Pellet Stove Furnace
Pellet stoves are available as freestanding units or fireplace inserts that can give your home the look of an authentic fireplace with wood burning. They are available as freestanding units or fireplace inserts that can give your home the appearance of an old-fashioned wood-burning fireplace.
The auger moves pellets from the hopper into the combustion chamber, where they are ignited and generate heat. Sensors detect the flame and alter the speed of operation to maintain a desired room temperature.
1. Energy Efficiency
Pellet stoves burn renewable non-toxic fuel composed of compressed sawdust, bark, wood chips, and other materials normally dumped in landfills, but can be turned into an efficient and clean source of heating. They can help homeowners cut down on their energy usage, and consequently greenhouse gas emissions. Many users of pellet stoves say that they can recoup their initial investment in only a few short years through a reduction in their heating bills.
Pellets are stronger and more compressed than natural wood, making them more efficient to burn. They also produce less creosote than traditional wood-burning fires. They are also packed in plastic bags that block out moisture and require less frequent cleaning.
Pellet stoves, like other heating systems, must be properly sized and vented. A skilled technician can assess your space and venting requirements to ensure the most efficient results.
In the process of installation, the hearth is built to size and the vent is installed through a pre-cut hole in your home's siding. The vent can be placed on a side wall or through the roof, depending on your preference and the local regulations.
Once the vent and hearth are finished then the pellet stove can be connected and turned on. Some manufacturers provide an electronic remote control that makes it simple to start and maintain the fire, while others provide additional sensors to check airflow and combustion flue temperatures, as well as pressure. If the system determines that it needs more or less pellets, it tells the auger to accelerate or slow down accordingly.
All stoves come with a storage hopper which can hold between 35 and 130 pounds of pellets. Hopper capacities determine the frequency at which the stove will need to be filled, with larger hoppers allowing for longer periods between refills. A grille draws fresh air out of the room and then passes it over an exchanger for heat, which then blows heated air into the living space by convection. A grate or auger spreads the pellets, and the pan beneath collects any unburnt ones, along with the combustion residue.
Although pellet stoves are more efficient than wood-burning models, they're not as efficient as natural gas furnaces or electric heaters. Electric components that drive motorized parts of the stoves require a power source. This could be an issue in the event of a power outage, though backup systems like batteries and generators are available.
2. Low Maintenance
Pellet stoves are extremely efficient, however, like any other major heating appliance, they require some care to ensure that they function properly. Cleaning regularly the exhaust vent of your stove and the stove will help prevent the accumulation of harmful creosote that can cause an explosion, fire or damage to your stove or house.
A pellet stove burns natural wood particles or other materials (like nutshells, corn kernels or small pieces of wood scraps). An electric-powered auger is used to feed the pellets from a fuel tank into the burner, and into the combustion chamber. The thermostat you set regulates the speed at which pellets are fed to the burner. This lets the fire remain roaring, or to lower the rate or even shut down according to the temperature you set. When the fire goes out, the ash is dropped into an empty ash tin beneath the burner, which can be easily removed and disposed.
Pellets are made from waste products that would have been discarded during the process of processing lumber. Additional Info are renewable and release far less particulates into the air than traditional wood-burning stoves, making them a cleaner burning heat source. The amount of carcinogens, carbon monoxide and other harmful chemicals emitted from pellet stoves are also much lower than the newer EPA certified wood stoves.
These stoves aren't required to be vented via a chimney, like is the case with traditional wood stoves. Instead, they should be vented properly via a wall, or other structure outside. Pellet stoves come with flue ports that are located on the top or rear of the appliance. They are connected to a ventpipe which extends out from the house.
One disadvantage of pellet stoves is that you have to purchase or store enough pellets to last the winter months. On average, homeowners of a pellet stove consume three tons of pellets throughout the course of winter season at a cost of $200 per ton. The expenses can add up but they're less expensive than buying firewood and then hauling it away for a wood-burning stove or fireplace. You should buy enough pellets to ensure your stove will be able to run through the winter's coldest months. Also, you must have a space to store the pellets (preferably dry and cool).
3. Reduce carbon footprint
Pellet stoves utilize renewable biomass fuels to generate heat, reducing dependence on fossil fuels that are depleted. This helps reduce the carbon footprint as well as helping diversify the sources of energy used in homes.
The emissions from pellet stoves are much lower than woodstoves, even newer EPA-certified ones. The emissions from pellet stoves are also significantly lower than those of gas furnaces. Pellets are made up of compressed sawdust, bark and other lumber leftovers and can also comprise a variety of other materials including corn, soybeans as well as nutshells, cherries pits, and agricultural waste. When they are burned, they release less particulates, which can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions, carcinogens and nitrous dioxide.
The major difference between wood stoves and pellet stove is the feed system. Pellet stoves have hoppers which hold the pellets. When the thermostat or sensors suggest that the room requires heating, the auger turns and the pellets are fed into the combustion chamber where they are burned and generate heat. The air from combustion chamber is then pumped through a heat exchanger, which transfers heat to the blower. This process creates very low emissions, and creosote is not created.
After the hopper has been emptied, the ash is removed by a cyclone, and it is then deposited into an ash container. The stove also features fans to circulate the fresh, heated air into the living room. The majority of pellet stoves are made to be maintenance-free and have a large viewing window that allows you and your family members to enjoy the flames.
The most significant aspect that affects pellet stove emissions is the quality of the pellets. Poor-quality pellets produce more emissions. When choosing your pellets, ensure that they're certified to meet certain standards and don't contain other ingredients, such as petroleum-based or urea-based products. Find a business that has a guarantee and will repair or replace parts in the event of a problem. If you want to take an environmentally friendly approach, some states permit homeowners to get a tax credit when installing pellet stoves. This is a great way to reduce the initial cost of this kind of stove and make it easier to install.
4. Reduced Noise
Pellet stoves produce very little smoke or exhaust compared to wood-burning fireplaces. They also have an electric fan to distribute the heat more evenly across the space. This feature is one reason why pellet stoves require less maintenance than wood stoves. While wood stoves require frequent cleaning of chemicals and particulates to avoid deterioration, pellet stoves can be cleaned by the use of a vacuum cleaner made of metal.
Many manufacturers have designed their stoves so that they are easy to set up and operate, as well as maintain. The stoves are available in various styles that match the interior decor of your home. Some even come with a programmable thermostat and remote control as well as a WIFI app so you can manage and monitor your stove from any location in the world.
Most pellet stoves come with an enormous fuel hopper, which can hold anywhere from 35 to 130 pounds of pellets. The pellets are then fed into the combustion chamber using an auger. The speed at which the pellets are delivered to the burner determines how hot the flame is and the heat output. The hopper can be filled with either hardwood pellets (from dense wood species like oak and hickory) or softwood pellets (from pine and fir). Many stoves are able to use biomass pellets made of corn and switchgrass. This is a green alternative.
Pellet stoves produce less smoke and require less maintenance since they burn a less polluting fuel than wood-burning fireplaces. They do not need chimneys and are an ideal choice for retrofits and new construction.
Unlike wood stoves, which require regular maintenance to be free of creosote and other chemicals, pellet stoves only require periodic inspections to ensure proper operation and maintenance. Depending on the model, this might include regular inspections and cleaning of the accumulation of ash or "clinker," as well as the motor and fans. Your appliance dealer will be able to explain the proper procedure for your specific brand and model. He can also provide information about storage and safety and assist you in finding the correct fuel for your stove.