They are more convenient to operate and have much higher combustion and heating
efficiencies than ordinary wood stoves or fireplaces. As a consequence they produce
very little air pollution.
In fact, pellet stoves are the cleanest of solid fuel-burning residential heating
appliances. With combustion efficiencies of 78%–85%, they are also exempt from
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) smoke-emission testing
requirements.
Pellet stoves have heating capacities that range between 8,000 and 90,000 Btus per
hour. They are suitable for homes as well as apartments or condominiums.
Most pellet stoves cost between $1,700 and $3,000. However, a pellet stove is often
cheaper to install than a cordwood-burning heater. Many can be direct-vented and do
not need an expensive chimney or flue. As a result, the installed cost of the entire
system may be less than that of a conventional wood stove.
Pellet fuel appliances are available as freestanding stoves or fireplace inserts.
Freestanding units resemble conventional cordwood heaters in that they generally
heat a single room well, but not adjacent rooms unless you use a fan to force the
warm air into those other spaces.
There are also fireplace inserts that fit into existing fireplaces. Several companies now
make pellet-fired furnaces and boilers for replacement of, or a supplement to, gas or oil
fired furnaces and boilers in residential space heating systems.
All pellet fuel and corn burning stoves have a fuel hopper to store the pellets until they
are needed for burning. Most hoppers hold 35 and 130 pounds (16 and 60 kilograms
[kg]) of fuel, which will last a day or more under normal operating conditions. A feeder
device, like a large screw, drops a few pellets at a time into the combustion chamber
for burning.
How quickly pellets are fed to the burner determines the heat output. The exhaust
gases are vented by way of a small flue pipe that can be directed out a side wall or
upwards through the roof. More advanced models have a small computer and
thermostat to govern the pellet feed rate.
Pellet appliances usually require refueling only once a day, and since the fuel is
compressed and bagged, the operator does not have to lift heavy, dirty logs.
Most pellet appliance exteriors (except glass doors) stay relatively cool while
operating, reducing the risk of accidental burns. Since pellet stoves burn fuel so
completely, very little creosote builds up in the flue, posing less of a fire hazard.
Unfortunately, pellet appliances are also more complex and have expensive
components that can break down. They also require electricity to run fans, controls,
and pellet feeders.
Under normal usage, they consume about 100 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or about $9 worth
of electricity per month. Unless the stove has a back-up power supply, the loss of
electric power results in no heat and possibly some smoke in the house.
Moreover, there are restrictions on where you can place a pellet-burning appliance to
allow proper combustion and air exchange. For example, you may not install a pellet
stove in a new manufactured (mobile) home according to regulations of the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
efficiencies than ordinary wood stoves or fireplaces. As a consequence they produce
very little air pollution.
In fact, pellet stoves are the cleanest of solid fuel-burning residential heating
appliances. With combustion efficiencies of 78%–85%, they are also exempt from
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) smoke-emission testing
requirements.
Pellet stoves have heating capacities that range between 8,000 and 90,000 Btus per
hour. They are suitable for homes as well as apartments or condominiums.
Most pellet stoves cost between $1,700 and $3,000. However, a pellet stove is often
cheaper to install than a cordwood-burning heater. Many can be direct-vented and do
not need an expensive chimney or flue. As a result, the installed cost of the entire
system may be less than that of a conventional wood stove.
Pellet fuel appliances are available as freestanding stoves or fireplace inserts.
Freestanding units resemble conventional cordwood heaters in that they generally
heat a single room well, but not adjacent rooms unless you use a fan to force the
warm air into those other spaces.
There are also fireplace inserts that fit into existing fireplaces. Several companies now
make pellet-fired furnaces and boilers for replacement of, or a supplement to, gas or oil
fired furnaces and boilers in residential space heating systems.
All pellet fuel and corn burning stoves have a fuel hopper to store the pellets until they
are needed for burning. Most hoppers hold 35 and 130 pounds (16 and 60 kilograms
[kg]) of fuel, which will last a day or more under normal operating conditions. A feeder
device, like a large screw, drops a few pellets at a time into the combustion chamber
for burning.
How quickly pellets are fed to the burner determines the heat output. The exhaust
gases are vented by way of a small flue pipe that can be directed out a side wall or
upwards through the roof. More advanced models have a small computer and
thermostat to govern the pellet feed rate.
Pellet appliances usually require refueling only once a day, and since the fuel is
compressed and bagged, the operator does not have to lift heavy, dirty logs.
Most pellet appliance exteriors (except glass doors) stay relatively cool while
operating, reducing the risk of accidental burns. Since pellet stoves burn fuel so
completely, very little creosote builds up in the flue, posing less of a fire hazard.
Unfortunately, pellet appliances are also more complex and have expensive
components that can break down. They also require electricity to run fans, controls,
and pellet feeders.
Under normal usage, they consume about 100 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or about $9 worth
of electricity per month. Unless the stove has a back-up power supply, the loss of
electric power results in no heat and possibly some smoke in the house.
Moreover, there are restrictions on where you can place a pellet-burning appliance to
allow proper combustion and air exchange. For example, you may not install a pellet
stove in a new manufactured (mobile) home according to regulations of the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Alternative-Heating-Info.com
Pellet fuel appliances burn
small, 3/8–1 inch (100–254
millimeter [mm])-long pellets
that look like rabbit feed.
Pellets are made from
compacted sawdust, wood
chips, bark, agricultural crop
waste, waste paper, and
other organic materials.
Some models can also burn
nutshells, corn kernels, and
small wood chips.
small, 3/8–1 inch (100–254
millimeter [mm])-long pellets
that look like rabbit feed.
Pellets are made from
compacted sawdust, wood
chips, bark, agricultural crop
waste, waste paper, and
other organic materials.
Some models can also burn
nutshells, corn kernels, and
small wood chips.
Pellet Fuel Appliances
Custom Search
