Pellet Stoves Are a Good Alternative to Wood Stoves
Pellet stoves are available as freestanding models, or inserts that can be slotted into a fireplace. They require less clearance than wood stoves but require proper installation and venting.
Choose a pellet stove which fulfills your heating needs. Take into consideration the model's BTU rating, which is the amount of heat it creates.
1. The ComfortBilt XXV
The ComfortBilt XXV pellet stove is an extremely durable model that offers high performance and value. It is small enough to heat a small house or sunroom easily with its highest BTU/Hr rating of 26,224 and 81% efficiency. This model also comes with a convenient 25-pound hopper capacity that lets you keep your space warm for hours. The thermostat is programmable, which ensures the temperature of the room is maintained and pellets are efficiently used.
This popular pellet stove made by ComfortBilt has a modern and sleek design with a a large bay window that will enhance the appearance of any home. Its high-end engineering and durable performance have earned it consistently high-quality reviews from people across the country. This model is engineered to burn premium wood pellets which produce the most heat per pound. It can heat up 2,800 square feet in mild temperatures. It's EPAcertified and CSA-certified to comply with federal emissions mandates.
One of the greatest features of this model is that it allows you to select between manual and weekly mode for the fire settings. However, if you switch between manual and temperature modes too fast it can cause issues with the stove's operation. This is because it could cause the feed auger as well as the fans to shut down and starve your fire and make the stove run out of fuel.
This unit is available in charcoal or bronze finishes to match your existing home decor. It includes a one-year limited warranty on all parts and service. It is also important to remember that you shouldn't make use of corn or other kinds of biofuel in this stove as it could cause a void in the warranty of the manufacturer. Only use premium wood pellets.
2. The Hearth & Home Store Outdoor Heater
Pellet stoves are a practical, efficient and safe way to heat your home. They burn pellets, small and compact pieces of biomass material that are compressed from wood byproducts or agricultural residues, to generate heat. The pellets are stored in a hopper which is connected to the burner chamber of the stove. A blower or fan will spread heat throughout your home, and exhaust systems remove combustion byproducts from the room and let them out to the outside.
Pellet stoves are simpler to maintain than wood stoves and don't require regular maintenance of a venting or chimney system. However, like all heating appliances, they do require regular inspections by a professional and maintenance to keep them 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 occur.
This pellet stove is among the most technologically advanced models we have on our list. It comes with WiFi and a touchscreen which lets you to adjust the settings or even create heating programs using your smartphone. It also has a 66-pound hopper that can provide up to 22 hours of continuous burning which means you don't need to worry about refilling the stove.
When selecting a stove, make sure that the BTU output (British Thermal Units) is in line with your living space and needs. A stove with a BTU rating of 60,000 or more can easily heat a home of average size, while an appliance that produces 30,000 BTUs is perfect for homes with a total of 1,300 square foot.
3. The Hearth & Home Store Pellet Stove
Pellet stoves are perfect for those who wish to heat their homes without a lot of effort. pellet stoves with thermostat use recycled sawdust that is compressed and dried to make a clean burning fire, with no creosote buildup. The stove will ignite automatically after you load the pellets in the hopper and select the desired temperature, and then load the pellets. A motor-driven auger continuously feeds the pellets into the stove's combustion chamber and the blower then pushes the heat into your home.
The hopper in a pellet stove can hold between 40 and 120 pounds of pellets, and depending on your desired level of heat, you'll likely need to refill it at least twice a day during heavy use. Look for a model that has a large hopper, as well as an automatic feed system that will keep the hopper filled without you having to manually fill it.
These stoves also feature a smaller footprint than wood burning stoves which is good news 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 ideal for those who live in a log house or with a smaller area such as a basement or a three-seasons room that is not connected to the central heating system.
Pellet stoves can be a great alternative for traditional fireplaces since they emit 50% less carbon dioxide and lower your energy costs. They're also a better choice for those who want to avoid the hassle of stoking the fire and aren't afraid of cleaning and replacing more delicate components as opposed to their wood-burning counterparts. They will require some maintenance, such as cleaning the heat exchanger and venting system as well as the glass ash pan and ash pan. Periodic servicing is also required to ensure your appliance is safe.
4. The Hearth & Home Store Pellet Stove Freestanding
Pellet stoves resemble wood stoves in appearance and function, however they use sawdust for biomass fuel instead of logs. They're available as freestanding stoves as well as fireplace inserts that can heat a single room or a huge living space, based on your home layout.
When you choose the pellet stove, look for one that has an Environmental Protection Agency certification for effectiveness and safe burning. Also, make sure it's UL (Underwriters Laboratories) or ULC (Canadian Underwriters Laboratory) certified for safety. A dealer can recommend models that are suitable for your space However, you must visit the manufacturer's website to find ratings and reviews.
Pellet stoves are different from gas or oil stoves as they burn smaller wood pellets. They are available in 40-pound bags. The pellets are put in a hopper and fed into the combustion chamber via an electric auger. When the flame is heating air and exhausts it through a flue pipe that extends out from a sidewall, or into your chimney. These stoves provide an easier, more reliable source of heat than gas stoves and last for up to 10 years when you follow proper cleaning and maintenance.
Because the pellets are tiny and compact they have a higher efficiency than traditional wood stoves, which can use up to one gallon of fuel every hour they're running. Furthermore, pellets are carbon neutral, releasing the same amount of carbon dioxide as they absorb during the growth.
The top pellet stoves come with automated features that allow you to set the temperature without needing to monitor the unit. Some come with built-in alarms which let you know when it's time for fuel or to clean up the ash. They can reduce your heating expenses by supplying a constant flow of heat up to 24 hours.
5. The Hearth & Home Store Pellet Stove Wall Mount
This compact pellet stove made by Cleveland Iron Works is a ideal choice if you're the market for a smaller pellet stove. The compact design saves space, and the 28-pound hopper is able to last for 35 hours. This model produces 24,000 Btu, enough to heat up to 1,000 square feet. This model has an app for controlling it via smartphone and a remote, so you can operate it from anywhere within your home.
The energy efficiency of pellet stoves that are mounted on walls is dependent on the size of the hopper and blower. You should look for a rating of 70 to 83 percent. This is the amount of fuel that actually heats your home, in comparison to the amount you lose through combustion or venting.
While pellet stoves don't use as much electricity as gas heaters do, you'll have to connect them to control their automated controls as well as the blower fan that keep the fire burning. You can find models with batteries backup systems as well as manual ignition options, which could be functional even during a power outage.
Pellet stoves can provide supplemental heat in homes that lack ductwork or in the transition between seasons. They produce less creosote and are carbon neutral as opposed to wood-burning stoves or fireplaces. If you choose the most efficient model, you'll also reduce your costs for utilities and help encourage green energy initiatives.