Pellet Stoves: The Alternative

If you have had enough of whopping energy consumption bills due to use of electronic heating devices, its time you switch to pellet stoves. Pellets stoves refer to stoves that use pellets as a fuel. Pellets are very cost effective and are quite efficient as compared to the electronic devices used for the heating purposes.
Pellet stoves are effective home heaters. A pellet stove is just like a wood stove; the only difference is that it is automated.
A pellet stove is quite simple to use. You are just required to add pellets to the hopper of the stove and thereby set the desired heat output. The stove will automatically determine the optimum amount of air for combustion. Most pellet stoves come with a fan to circulate air via heat exchanger. Some stoves rely on radiant heat delivery process.
What is Pellet Fuel?
Pellets are biomass products, made-up of wood paste or sawdust. Pellets acts as a renewable and clean burning fuels. More than 600,000 thousand people in North America use wood pellets for heat. These pellets are used in fireplace inserts, furnaces and freestanding stoves. The pellet fuels turn waste materials into sources of energy.
How do pellet stoves work?
Pellet stoves are basically electronic devices. These stoves automatically adjust and control combustion, blowers, fans and heating. You are required to insert pellets into the hopper located at the top of the stove. A hopper generally holds up to 80 pounds of pellets.
Most pellet stoves contain an auger. The purpose of the auger is to deliver pellets to the combustion chamber from the hopper. The movements of the auger can be set manually, but it’s generally set automatically. Pellets are delivered at a rate of 1 pound per hour, in case of glowing fire, and 5 pounds per hour, for a blazing fire. The size of the fire depends on the amount of the feed.
The pellets are fed into the fire pot of the combustion chamber. To encourage super heated flame, combustion air is blown into the chamber. A fan, provided inside the stove, draws in the room air. The drawn air is heated at about 250 degrees in the heat exchanger. Then the warmed air is thrown back in the room. Pellet stoves rely on convective heat. This is the reason why pellet stoves are not hot when touched.
The combustion gases are vented outside the room via flue which exits on the top of the unit. Pellet stoves do not require chimneys.
Types of pellet stoves
Pellet stoves are available in various styles and size varieties. There are different types of pellet stoves available.
For great flexibility freestanding pellet stoves are available. These stoves are available with installation options. These stoves are supported by a pedestal. Freestanding pellet stoves are designed to be installed in any area of the house. However there is one limitation, they should never be installed in sleeping areas. These stoves are placed on a protector which is non-combustible in nature. Freestanding pellet stoves should always be installed at a safe distance away from combustible surfaces.
Fire place inserts are also a type of pellet stoves. These are installed in working fireplaces. The space between the fire place opening and insert is covered decoratively by a panel. These pellet inserts are typically installed in masonry fireplaces. These pellet stoves offer your home a look of fire place setting. These stoves are economical. You can apply bricks around and atop this type of stove to give it a look of fireplace. You would require a non-combustible floor protector to provide for air space under the unit.
Pellet stoves, no doubt, provide you with low cost fuel and reduces your energy consumption bills drastically. Mother Nature provides yet another better fuel alternative to keep you warm and cozy.