With the cost of home heating fuel increasing rapidly, many homeowners have chosen to purchase small stove to heat small areas and decrease the demand on their heater. A pellet stove is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly stoves for this purpose. They are self-refueling and come in a variety of sizes and attractive finishes.
Don’t be quick to compare a pellet stove to a fireplace or free-standing wood burning stove. Pellet stoves are sophisticated self-fueling appliances that use fuel made from scrap wood. Most models are completely self-regulating and require very little maintenance on the part of the owner.
How Pellets Stoves Work
Pellet stoves are not simply stoves that are retrofitted to burn pellets. They are designed from the ground up to make the most of their fuel. On the outside, they usually resemble traditional stoves. Manufacturers offer many different styles so that homeowners can choose one to fit their décor. On the inside, there is a firebox, a hopper, a pilot light, and a fan system.
Most models are completely electric and can be plugged into an outlet. Some even use auxiliary solar panels. The electricity is used to run the control panel, ventilation system, and pilot light. Self-igniting stoves allow the user to start the fire via the control panel and switch the pilot light on and off in order to regulate temperature. The fans circulate air around the fuel in order to ensure even burning.
These stoves are designed to make the most out of wood pellet fuel. The pellets are actually compressed sawdust and other organic waste collected from manufacturers of wood products. Its reclaimed, renewable fuel is one of the reasons the pellet stove is praised as an environmentally conscience way to heat one’s home.
Wood pellets are not used strictly because they find a use for what would otherwise be waste. They are also incredibly efficiently burning. In the proper stove, they can be up to 98% efficient. This means that almost all of the material is turned into heat energy for the home. This also means that the stoves do not require chimneys, but rather employ small exhaust systems. A quality stove has a ventilation system that encourages clean and even burning. Fuel distribution systems also help by releasing the right amount of fuel from the hopper, so that pellets are not wasted and the level of heat is maintained.
Since most stoves have thermostats and automated hoppers, they are less work than their wood-burning cousins. In fact, most owners can use a pellet stove all winter and only have to refuel and empty the ashbin. However, this is not the only advantage to a pellet stove.
Saving Money with Pellets
Last winter, many homeowners were outraged by the cost of their heating bill. As the price of fuel has steadily risen, many have turned to localized heat sources in order to avoid paying to heat their entire house. The addition of a stove is perfect for this application because unlike other systems, the heat can be localized to one area. Selectively heating an area of the house saves money for obvious reasons. The benefit of a stove is that it can heat a small area more quickly and for less money than a traditional system.
Many people use heating oil in their furnace in order to heat their home during the winter. There are many other options, such as electric systems and natural gas, but heating fuel is one of the most popular choices in areas with severe winters. Heating fuel is in high demand during the winter months and its price during that time reflects this. However, in the past the cost of heating fuel was proportional to other options. Other price changes are due to fluctuations in the price of crude oil from which it is derived. Recently, crude oil speculation and increased demand has sent heating fuel prices climbing to record highs.
Wood pellets, in the other hand, are made from renewable scrap material. Though they may sometimes be hard to find, a 40-pound bag of pellets can be purchased for around six dollars. How long a bag like this will last is dependent on the stove and how often it is used. Due to the rising popularity of pellet stoves, pellet supplies maybe difficult to find during the winter. Thankfully, distribution is expected to meet demand in the coming years.
A pellet stove can make an attractive and practical addition to any home. Homeowners who are concerned about heating their home this winter should definitely look into installing one of these stoves.
About Author:
Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics concerning green energy and alternative heat sources such as Pellet Stoves
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