house fire. How do you know if you have a creosote build-up? Well, the easiest way is to call your local chimney sweep. If you are handy and physically able to climb on your roof, you can co the inspection and possible cleaning yourself.

Most hardware stores and fireplace shops have square and round brushed along with flexible rods to make the chimney cleaning job as easy as possible. Of course you will want to protect the area around the fireplace with a plastic drop cloth or something similar. The black soot that comes from your fireplace and chimney is very hard to remove from carpet and other areas around your fireplace.. Always be on the lookout for any type of rodent nest in your chimney. Some may require professional removal.

While you're on the roof, carefully examine the chimney structure to assure there are not mortar cracks or bricks displaced. If there are cracks in the motor, you can easily fix with new mortar. Also inspect for any water damage inside the attic indicating you have a flashing leak around the chimney.

Once you have cleaned the chimney from the top down, its time to go inside. A good heavy duty shop vacuum will greatly assist with the inside cleaning. Clean all areas in and around the firebox, including shoving the vacuum hose up the chimney to the area around the damper, with the damper fully open. A flash light and a mirror will be helpful in determining if you have the system clean. Once all that is done, carefully remove the tarp that you previously placed on the hearth so as to contain any soot or materials dropped from the chimney.

Does your chimney have a cap? If not, you should get one placed on he chimney as soon as possible. The cap covers the chimney keeping out bird and other animals as well as rain, snow while keeping any sparks in.

Finally, if your inspection shows that your chimney is not tile lined or the liner has many cracks and chips, you should consider a liner. A stainless steel chimney liner will make your chimney system much safer and also makes cleaning much easier. You can install chimney liners yourself, the materials can be purchased here.

One recent study found that fall is America’s favorite season (among 29% of respondents). Additionally, Christmas is consistently named as the nation’s favorite holiday, with Thanksgiving close by in almost every poll. It’s no surprise, then, that fall and winter are often associated with cozy memories, warmth, quality time with family, and times of joy. If you are planning a seasonal getaway to your cabin this fall or winter, you may already be dreaming about making memories like the ones listed above.

An excellent way to prepare for your cozy getaway is to enhance the rooms in your cabin . If you are looking for ways to create a warm and welcoming feel to your space , explore these top design strategies.

Find the right fireplace for your space

Optimizing your cabin space for a cozy getaway starts with choosing the right fireplace. Fireplaces are not only a design element that enhances overall ambiance, but they also provide a practical way to heat a room . Rather than picking a fireplace that appeals to you online, it’s essential to ensure that your chosen fireplace fits the size of your space, the colors in your cabin, and that it meets your needs. Start by measuring the desired area you’d like the fireplace to cover, and contact a professional for recommendations. Next, choose a fireplace that works well with your future or existing decor (depending on your plans for the space). Finally, decide whether you are looking for a gas fireplace or a wood burning option. Carefully assessing each of these elements will ensure that you get the coziest feel from your new fireplace.

Add “warm” decor elements

Your cabin decor is another crucial component of how “warm” each room feels. When painting and adding decorative elements, choose colors that reflect natural elements from the season of your choice. A color palette that includes brown, red, and dark orange shades is an excellent way to capture the feel of falling leaves, pumpkins, and maple syrup. For a warm winter feel, dark green, brown, and red make the perfect starting color palette. To add physical warmth, make blankets, pillows, and throws part of your decor.

Create a DIY beverage station

Whether your getaway is planned for fall or winter, a DIY beverage station is a fun way to add even more coziness to the experience. Your guests can enjoy a delicious, warm cup of cider or hot cocoa at their convenience on chilly days. In addition to the actual beverage being served, provide enhancements such as caramel, marshmallows, whipped cream, and sprinkles.

If you’re ready for your coziest-ever cabin getaway this fall or winter, following the above tips is a great way to get started. Make memories that will last a lifetime for both you and those who will be traveling with you!

Cassandra Pearson

1.9 percent of US households still use wood for their heating needs as opposed to electricity or utility gas, according to a report by the US Census Bureau . Many people still rely on wood not only since it's usually cheaper than the other alternatives but also since it is better for the environment . While woodburning stoves are mostly installed in the living room or kitchen, you can find them anywhere in a home including in a bedroom, home office, or even your mancave. If you are lucky enough to have a mancave, adding a woodburning stove is a surefire way to make it so much better than it already is, especially if you live in an area that gets cold from time to time. However, being an addition that could potentially be dangerous, you must be careful to ensure that you install it correctly.

Choosing an ideal spot for your woodstove

You must make the decision of where you're going to be putting your stove in your mancave long before going out to buy one . Since a wood stove is a space heater, you want to have it installed in a central position where it can heat every corner of your mancave. To maximize its efficiency, pick a spot with good insulation so that the heat from the woodstove is not lost through windows or walls. You also want to install it in a spot where it won't cause your TV, gaming console, or other electrical appliances in your mancave to overheat. Keep in mind that your woodstove will require a chimney, which ideally should be vertical and with as few bends as possible.

Make it multifunctional

One of the things that people love most about mancaves is that they give you a safe spot where you can hide away from the rest of the world and be alone for as long as you want. To further cement this feeling in your mancave, you can choose a woodstove that allows you to cook on it. There are various wood stove options that are specifically designed to allow people to cook while still performing their primary function of heating, but any with a flat surface on top that's large enough to hold a cooking pot will do. This addition can transform your mancave from a place you hang out in from time to time to a prepper's dream space where you can live, eat, have fun, and stay warm for as long as you need to, even when there are power outages.

Choosing a wood stove

After identifying an ideal spot in your mancave to install your woodstove, the next step is to choose one. Modern wood stoves come in various sizes, designs, and finishes and not all of them will be a good fit for your mancave. The first thing to consider is the size of your woodstove which will depend on how much space you have in your mancave and your heating needs. You want a stove that is big enough to meet your heating needs but not too big that it makes your mancave uncomfortably warm or takes up too much room. Another thing to consider is the stove's clearance rating, which is the minimum distance you should maintain between the stove and nearby walls, furniture, and appliances. You must also consider the design of the woodstove and how it fits in with the overall design or theme of your mancave . Whatever you end up choosing, make sure that it is certified by the Environmental Protection Agency.

A woodstove could be the thing that is missing in your mancave to take it to the next level. Not only will it make your mancave warm and cozy but it can also add to the aesthetic appeal and make it feel more homely. But, to be on the safe side, make sure your installation is done by certified professionals who'll follow safety guidelines to the letter.