You'll Never Guess This Pellet Stove Furnace's Secrets > Free Board

Pellet Stove Furnace

Pellet stoves can be used as a secondary heating source or, with proper venting, a primary heating option. These stoves are available in freestanding models or as fireplace inserts. They can give the appearance of an old-fashioned wood-burning fireplace.

The auger moves pellets from the hopper into the combustion chamber where they are burned and produce heat. Sensors are used to monitor the fire and adjust the speed of operation to keep your desired room temperature.

1. Energy Efficiency

Pellet stoves burn renewable non electric pellet stove-toxic fuel composed of compressed sawdust and wood chips. They also contain bark and other materials that are typically dumped in landfills, but can be repurposed into a sustainable and clean source of heating. This means that they aid homeowners in reducing their energy consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Many pellet stove users report that they have recouped their initial investment in a couple of years, through a reduction in their heating bills.

Pellets are highly compressed and are more dense than natural wood, making them more efficient to burn. They also produce less creosote buildup than traditional wood-burning fireplaces. They are also packaged in plastic bags that are sealed to keep out moisture and require less frequent cleaning.

Similar to other heating systems, pellet stoves must be properly sized and vented. A skilled technician will be able to determine the venting requirements and space requirements to achieve the most efficient results.

When the hearth is installed, it is constructed to fit the space and the vent is installed through a hole that has been cut in your home's siding. The vent can then be placed on the side wall or the roof, depending on your preference and local regulations.

Once the vent and hearth are complete then the pellet stove can be connected and switched on. Certain manufacturers offer the option of a remote control to make it simple to start and keep the fire burning, whereas other manufacturers offer additional sensors that monitor airflow and combustion flue temperatures, as well as pressure. When the system detects that it requires more or fewer pellets, it tells the auger to accelerate or slow down accordingly.

Each stove comes with an hopper for storage that can hold from 35 to 130 pounds of pellets until needed. The size of the hopper determines how often you need to refill your stove. Larger hoppers allow for longer periods before a refill is required. A grille draws air out of the room, passes it over the heat exchanger and blows heated air into the living space via convection. A grate or auger spreads the pellets, while a pan underneath is used to collect any burned ones as well as the ashes of combustion.

While pellet stoves are more efficient than wood-burning models, they're not as efficient as natural gas furnaces or electricity-powered heaters. The electric components that drive their motorized components require a power source and could pose problematic during an power outage, even though backup systems are readily available, such as batteries and generators.

2. Low Maintenance

pellet stove insert stoves can be extremely efficient, but they require some care to function properly. Cleaning your stove and its exhaust vent on a regular basis will stop the accumulation of harmful creosote, which could cause a fire or explosion that could cause damage to your stove and/or house.

A pellet stove burns natural particles made of wood or other materials (like corn kernels, nutshells or small pieces of wood scraps). The pellets are inserted into the combustion chamber through an auger that is powered by electricity. The speed at which pellets are fed to the burner is controlled by the thermostat you set. The fire can be kept burning or reduced or even snuffed out according to the temperature you set. When the fire goes out, the ash is dropped into an empty ash tray beneath the burner that can be easily removed and disposed of.

Pellets are produced from the byproducts of lumber processing that could otherwise be thrown away. They are renewable and release far less particulates into the air than traditional wood-burning stoves making them a cleaner burning heat source. The amount of carbon monoxide, carcinogens, and other harmful chemicals released by pellet stoves is also significantly lower than that of modern wood stoves that are EPA-certified.

Due to the low emissions the stoves are not required to be vented through chimneys like traditional wood stoves however, they should be vented through a wall or an external structure. Pellet stoves have flue ports at the front or back of the appliance. They are connected to a ventpipe which extends outside the home.

A pellet stove has one drawback that you must purchase or store enough fuel pellets for the entire winter time. Pellet stove owners typically use three tons of wood pellets each winter, for a price of $200 per ton. These costs will increase over time however it's much cheaper than purchasing and transporting firewood for an old-fashioned wood-burning fireplace or stove. Make sure you buy enough pellets to ensure your stove can function through the coldest winter months, and you have a suitable location to store them (preferably dry, cool and away from the ground).

3. Reduced Carbon Footprint

Pellet stoves produce heat using renewable biomass fuel, which reduces reliance on finite fossils fuels. This contributes to a reduced carbon footprint and also helps diversify the sources of energy used in homes.

The emissions from pellet stoves are much lower than woodstoves, including the latest ones that are EPA-certified. The emissions from pellet stoves also are considerably lower than ones from gas furnaces. Pellets can be made from sawdust, bark, and other lumber fragments. They can also include soybeans, corn, or agricultural waste. When they are burned, they release fewer particulates (leading to respiratory issues and allergies) carcinogens, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxides.

The feed system is the major difference between pellet stoves and wood stove. Pellet stoves come with hoppers that contain the pellets. When the thermostat or sensors signal that the room requires heating, the auger turns. The pellets are then placed in the combustion chamber and burn to generate heat. The air from the combustion chamber is pushed through a heat exchanger, which transmits the heat to the blower before releasing it into the room. This process results in low emissions and no creosote accumulation.

After the hopper has been empty, a cyclone takes away the ash and puts it in an ash pot. The stove also has an air circulator to move the fresh, heated air throughout the living area. Most pellet stoves are designed to be maintenance-free and come with a large view window that allows you and your family members to take in the flames.

The quality of pellets is the primary factor that influences the emissions of pellet stoves. The poor quality pellets emit more emissions. When choosing your pellets, ensure that they meet certain standards and don't contain other ingredients such as urea or petroleum-based products. Also, look for a manufacturer that has a warranty and will repair or replace parts in the event of a malfunction. If you're looking for an environmentally friendly approach certain states permit homeowners to claim a tax deduction for installing pellet stoves. This is a great way to reduce the initial cost of this type of stove and make it easier to set up.

4. Reduced Noise

Pellet stoves produce very little smoke and exhaust when compared to fireplaces that burn wood. A fan is used to spread heat more evenly throughout the room. This is among the reasons pellet stoves require less maintenance than traditional wood stoves. While wood stoves must be frequently cleaned of dust and chemicals, pellet stoves only need the use of a special metal vacuum cleaner for routine cleaning.

Many manufacturers have made an effort to design their stoves to be easy to set up, operate and maintain. They also design their appliances in a variety of styles that can be matched to your home's decor. Some even come with a programmable thermostat remote control, as well as WIFI applications that allow you to manage and monitor your stove from any location in the world.

The majority of pellet stoves have an enormous fuel hopper that can hold between 35 and 130 pounds of pellets. The pellets are then delivered to the combustion chamber through an auger. The amount of heat produced and the level at which the fire gets depends on the speed at which pellets are fed into the burner. The hopper can be filled with either hardwood pellets (from dense wood species such as oak and hickory) or softwood pellets (from pine and fir). Some stoves will even use alternative biomass pellets, like those made from corn or switchgrass that can be an eco-friendly option.

Since tiny pellet stove stoves burn an environmentally friendly fuel, they emit less smoke than traditional wood-burning fireplaces and require less maintenance. They do not need a chimney and are therefore an ideal choice for retrofits and new construction.

Pellet stoves don't require regular cleaning of creosote or other chemical similar to wood stoves. They just require periodic inspections to ensure the proper operation and maintenance. This could involve regular cleaning and inspection of the ash or "clinker" as well as the fans and motors, depending on the model. Your appliance dealer can provide the proper procedures for your brand and model. He can also assist you to determine the right fuel for your stove and provide information regarding storage and safety.