How to Choose Wood Pellets for a Pellet Stove

Keep warm with a pellet stove and good pellets.

Buying the right wood pellets for a wood burning pellet stove is important. If you have a wood pellet stove or are thinking about buying one, it is important to know how to choose wood pellets. Converting to a pellet stove as a heating method can save money and has economic advantages. Whether you are dusting off the old pellet stove or firing up the stove for the cold weather blast, use these tips to choose the best wood pellets.

Things You'll Need

• pellet stove
• wood pellets
• money
• storage space

Instructions

1. Check the manual that came with your wood stove to see if there is a manufacturer recommendation for the type of wood pellets you should use in your wood pellet stove. Wood pellets are wood waste compressed sawdust.

2. Decide between hard and soft wood pellets. The difference between soft and hard wood pellets is that soft pellets are made from softer woods, such as Pine, and hard pellets are from harder wood, for example, Oak.

3. Pick between premium and standard grade pellets. This generally has to do with ash output. A difference between pellets is whether they are premium or standard grade. Premium pellets are made from better quality wood, don't contain bark, and produce approximately 1% ash. Standard grade wood pellets may be made from lower quality wood and contain small pieces of bark. However, they are still compressed into these small pieces. The standard wood pellets might end up producing from 1% to 3% ash.

4. Compare prices. Softer, standard wood pellets can sometimes be a more economical choice. They tend to burn hotter which is going to heat your house up faster, and for less money. Another way to save money is to call around and buy a pallet of wood pellets instead of buying one or two bags at a time.

Tips & Warnings

• Smell the pellets for a fresh wood smell not chemicals or cardboard.

• You are buying pellets by weight, so no matter the brand or type, it's said a pound is a pound is a pound.

• Always make sure that your pellet stove is clean and in safe working condition.

• Make sure that you have a smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide detector installed in your house.