Things You'll Need:
- Paper and pen for taking notes
- Access to different brands and styles of wood pellet stoves
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Step 1
Compare the hoppers. The hopper is the area where the wood pellets are stored. The hopper feeds the wood pellets into the fire, which keeps it going. The bigger the hopper, the longer your fire will burn and the less you will have to keep loading pellets into the stove.
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Step 2
Compare optional features. Some wood pellet stoves have glass-front doors, while others do not. Some come with fans that will blow warm air into the room, but some lack those fans.
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Step 3
Look at the package deal. Does your stove come with installation? What about a floor? You might need to pay for these things separately with some stoves.
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Step 4
Compare the design options. If you really want a cast-iron stove, your choices might be limited. If you want a stove in a certain color, such as bright blue, you might need to go with a specific manufacturer.
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Step 5
Think about features that might affect safety in your home. Look at the lighting feature. Some stoves automatically light the fire, while others force you to light it. Also look at the material from which the stove is made. Cast-iron is upscale and gorgeous, but it can get very hot to the touch unless insulated. If you have children, choose a stove that is designed to be cool to the touch.
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Step 6
Compare venting and flue damper designs. The safer pellet stoves come with venting that carries the gasses out of your home, but others rely only on a fan, which is not as efficient. It is important that your stove has a flue damper that a child cannot easily close and open. If the damper is operated with a low-placed external handle, a child can close it accidentally and quickly fill the room with smoke. Also, make sure a child cannot easily open the stove doors.
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Step 7
Find out what kind of pellets each stove will burn. Some of the higher-quality stoves will only burn premium wood pellets, which might be more difficult to find.
