Pellet Stoves - A Good Way To Save On Energy Bills

With the price of energy constantly growing, more and more people search for better and more efficient alternative home heating fuel sources. One of these alternatives is represented by pellet stoves. They are similar to normal wood-burning stoves and can sometimes even look like a fireplace. And the demand for these stoves is constantly growing, as they have been known to offer low cost heating.

Pellets are small pieces of recycled wood shavings, cord, walnut, peanut shells or even sawdust. Any biomass can be turned into pallet by being ground up, compressed, and/or extruded. Intense compression of the wastes that are turned into pellets squeezes the moisture out of them. The drier the fuel becomes, the more heat it can produce and the hotter the fire burns. The complexity of a pellet stove can be considered a disadvantage. They include many moving parts and motors that need constant maintenance services. That makes it a good idea to choose a model that has easy access to those parts and hire professional to perform regular maintenance repair when necessary. Depending on the size, these stoves can store from 35 up to 130 pounds of pellets. 

People can decide between a top-fed pellet stove and a bottom fed model. When making this choice people should take into consideration all the pros and cons. For the top fed  system, the chance of the fire burning back into the hopper is smaller, but ashes and clinkers can accumulate into the combustion chamber. This is why producers recommend people use low ash pellets that burn high grade. On the bottom fed models there is an ash pan where the residue is pushed out from the combustion chamber. In case this is your main source of heating, you will have to frequently remove the ashes. Clean up is easier with a large capacity drawer.

Another aspect that needs proper evaluation is the electrical requirement for a pellet stove. The motors will, obviously, work on electricity, with only certain models having a backup battery unit. That is the way it is recommended for the stove to be positioned near a 110-volt outlet. In case you live in a region with frequent power outages, a gas power generator will definitely come in handy. Most manufacturers offer freestanding stoves, as well as fireplace inserts. There are also boilers and furnaces designed to replace conventional heating systems.

In order to choose the right size stove  you need to consult an expert that knows how to calculate the heating capacity that your home needs. Pellet stoves are not cheap, but they can earn back the investment through the considerable savings on energy bills. When buying a pallet stove, make sure you take a good look at the output size, and not only think and consider the physical space you have in the room. The location has a great influence on  how efficient the stove will be. If you want to warm up an entire house make sure you find a central location for your stove. Otherwise, a fan system to circulate the heat is a must.

Pellet stoves are stylish, modern and can bring considerable heating bills in the future. If you are looking to invest in your heating system, they are definitely something to be considered.