pellet stoves: 5 things you need to know before you buy one
Wood pellet stoves and boilers have revolutionized the heating appliance market, since they are small, clean, fuel-efficient and easy to operate. Moreover, pellets are an economical and environmentally friendly fuel - according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, wood pellet heat is one of the cleanest-burning, most renewable energy sources on Earth. If you are planning to go green and save on your home heating bills, a pellet stove is a clean and cheap way to warm your home.
There are a few things you should know before you buy a wood pellet stove:
1. Pellets can be made locally – and you can make them too!
You can make your own quality pellets out of local wood and biomass materials – check out these 8 Easy Steps to Making Pellets at Home. Your raw materials may be sawdust, wooden chips found on the ground, lumber mill scrap, or even trees unfit for lumber; they may be green, or freshly cut, partially dry or even kiln dried. Since all these raw materials will be processed in the same way, the end product will have consistent moisture content, heat value, ash content, and burn features.
2. Pellet stoves can be used for household cooking needs as well as for heating
Multifunctional stoves basically consist of one firebox, a cook top and/or a bake oven, providing multiple options such as heating, baking and cooking food, producing hot water, and a built-in open fireplace.
3. When choosing the right stove, think about size
Make sure that you choose one that can provide the right amount of heat for your space. Obviously a large room will require a large stove, especially if you live in a cold area.
4. Find the right location for your stove
Make sure that you find a location that allows for ventilation and air intake, near a power outlet with the proper voltage, grounding and polarity. The pellet stove should be placed on a stone hearth or another non-combustible surface.
5. Proper Maintenance
Clean the heat exchanger and burn pot at least once a month. It is also recommended to clean the ash bin and trap regularly to prevent ash building up. The venting system should be also cleaned on a regular basis. Warning signs such as black smoke, accumulation of soot on the glass, weak flame or reduced heat may indicate that your pellet stove needs some professional cleaning and maintenance.
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