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.