Pellet Stove Furnace
Pellet stoves are offered as freestanding units or fireplace inserts that can give your home the look of a traditional fireplace with wood burning. They can be purchased in freestanding units as well as fireplace inserts that give your home the look of traditional wood-burning fireplaces.
The auger transports the pellets from the hopper into the combustion chamber which is where they burn and generate heat. Sensors monitor the fire and can adjust the speed of operation to keep your desired room temperature.
1. Energy Efficiency
Pellet stoves burn a sustainable non-toxic fuel composed of compressed sawdust and wood chips. They also contain bark, and other materials that are normally dumped in landfills, but can be turned into a sustainable and clean source of heating. They can help homeowners cut down on their energy usage, and consequently greenhouse gas emissions. Many people who use pellet stoves report that they have recouped their initial investment in few years through a reduction in their heating bills.
Pellets are highly compressed and more dense than natural wood, making them more efficient to burn. They also produce much less creosote than traditional fireplaces made of wood. They are also packaged in plastic bags that block out moisture and require less frequent cleaning.
Pellet stoves, as with other heating systems, must be properly vented and sized. A trained technician will be able to determine the venting needs and space requirements to ensure the best results.
When the installation is completed, a hearth is built according to your specifications, and the vent is installed through a hole that is cut in the exterior of your home. The vent is then run out the side wall or the roof, based on your preference and the local regulations.
After the hearth and vent are finished and the stove is ready to be plugged in and turned on. Some manufacturers offer remote controls that make starting and maintaining the fire easy and others include sensors that monitor combustion, airflow and flue temperatures, as well as pressure. When the system detects that it needs more or less pellets, it will signal the auger to speed up or slow down accordingly.
All stoves have a storage hopper which can hold between 35 and 130 pounds of pellets. Hopper capacities determine how often the stove will need refills and larger hoppers allow longer intervals between refills. A grille draws air from the room, then passes it through the heat exchanger and blows heated air into the living space via convection. A auger, grate or another device distributes the pellets and a pan below will collect any pellets that are not burned as well as the combustion leftovers.
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 parts require an electrical supply, which could be a problem during a power outage, even though backup systems are readily available, such as generators and batteries.
2. Low Maintenance
Pellet stoves are extremely efficient, but just like any major heating appliance they require a bit of maintenance to ensure that they function properly. Cleaning regularly your stove's exhaust vent and stove will prevent the build-up of harmful creosote, which can cause an explosion, fire or damage to your stove or home.
A pellet stove is a device that burns compressed natural particles made of wood or other materials (like nutshells, corn kernels or small pieces of wood scraps). An auger powered by electricity feeds the pellets from a fuel hopper into the burner and into the combustion chamber. The thermostat you set regulates the rate at which pellets are delivered to the burner. The fire can continue to roar or reduced or even snuffed out in accordance with the temperature you set. When the fire goes out the ash is thrown into an empty ash tray underneath the burner that can be easily removed and then disposed of.
Pellets are made from byproducts that would have been thrown away during the process of processing lumber. They are renewable resources and release much less dust into the air than traditional wood-burning stoves, which results in a clean burning heat source. The amount of carbon monoxide, carcinogens and other harmful chemicals that are released from pellet stoves is less than the latest EPA certified wood stoves.
These appliances are not required to be vented via a chimney, like is the case with traditional wood stoves. Instead, they can be vented via a wall, or another exterior structure. Pellet stoves have flue ports that are located on 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 whole winter season. Pellet stove owners typically consume three tons of wood pellets every winter, which is a cost of $200 per ton. The expenses can add up, but they are less expensive than buying firewood and then hauling it away for a wood-burning stove or fireplace. Make sure that you purchase enough pellets to ensure that your stove can function through the coldest months and that you have a suitable place to store the pellets (preferably dry, cool and off the ground).
3. Reduced Carbon Footprint
Pellet stoves use renewable biomass fuel to create heat, reducing dependence on finite fossil fuels. pellet stoves inserts helps reduce the carbon footprint and also helps diversify energy sources in homes.
Emissions from pellet stoves are considerably less than wood stoves, and even the latest ones that are EPA-certified. The emissions from pellet stoves are much lower than ones from gas furnaces. Pellets can be made from sawdust, bark, and other lumber fragments. They may also contain corn, soybeans or agricultural waste. When they are burned, they emit less particles, which can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions, carcinogens and nitrous dioxide.
The feed system is the major difference between pellet stoves and wood stove. Pellet stoves have hoppers that hold the pellets. When the thermostat or sensors signal that the room is in need of heating, the auger turns and the pellets are pumped into the combustion chamber, where they are burned and generate heat. The air from combustion chamber is pumped through a heat exchanger that transfers heat to the blower. This results in extremely low emissions and no creosote buildup.
After the hopper has been empty, a cyclone process removes the ash and places it in an ash pot. The stove is equipped with a fan that circulates warm, fresh air into the room. Most pellet stoves require minimal maintenance and come with a huge viewing area for you and your family to relax and enjoy the flames.
The quality of pellets is the most important element that influences pellet stove emissions. Pellets that are not of the highest quality will cause more emissions. When selecting your pellets, make sure they're certified to meet certain standards and do not contain other ingredients, such as petroleum-based or urea-based substances. Choose a company that has a guarantee and will repair or replace parts in the event of a malfunction. If you're looking to take the greener route, some states permit homeowners to claim a tax credit for installing pellet stoves. This is a great way to help offset the initial cost of this kind of stove and make it easier to set up.
4. Reduced Noise
Pellet stoves produce very little smoke or exhaust compared to fireplaces with wood burning. A fan is employed to distribute heat more evenly in the room. This is a major reason why pellet stoves require less maintenance than wood stoves. While wood stoves require regular cleaning of chemicals and particulates to prevent deterioration, pellet stoves can be cleaned using a metal vacuum cleaner.
Many manufacturers have made an effort to create stoves that will be simple to install and to operate as well as maintain. They are available in different styles to are designed to match the decor of your home. Some models include 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 a large fuel hopper that can contain between 35 and 130 pounds of pellets. The pellets are then fed to the combustion chamber by an auger. The speed at which pellets are fed to the burner determines how hot the fire is and the heat output. The hopper can be filled with hardwood pellets (from dense wood species such as oak and hickory) or softwood pellets (from pine and fir). Many stoves are able to use biomass pellets made of corn and switchgrass. This is a green option.
Because pellet stoves use as a clean fuel, they emit less smoke than traditional wood-burning fireplaces and require fewer maintenance. They also do not require chimneys, making them a better option for new construction or retrofits.
Pellet stoves don't require regular cleaning of creosote or other chemical like wood stoves. They only need periodic inspections to ensure their proper operation and maintenance. This could include periodic cleaning and inspection of the ash or "clinker" as well as the motors and fans according to the model. Your appliance dealer can explain the proper procedure for your specific brand and model. He can also assist you to find the correct fuel for your stove and provide information on storage and safety.