Pellet Stove Furnace
Pellet stoves can be purchased as freestanding units or fireplace inserts that can give your home the appearance of an authentic fireplace that burns wood. They are available as freestanding models or as fireplace inserts. They can provide the appearance of an old-fashioned wood-burning fireplace.
The auger moves pellets from the hopper to the combustion chamber, where they are burned and produce heat. Sensors detect the fire and adjust its speed of operation to keep your desired temperature in the room.
1. Energy Efficiency
Pellet stoves make use of a non-toxic, renewable fuel made from compressed sawdust and other substances. These are usually disposed of in landfills, but can be used to provide a clean, efficient source of heat. This means that they can help homeowners reduce their energy usage and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Many homeowners who own pellet stoves have reported that they've recouped their initial investment in only a few years, thanks to lower heating costs.
Pellets are much more dense and compressed than natural wood, making them more efficient to burn. They also produce much less creosote buildup than traditional fireplaces that burn wood. Additionally, they are packed in plastic bags that seal out moisture and need less frequent cleaning.
Pellet stoves, like other heating systems, need to be properly sized and vented. A qualified technician can assess your space and venting requirements to ensure the most efficient results.
When the hearth is installed, it is constructed to the right size, and the vent is fitted through a pre-cut hole your home's siding. The vent can then be installed on a side wall or through the roof, based on your preference and the local regulations.
Once the vent and hearth are done and the stove is ready to be plugged in. Some manufacturers offer a remote control that makes starting and maintaining the fire simple, while others have additional sensors that monitor combustion, airflow and flue temperatures, as well as pressure. When the system detects it requires more pellets or less, it signals to the auger that it should accelerate or slow it down in line with the needs.
All stoves come with a storage tank that can accommodate between 35 and 130 pounds of pellets. Hopper capacities affect how often the stove will need to be refilled and larger hoppers allow longer intervals between refills. A grille draws air from the room, then passes it over the heat exchanger and blows heated air into the living space through convection. A grate or an auger distributes the pellets, and an under-sink pan will collect any unburnt ones, along with the combustion residue.
Pellet stoves are less energy-intensive than wood-burning models, but aren't as efficient as electric heaters or natural gas furnaces. Electric components that drive motorized parts of the stoves require a power source. This could pose an issue in the event of power outage, but backup systems such as generators and batteries are available.
2. Low Maintenance
Pellet stoves are extremely efficient, however, like any other major heating appliance, they require some maintenance to keep them running correctly. Cleaning regularly your stove's exhaust vent and the stove will stop the accumulation of harmful creosote which could cause a fire, explosion or damage to your stove or home.
A pellet stove 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 is used to feed the fuel pellets from a tank into the burner, and into the combustion chamber. The rate at which the pellets are fed into the burner is controlled by the thermostat you set. The fire can continue to roar or modulated lower and even extinguished according to the temperature you set. When the fire goes out the ash is then 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 discarded during the process of processing lumber. They are a renewable resource and emit 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 released from pellet stoves is much lower than the newer EPA certified wood stoves.
These stoves aren't required to be vented through chimneys, as is the case with traditional wood stoves. Instead, they must be vented properly through a wall, or any other exterior structure. Pellet stoves have flue ports that are open at the top or rear of the appliance. They are connected to a vent pipe that extends outside of the home.
A pellet stove has one drawback it requires you to purchase or store enough fuel pellets to last the entire winter season. On average, owners of pellet stoves consume three tons of pellets during the course of the winter, at a cost of $200 for each ton. The cost can be high, but they are cheaper than purchasing firewood and hauling it for the wood-burning fireplace or stove. It is recommended to purchase enough pellets to ensure your stove can run through the coldest winter months. Also, you must have a space to keep the pellets (preferably dry and cool).
3. Reduce Carbon Footprint
Pellet stoves use renewable biomass fuel to generate heat, which reduces the need for finite fossil fuels. This helps reduce the carbon footprint and helps diversify energy sources in homes.
Even the newest woodstoves that are EPA certified emit significantly less carbon dioxide than pellet stoves. The emissions from pellet stoves are significantly lower than the ones from gas furnaces. Pellets are made from sawdust or bark, as well as other wood remnants. They may also contain soybeans, corn, or agricultural waste. When they are burned, they release less particles, which can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions as well as carcinogens and nitrous oxide.
The feed system is the primary difference between a pellet stove and a wood stove. Pellet stoves come with hoppers that hold the pellets. When cheap pellet stoves or sensors suggest that the room needs heating, the furnace turns and the pellets are pumped into the combustion chamber, where they burn and produce heat. The combustion chamber's air is then pumped through a heat exchanger that transfers heat to the blower. This process results in very low emissions and no creosote accumulation.
After the hopper is emptied, the ash is removed by a cyclone, and deposited in an ash container. The stove is fitted with a fan that circulates clean, heated air throughout the room. Most pellet stoves require only minimal maintenance and feature a large viewing area for you and your family to enjoy the flames.
The main factor that influences emissions from stoves made of pellets is the quality of the pellets. Poor-quality pellets will produce more emissions. When choosing your pellets make sure they're certified to meet certain standards and don't contain other ingredients such as petroleum or urea. Choose a company that offers a guarantee and will replace or repair parts in the event of a problem. Some states offer homeowners tax credits in the event that they decide to go even greener. This is a great way to offset the initial cost of this kind of stove and make it easier to set up.
4. Reduced Noise
Pellet stoves produce a minimal amount of emissions or smoke compared to fireplaces with wood burning. They also have an electric fan to distribute heat more evenly across the space. This is a major reason why pellet stoves require less maintenance than wood stoves. While wood stoves must be frequently cleaned of chemicals and particulates, pellet stoves only need a specialized metal vacuum cleaner for routine cleaning.
Many manufacturers have made an effort to design their stoves to be simple to install, operate and maintain. They also design their appliances with a variety of styles to match your home's decor. Some include a programmable thermostat remote control, as well as WIFI app so you can manage and monitor your stove from anywhere in the world.
The majority of pellet stoves have a large fuel hopper that can hold between 35 and 130 pounds of pellets. The pellets are then delivered into the combustion chamber via an auger. The output of heat and the degree to which the fire will get is determined by the speed at which the pellets are fed to the burner. The hopper can either be filled with hardwood pellets, composed of dense wood species like hickory and oak or softwood pellets. Many stoves are able to use biomass pellets made of corn and switchgrass. This is a green option.
Pellet stoves emit less smoke and require less maintenance due to the fact that they use cleaner fuel than wood-burning fireplaces. They also don't require a chimney, making them a much more suitable choice for new construction or retrofits.
In contrast to wood stoves, which require regular maintenance to keep free of creosote as well as other chemicals, pellet stoves need to be periodically inspected for proper operation and maintenance. Depending on the model, this may include a regular inspection and cleaning of the accumulated Ash or "clinker," as well as the motor and fan. Your appliance dealer will be able to explain the proper procedure for your specific brand and model. He can also assist you to find the correct fuel for your stove, and give information on storage and safety.