Best Wood Pellet Stoves

Most people of the current generation have heard about stoves from their parents or grandparents. Till sometime back, stoves were not in use. But now, with the awareness about their environmental benefits, people are turning towards pellet stoves. Read on to know more about wood pellet stoves.
Best Wood Pellet Stoves
Ever pondered over an idea of having a pellet stove instead of a conventional fireplace or fixing one in the area of a fireplace? It could give a different look to your room as well as it is eco-friendly. A pellet stove is a kind of stove that uses wood or biomass pellets to generate heat. It can be used for residential as well as for industrial purpose. A wood pellet stove is a pellet stove which specifically uses wood pellets as the heating agent. Although it is not to be confused with a wood stove. Wood pellets are a form of wood-fuel, made from compact sawdust. It is a byproduct of saw millings and other activities, where wood transformation is involved.

Wood Pellet Stoves
A pellet stove comprises of a hopper, an auger system, two blower fans for combustion and convection, a fire box, safety features like vacuum switch and the main control box. Pellet stoves are either bottom-fed stoves or top-fed stoves. Wood pellet stoves, even if resemble the wood stoves, are not the same. The wood is the only common factor between the two. A wood pellet stove is more complex than a wood stove. Wood pellets are cheap and easily manufactured. Wood pellet stoves are environment-friendly, cost effective and could be sophisticated as well. So the demand for these stoves is increasing.

There are two types of wood pellet stoves - free standing and insert stoves. In case, you have a fireplace at your home, insert stoves that fit into the fire box, venting the smoke up the chimney could be a good option. If there is no fireplace, then a free standing unit with its own exhaust pipe can be purchased.

The Mechanism
Wood pellet stoves run on electricity. The ignition of the stove can be either manual or automatic, once the power is switched on. In the manual ignition, a liquid gel or starter material is required to light the flame. If the ignition is automatic, it heats the self- ignifier, feeding the pellets into the burn pot once you push the button.

The area where pellets are fed is called the hopper. It is either on the top or at the bottom of a unit. Then the auger transfers the pellets from the hopper into the burn pot. The temperature of the stove is determined by the speed of auger. The burn pot, situated in the combustion chamber, is then ignited and it acts as the stove's carburettor. The ashes of the burnt pellets are collected in an ash pot, which needs to be cleaned regularly. To ensure that there is no pollution, there is a heat exchanger which emits clean air. The gas produced is released through a narrow pipe at the back of the stove by an exhaust blower. A thermostat regulates the speed at which the auger feeds into the combustion chamber.

Which is a Good Wood Pellet Stove
  • For starters, a stove which snugly fits your room is the best. For that, consider the area (in square foot) of the concerned room.
  • In the condition where the stove is too big, you would end up wasting fuel, as the pellets will burn on a very low temperature to prevent overheating.
  • It is better not to rush into buying a stove. It is ideal if it is bought from an authorized dealer.
  • Look for the Environmental Protection Agency and heat output stamps.
  • Check for the compatibility of the material above which the stove is going to be kept, as there are few materials which are not suited for a wood pellet stove.
  • A stove with ceramic logs can add that touch of sophistication to your pellet stove.
Ultimately it is the preference of the buyer, which will determine what kind of a wood pellet stove is the best. Because the definition of best can vary from an individual to individual. A free standing wood pellet stove is a fantastic alternative for a conventional fireplace. Although, a pellet stove might not replace the Victorian charm of a fireplace for some.

By Medha Godbole
Published: 7/4/2009
 
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