Pellet Stoves Are a Good Alternative to Wood Stoves
Pellet stoves are available as freestanding models or inserts that can be inserted into a fireplace. They require less space than wood stoves, but they still require proper installation and ventilation.
Choose a pellet stove that will meet your heating requirements. Take into consideration the model's BTU rating, which measures the amount of heat it produces.
1. The ComfortBilt XXV
The ComfortBilt XXV Pellet Stove an excellent model that provides the best performance and value. This compact unit can easily warm a small house or sunroom thanks to its maximum of 26,224 BTU/Hr and an 81 percent efficiency. This model has a convenient capacity for hoppers of 25 pounds, which enables you to keep your space warm for a long time. The thermostat is programmable, which ensures the temperature of the room is maintained and pellets are efficiently used.
This popular pellet stove from ComfortBilt has a sleek, contemporary design and a large bay view window to enhance the look of any home. Its superior engineering and reliable performance have earned it consistently great reviews from customers across the country. This model is designed for premium wood pellets that produce the most heat per pound. It can generate heat of up to 2,800 square feet in mild temperatures. It's EPA and CSA-certified, allowing it to comply with federal emissions mandates.
This model lets you select between manual or weekly mode for the fire settings. If you switch between temperature and manual modes too frequently the stove could have problems. This is because it could cause the feed auger as well as the fans to stop working and starve your fire and cause your stove to run out of fuel.
This model is also available in bronze or charcoal finishes to complement your existing home decor. It comes with a one year limited warranty on service and parts. It's also important to know that you should not use corn or other types of biofuels in this stove as it can cause a void in the warranty of the manufacturer. Use only premium wood pellets.
2. The Hearth & Home Store Outdoor Heater
Pellet stoves offer a convenient and efficient method to heat your home. They burn pellets, tiny and compact pieces of biomass that are made from wood byproducts or agricultural residues, to create heat. The pellets are stored in a hopper that is connected to the burner chamber of the stove. A blower or fan distributes heat throughout your living space while exhaust systems take out combustion byproducts and vent them out to the outside.
Unlike wood stoves, pellet stoves are generally easier to maintain and don't require the regular maintenance of a venting or chimney system. However, as with all heating appliances, they require regular inspections by a professional and maintenance to ensure they are operating at optimal efficiency. Professional maintenance includes cleaning the burners, exhaust system and the ash compartment. It also involves checking for and fixing any problems that might arise.
One of the most tech-forward models on our list, this pellet stove features integrated WiFi and a touch-screen control panel that lets you to adjust the settings and make a heating schedule on your smartphone. It has a 66-pound fuel hopper that can burn for up to 22 continuous hours.
When you are choosing a stove made of pellets be sure that the BTU (British thermal units) output is in line with your living space size and needs. Generally, a stove with a BTU rating of 60,000 will easily heat an average-sized home while one that has a BTU rating of 30,000 is ideal for areas that are up to 1,300 square feet.
3. The Hearth & Home Store Pellet Stove
Pellet stoves are great for those who wish to heat their homes without a lot of effort. These stoves use recycled sawdust that has been compressed and dried to make a clean burning fire and without creosote buildup. The stove will automatically ignite after you load the hopper with pellets and choose the temperature you want and then load the pellets. A motor-driven auger continuously delivers the pellets to the stove's combustion chamber and the blower pushes warmth into your room.
The hopper in a pellet stove can hold anywhere from 40 to 120 pounds of pellets and depending on your desired level of heat, you'll likely have to refill it at least once or twice per day when you use it heavily. To make the process more efficient, look for a model with a large hopper and an automatic feed system that ensures the hopper is full without the need to fill it manually.
They also have a smaller footprint than wood burning stoves, which is a plus if you're tight on space in your home. They are also smaller in dimensions and require less space for a hearth, which makes them perfect for those living in a log house or in a smaller space such as a basement or a three-seasons room that isn't connected to the central heating system.
Pellet stoves are a great alternative to traditional fireplaces because they emit 50 percent less carbon emissions and can reduce the cost of your energy. wood and pellet stove are also a great option for those who don't want the difficulty of lighting a fireplace, and don't mind replacing or cleaning more delicate components. But, they do require a certain amount of maintenance and upkeep, which includes regular cleaning of the venting system, heat exchanger, ash pan, and glass, as well as periodic maintenance to ensure that the unit is up to the highest safety standards.
4. The Hearth & Home Store Pellet Stove Freestanding
Pellet stoves are akin to wood stoves in design and function, but they use sawdust as a biomass fuel instead of logs. They are available as freestanding stoves as well as fireplace inserts that can heat a single room or a large living space, depending on the layout of your house.
Look for a pellet stove that has been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency for its efficacy and the clean burning. Be sure that the stove is UL (Underwriters Laboratories), or ULC (Canadian Underwriters Laboratory) which is a safety certification. You can ask a dealer to recommend models that fit your space. However, you should always check out the manufacturer's site for ratings and reviews.
Contrary to gas or oil stoves They make use of tiny wood pellets that you can buy in 40-pound bags. A hopper is used to store the pellets, and an electric auger feeds them into an open combustion chamber that then ignites an igniter. As the flame heats the air, it releases exhaust out through a flue pipe that runs along a sidewall. These units offer an even, controlled source of heat than gas stoves, and last up to 10 years if you take regular cleaning and maintenance.
Because the pellets are tiny and compact, these stoves are more efficient than traditional wood stoves, which can use up to one gallon of fuel every hour they're running. Additionally, they are carbon neutral, emitting just the same amount carbon dioxide they absorb during growth.
The best pellet stoves have automated features that allow you to set the temperature and then monitor the stove without having to intervene. Some have built-in alarms to indicate that it's time to add fuel or clean the ash. They can help reduce your heating costs by supplying a continuous stream of heat that can last for 24 hours.
5. The Hearth & Home Store Pellet stove Wall Mount
This small pellet stove from Cleveland Iron Works is a great choice if you're in the market for a smaller pellet stove. It's small in size which saves floor space and its 28-pound hopper will last for about 35 hours before you have to refill it. The model can produce 24,000 Btu, enough to heat up to 1,000 square feet. It features a remote and smartphone controls, which means you can use the stove from anywhere in the house.
The efficiency of pellet stoves mounted on walls is dependent on the size of the hopper and blower. You should look for an efficiency rating of between 70 and 83 percent. (This is the amount of the fuel that actually heats your home as opposed to the amount lost in combustion or by venting.)
While pellet stoves do not require as much power as gas heaters, you'll require plugging them in to operate their automated controls and blower fans that keep the fire going. There are models with battery backup systems and manual ignition options that can be operational even during a power outage.
While they're not able to replace central heating systems, pellet stoves are ideal for providing supplemental heat between seasons or in homes with limited ductwork. They produce less creosote and are more carbon-neutral, than wood-burning stoves or fireplaces. If you select a high-efficiency model, you'll reduce your energy bills and also encourage green energy initiatives.