- Pellet stoves use organic pellets as a fuel source. The pellets are highly compressed for slower burning and look like rabbit feed. The pellets are made from compressed wood and plant byproducts such as sawdust, wood chips, nut shells and paper. The pellets are placed into a pellet stove and ignited. A fan blows air into the stove to fan the heat, much like bellows in a furnace. Most new pellet stoves have automatic feeders that release pellets from a hopper into the stove at regular intervals.
- Pellet stoves come in a variety of types and sizes. The most popular type of pellet stove is the freestanding model that is installed directly into the room or area to be heated. Fireplace pellet stoves are created to fit into existing wood-burning fireplace openings and may be decorated to give the look and feel of a traditional fireplace. Furnace pellet stoves are used for heating entire homes or buildings. Pellet stove boilers are used as an alternative to gas or electricity to heat water throughout a building.
- According to the U.S. Department of Energy, pellet stoves burn at 78 to 85 percent efficiency and a small pellet stove can heat a large room as long as the stove has a constant supply of fuel. Depending on local markets, 1 ton of pellets can cost anywhere from $180 to $350 and the average home uses 2 to 3 tons of pellet fuel per year if a pellet stove is the main source of heat in the house.
- Wood pellets not only burn efficiently, they burn cleanly. They emit so little pollution that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not require emission testing or certification for pellet stoves. Because pellets are made from byproducts of renewable materials, they help sustain precious natural resources. As a byproduct of other industries, pellets also help to redirect potential waste materials from landfills.
- In order to work efficiently, pellet stoves need to be cleaned and maintained regularly. The burn pot or pellet burning area should be checked every day or two to make sure there is no ash or residual material blocking ducts. The ash drawer should also be checked and emptied a few times a week to prevent overfilling. The hopper which feeds fuel into the burn pot should be checked regularly for blockage. An annual maintenance check by a professional service is recommended.
