Introduction to Pellet Stoves – Part 3 

Environmentally Friendly

Pellet stoves produce a comfortable and very dry radiant heat.  But the most impressive feature about pellet stoves is that they give off less pollution than any other heating system you can choose for your home.  This is true in spite of the fact that about 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity is required to run the appliance monthly; but if you use a green power supply such as solar, your carbon footprint is even more miniscule.

Pellet stoves have impressive combustion efficiencies of 78% to 85% and are exempted from smoke emission testing requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Not only are the pellets biomass products made of wood waste, they are highly compressed so that the pellet stove pellets burn extremely efficiently.

The upfront cost of a pellet stove can be more than it is for a wood stove, except that a chimney isn’t required for a pellet stove.  Most models can be vented directly through a hole in an outside wall.  Pellet stoves are unrestricted appliances because they produce such a small amount of smoke.  Pellet stoves don’t produce much creosote, either, which is different from other wood-burning appliances.

Pellets have very low moisture content, and the BTU efficiency very high.  Wood pellets have a low ash content, lower moisture content, and greater heat output than any other type of fuel that’s used in a fireplace or stove.

Pellet Stoves- Overview

The following sums up our three-part series on pellet stoves and includes additional information:

• Pellet stoves require about $9 of electricity every month.
• The wood pellets used for pellet stoves are biomass products made entirely of wood waste.
• Wood pellets are not available in all parts of the country, and the cost of having the approximately 3 tons required for a cold winter shipped to you could offset the otherwise eco-friendliness of this heat source.
• A hopper for a pellet stove can hold between 35 and 130 pounds of pellets at once.  Refueling the hopper once a day is usually all that’s required to keep a constant flame going.
• Some pellet stove models have thermostats which work by controlling the speed at which pellets are fed into the hopper.
• Many different models of pellet stoves are available, and most of them give the option of  a glass front through which you can see the flames.
• Pellet stoves do not work for other types of fuel other than pellets.
• Storing wood pellets requires minimal space, since the bags can be stacked; it’s important that they be kept dry.  The fact that the bags weigh 40 pounds creates a challenge for many people.
• Ashes must be cleaned out regularly.
• With wood pellets, you don’t have to deal with many of the issues that come along with burning logs; for example, you can bring spiders, termites, mold, and rodents into your home along with a stack of logs.
• Pellet stoves should always be professionally installed.
• An annual inspection by a certified chimney sweep is important to ensure that the appliance is safe.

When you purchase your pellet stove from us, you always have the help you need, should any issues or questions arise.  And although the EPA doesn’t require it, all of our pellet appliances are EPA-approved and all of our professional chimney sweeps are CSIA certified and prepared to expertly install your new appliance.

Northeastern Chimney, Inc
37 Cody Street, West Hartford, CT 06110
Phone: 860-233-5770

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