Tips for Buying Pellet Stove

Pellet stove is a sophisticated combustion appliance. Many homeowners are opting for it because it is more energy efficient and an economical household appliance, when compared to the wood burning stove. Unlike the wood burning stove which uses logs, a pellet stove uses pellets made from recycled wood shavings for fuel. Sawdust, grass, wheat and biomass like corn or soybean can also be used as fuel in some pellet stoves. Another advantage the pellet stove offers over the wood burning stove is that there is no smoke or creosote (a sticky material that causes chimney fires). By now you must be interested enough! Let's take a look at few tips for buying pellet stoves.

Buying Pellet Stove
The range of pellet stoves is quite extensive, giving enthusiasts or the die-hard users quite a few options. You can choose on the basis of the fuel used or its interior features or attractive design. Take the assistance of a knowledgeable dealer, when buying. He will be able to help you decide, which model of the pellet stove will best-suit your home setup. But you also need to have a fair idea of what to expect and what questions to ask, when you visit a pellet stove dealer. Here are some tips that can help you buy a pellet stove that will fit your requirements.

You can buy pellet stoves that use either wood or corn pellets or the multi-fuel type. Let’s take a look at these types of pellet stoves.

Wood Pellet Stove
The wood pellet stove is a decorative heating appliance. It is available as freestanding (standalone) and fireplace insert. The standalone type can be kept in any room. If you already have a chimney or a fireplace, then you can opt for a chimney or fireplace insert versions respectively. If you already have a wood burning stove and are looking for a cost-efficient alternative; well, the pellet stove is just the right thing for you! Most pellet stove models have thermostats, so automatically ignite and turn off. Some are even available with remote controls. The latest, computerized versions even warn you, in case of a problem. The automated versions of the pellet stove are extremely handy appliances as they work on their own, once you fill it up with pellets and turn it on.

Pellet stoves with large hoppers can last as long as a week at a length and are an efficient central heating system. The best pellet stove would be the one that suits the vent system in your home. Versions of the appliance with fans that blow hot air are also available. These are known to heat an entire floor.

When buying a pellet stove, you need to ascertain whether it is top-fed and bottom-fed. The top-fed pellet stove uses high-grade, low ash pellets; while the bottom-fed pellet stove also requires good quality fuel. In the former system, the ash and clinkers (from heating ash again) fall into the combustion chamber; while in the latter case, they fall into an ash pan. To sidestep any problems arising out of this, you need to remove the ashes, at least once a week.

Some pellet stoves are also available with a viewing glass, so you can watch the flame. If you like the look of a smoldering flame, you can opt for this version. The flame produced in the pellet stove is small and burns strong in the center. If you would like to see a more traditional fire, you can ask for ceramic logs that will make a dispersed flame pattern.

How Pellet Stove Works
Pellet stove needs electricity for proper functioning. However, heating is accomplished by a motorized system called the auger, which is a spiral, metal length held within a tube. This device is located above or below the burnpot, a perforated cast-iron bowl, and steers the pellets to rise above the hopper before they fall into the burnpot and start to combust. As an intense flame burns, a combustion blower introduces air into the bottom of the burnpot. A series of cast-iron heat exchangers (you need to check with the dealer, whether the pellet stove you want to buy has them or not) run along the back and top of the pellet stove’s firebox. A convection blower helps circulate the air in the room through the heat exchangers. (This circulation cycle also ensures that the top and back areas don’t become too hot to touch, unlike with the manual wood burning stove.) Simultaneously, an exhaust fan pushes out the air in the firebox, by way of a double-walled venting. This circulation cycle ensures against overheating in the firebox. Apart from this, pellet stoves have heat sensors that cause a shut down, in cases of overheating. Overheating may lead to problems like an electrical part failure or fire in the hopper (storage bowl in the stove).

Pellet stoves have a certified venting system that has a galvanized exterior covering a thick stainless steel interior. Due to the forced exhaust, it does not need a vertical vent, though it is recommended to prevent leakage, in times of power cuts. If there is no chimney in your home, you can install a horizontal venting up to the roof. In case you have a chimney, your dealer may recommend a metal liner that goes up the length of your chimney for appropriate drafting.

Pellet stove can be lit by hand or with an automatic igniter. Once the pellet stove is started, the pellets are fed routinely into the fire. The heating system even adjusts the temperature pre-set on its thermostat.

Corn Pellet Stove
Corn burning pellet stove models are available with hopper sizes capable of holding up to 85-pound corn kernels. Though a dedicated corn pellet stove runs the same way as the wood pellet stove, the main distinction is provision of a metal stirring rod in the former. During the burn cycle, the stirring rod, connected to a motor and chain system, breaks apart the mass of ash (sugar from the corn mixes with the ash to form hard masses) causing a uniform burn.

A corn pellet stove may use an environmentally-friendly form of fuel, but it doesn’t give out that much heat as a wood pellet stove. Moreover, it doesn’t burn as cleanly either, so it needs to be cleaned more often. Unlike the wood pellet stove, the corn pellet stove has a draft blower that forces out combustion air without letting smoke inside.

Pricing... that’s important, when you are thinking of buying anything for that matter. A wood pellet stove costs between $1,200 to $3,000, while a corn pellet stove can cost anything from $1,600 to $3,000, and a multi-fuel pellet stove is priced around $2,000.

Where to Buy Pellets
A pellet stove is named so because it uses wood or corn pellets as fuel, instead of logs. Wood pellets are available in small bags that are easy to carry. The high grade pellets are made from hardwood, while the lower grade ones are of pine. Apart from extra maintenance of cleaning ash content, using low grade pellets can affect the working of the electronic equipment.

The price of pellets could vary from region to region. Generally, a 40-pound bag may cost between $2 to $4. You might find many branded pellets available in the market. Trying out each brand one by one may be the best way to decide which brand to stock for the long winter. A tip to help you decide: choose the one that leaves less residue ash. Your second choice can be a backup, if the regular one is not available. While buying pellet stove, its better to keep in mind which type of pellets are available in your area.

If both are available, then you may want to consider a multi-fuel pellet stove that runs on 50/50 corn and wood pellet mix. However, if you decide to buy a wood pellet stove, don’t try to burn corn in it, as you will have to deal with clinkers then. You can even try to make wood pellets on your own.

Let's take a look at the downside of using pellet stoves. First, they are quite complicated and if you don’t know much about their maintenance, you will need to call in a technician, whenever you face a problem. Let the dealer install the pellet stove in your home and don’t forget to make a maintenance contract. Second, they run on electricity, so in case of power cuts, you will need to use generator backup. In places, where power cuts are a regular phenomena, you can opt for a battery backup model.

In spite of these drawbacks, you should buy a pellet stove because pellets are not only cheap but also cause less pollution. Moreover, using a pellet stove will definitely help in reducing your heating bill. So, what do you think about buying a pellet stove and spending the long winter... in its cozy warmth.