Pellet stoves

Pellet stoves are cleaner burning than wood stoves, and the fuel is a lot cleaner and easier to handle as well. Courtesy of Harmon

Yes, pellet stoves are green. In fact, when operating properly, pellet stoves produce so little pollution that they don't require EPA certification like wood stoves do.

Pellet-burning fireplace inserts have all the same advantages and attributes as pellet stoves. Resembling rabbit food, pellet fuel is made from sawdust and wood waste –material that would otherwise be dumped in a landfill.

If you're interested in this energy-efficient, environmentally friendly way to heat up your home, contact your local Dr. Energy Saver. Our dealers can inform you of pros and cons of pellet stoves specific to your home when we complete a home energy audit.

Electricity is required for an auger and fans

Even though a pellet stove looks like a wood stove, it operates differently, requiring a small amount of electricity to run. Combustion takes place in a "burn pot" where an electrically powered auger delivers a steady supply of pellets from a refillable hopper located outside the stove.

To ensure high burn temperature and complete combustion, a fan blows combustion air on the burn pot. Another fan blows room air through a heat exchanger built into the stove, warming the air before blowing it into the room.

Exhaust gases from the stove can be vented through a narrow flue pipe or even (with some models) through the wall. More advanced pellet stoves are equipped with a thermostat so that low fuel feed rates can be used at night or when heat demand is low.

Pellet fuel is inexpensive, typically costing around $200 per ton. An average-size home might burn through 3 tons of pellets during the heating season, assuming some use of a backup heating system.

Keys to safe, efficient pellet stove operation

• Buy a right-sized stove. If possible, have a pellet stove dealer visit your house so that he or she can suggest the stove models that will perform best in your home.
• Have your pellet stove installed by a contractor who specializes in wood and pellet stove installations.
• Have a battery backup system to keep your stove under power during a power outage. If the stove's fan shuts down during a combustion cycle, your stove could produce a large amount of smoke.
• Keep pellet fuel dry. If the fuel is damp or wet, it won't burn properly or at all.
• Make sure to have your chimney cleaned and inspected by a licensed chimney sweep at least once a year.
• Consider installing ceiling fans to help distribute the air warmed by your stove.
• Improve your home's overall energy efficiency by having an energy audit done, and by making at least some of the improvements recommended as a result of the audit.

While a pellet stove may not have the same romantic ambiance as a wood stove or wood-burning fireplace, it's a smart way to heat if you're interested in saving money and turning away from fossil fuels. However, keep in mind that it's a heating option that requires work on the homeowner's part. You'll need to keep the stove's hopper filled with pellets, and find a dry, secure place to store your fuel.

Dr. Energy Saver is up to the challenge

Is your home the right environment for a pellet stove? To find out or to learn about what option best suits your home, call in your local Dr. Energy Saver for a home energy audit. Our contractors are dedicated to creating energy efficient, comfortable homes throughout the country. Start living better in your home today!

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