Pellet Stove

Pellets are a recycled wood product made from compressed sawdust. Pellet stoves and pellet fireplace inserts look very similar to wood stoves, but have a slightly different style of fire. Their sophisticated computers and circuit boards determine how much pellet fuel should be burned, so they burn completely. Because they are so efficient and produce so few emissions, they are not required to the EPA-certified. Some do not even need chimneys – they exhaust fumes to the outdoors through a small hole in the wall.

Pellet-burning appliances are simpler to operate and more convenient than other wood-burning appliances. One feature of most pellet stoves and fireplace inserts is your wood fire can be thermostatically or remote controlled, just like a gas fire. Most models have at least two burn settings and some use thermostats to control the fire. They also use a forced-air system to distribute heat.

Pellet-burning appliances require less-frequent refueling than most other wood-burning appliances -- once a day to twice a week, depending on the model and your heating needs. You simply pour the pellets into a hopper and they are transferred to the fire chamber to be burned as needed.

Pellet-burning appliances also use several internal fans, which require about 100 KWH of electricity each month, which adds to your total energy bill. Also, if the power goes out during a winter storm, you will have no heat, whereas with a fireplace or woodstove you can stay warm as long as you have dry wood.

Pellets may be difficult to find in your area and more expensive per BTU than cordwood or gas – and you can only burn pellets and no other type of fuel You start this like any wood burning stove. Good luck, Tom

Is you stove and insert or is it free standing?