Pellet Stove Furnace
Pellet stoves can be used as a supplemental heating source or, with proper venting, a primary heating option. They are available as freestanding units or fireplace inserts that give your home the look of a traditional wood-burning fireplace.
The auger moves pellets from the hopper to the combustion chamber, where they are burnt and generate heat. Sensors detect the fire and alter the speed of operation to keep the desired temperature of the room.
1. Energy Efficiency
Pellet stoves use a renewable, non-toxic fuel that is made from compressed sawdust and other substances. They are typically put in landfills, but they can be used to create a clean, efficient source of heat. This means that they aid homeowners in reducing their energy consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Many pellet stove users report that they have recouped their initial investment in few years by reducing their heating costs.
Pellets are stronger and more compressed than natural wood, making them more efficient to burn. They also produce less creosote than traditional fireplaces made of wood. They are also packaged in plastic bags that are sealed to keep out moisture and require less frequent cleaning.
Pellet stoves, just like other heating systems, need to be properly sized and vented. A trained technician can assess your venting requirements and space requirements in order to get the best results.
In the process of installation the hearth is constructed in accordance with your specifications. Then, the vent is installed through a hole pre-cut in the siding of your home. The vent may be installed through a roof or sidewall depending on your preference and local laws.
After the vent and hearth are done the pellet stove can be connected. Some manufacturers provide remote controls that make starting and maintaining the fire simple and others include sensors that monitor combustion, airflow and flue temperatures, as well as pressure. If the system determines that it needs more pellets or less, it will signal to the auger that it should accelerate or slow it down in line with the needs.
Each stove comes with an hopper for storage that can hold between 35 and 130 pounds of pellets until they're needed. The size of the hopper determines the frequency at which you have to refill your stove. Larger hoppers can be used for longer periods before a refill is required. A grille pulls fresh air from the room and passes it through an exchanger for heat, which then is able to blow heated air into the living space through convection. A grate or an auger distributes the pellets, and the pan beneath is used to collect any burned ones along with combustion residue.
Pellet stoves are more energy-efficient than wood-burning models, but aren't as efficient as electric heaters or natural gas furnaces. The electric components that drive their motorized parts require electricity and could pose problematic during an power failure, but backup systems are in place like generators and batteries.
2. Low Maintenance
Pellet stoves are extremely efficient, but like any other major heating appliance, they require a bit of maintenance to ensure they are operating properly. Cleaning your stove and its exhaust vent on a regular basis will stop the accumulation of harmful creosote. This can cause a fire or explosion that can damage your stove and/or house.
A pellet stove uses natural particles that are compressed (such as kernels, nutshells of corn or small pieces of scrapwood) made from wood or other materials. An electric auger will feed the pellets from a fuel tank into the burner, and into the combustion chamber. The thermostat you set regulates the speed of pellets being fed to the burner. This allows the fire to remain roaring or modulate lower and even stop according to the temperature you set. The ash will be disposed in an empty ash tray underneath the burner. It can be easily removed and then disposed.
Pellets are made from the waste products of wood processing which could otherwise be thrown away. They are a renewable resource and emit less particulates than traditional wood-burning stoves, making them a cleaner burning heat source. The amount of carbon monoxide, carcinogens and other harmful chemicals released by pellet stoves is much lower than those with modern EPA-certified wood stoves.
These appliances are not required to be vented through chimneys, as is the case with traditional wood stoves. Instead, they should be vented via a wall, or other structure outside. Pellet stoves have flue ports that are open on the rear or top of the appliance and are connected to an exhaust pipe that extends outside the home.
A pellet stove comes with one drawback that you must purchase or store enough fuel pellets to last for the entire winter time. Pellet stove owners typically use three tons of wood pellets each winter, at a cost of $200 per ton. These expenses will increase over time however it's much cheaper than buying and transporting firewood for traditional fireplaces or stove. Be sure to purchase enough pellets to ensure your stove can function throughout the coldest winter months and that you have a suitable location to store them (preferably cool, dry and away from the ground).
3. Reduced Carbon Footprint
Pellet stoves make use of renewable biomass fuel to generate heat, reducing dependence on fossil fuels that are depleted. This reduces carbon footprints and increases the diversity of energy sources for homes.
Emissions from pellet stoves are considerably less than woodstoves, including the latest EPA-certified ones. The emissions from pellet stoves are considerably lower than ones from gas furnaces. Pellets can be made from sawdust or bark, as well as other wood remnants. They can also include corn, soybeans or agricultural waste. When they are burned, they release less particulates (leading to respiratory problems and allergies) carcinogens, carbon monoxide and the nitrous oxides.
The main difference between the wood stove and the pellet stove is the feed system. Pellet stoves come with hoppers to store the pellets. When the thermostat or sensors suggest that the room needs heating, the auger is turned. The pellets are placed in the combustion chamber and burn to produce heat. The combustion chamber's air is passed through a heat-exchanger, which transfers heat to the blower. This results in extremely low emissions and no creosote accumulation.
After the hopper is emptied, the ash is removed by a cyclone and deposited in an ash container. The stove also features an air circulator to move the fresh, heated air into the living space. Most pellet stoves require only minimal maintenance and come with a huge viewing area for you and your loved ones to relax and enjoy the flames.
The most significant factor affecting emissions from stoves made of pellets is the quality of the pellets. Poor-quality pellets will produce more emissions. When choosing your pellets, make sure they're certified to meet certain standards and do not here contain other ingredients, such as urea or petroleum products. Find a business that offers a guarantee and will replace or repair parts in the event of a problem. Some states offer homeowners an incentive to pay taxes when they choose to go even greener. This is a great way to help offset the initial cost of this type of stove and make it easier to install.
4. Reduced Noise
Pellet stoves produce very little smoke or exhaust when compared to fireplaces that burn wood. A fan is employed to spread heat more evenly across the room. This feature is one of the reasons pellet stoves require less maintenance than traditional wood stoves. While wood stoves require regular cleaning of chemicals and particulates to prevent 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, operate and maintain. Their appliances are available in a variety of styles that complement the decor of your home. Some include a programmable thermostat, remote control and WIFI apps that let you monitor and manage your stove from any location in the world.
The majority of pellet stoves have an enormous fuel hopper, which can hold between 35 and 130 pounds of pellets. The pellets are then pumped into the combustion chamber by an auger. The speed at which the pellets are delivered to the burner determines how hot the fire is as well as the amount of heat it produces. The hopper can be filled with either hardwood pellets (from dense wood species such as oak and hickory) or softwood pellets (from pine and fir). A lot of stoves can use biomass pellets made of switchgrass and corn. This is a green alternative.
Pellet stoves produce less smoke and require less maintenance since they use a more clean fuel than fireplaces that burn wood. They don't require a chimney and are therefore a better option for retrofits or new construction.
As opposed to wood stoves that need to be kept regularly cleaned of creosote and other chemicals, pellet stoves need to be periodically inspected for proper operation and maintenance. This may include regular cleaning and inspection of the ash or "clinker" as well as the motors and fans, depending on the model. Your appliance dealer can explain the correct procedures for the specific model and brand. He can also assist you to determine the right fuel for your stove and provide details on storage and safety.