Pellet Stove Furnace
Pellet stoves can be used as a supplemental heat source or, with proper venting, as a primary heating option. They are available as freestanding models as well as fireplace inserts. They can give the appearance of a traditional wood-burning fire.
The auger transports the pellets out of the hopper into the combustion chamber in the combustion chamber, where they are burned and generate heat. Sensors monitor the fire and can alter the rate of operation to maintain your desired room temperature.
1. Energy Efficiency
Pellet stoves are a non-toxic, renewable fuel that is made from compressed sawdust and other materials. These are usually put in landfills, but they can be used to create a clean and efficient source of heat. They aid homeowners in reducing their energy usage and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Many users of pellet stoves say that they have recouped their initial investment in few years by reducing their heating costs.
Pellets are much more dense and compressed than natural wood, making them more efficient in burning. They also produce less creosote than traditional fireplaces that burn wood. They are also packaged in plastic bags that seal out moisture and need less frequent cleaning.
Like other heating systems pellet stoves must be properly sized and vented. A skilled technician can assess your venting and space requirements to ensure the most efficient results.
During installation, the hearth is built to size and the vent is fitted through a hole that has been cut in the siding of your home. The vent can be positioned through a sidewall or roof depending on your preference and the local laws.
Once the vent and hearth are finished and the stove is ready to be plugged in. Certain manufacturers offer an electronic remote control that makes it easy to start and maintain the fire, while other manufacturers offer additional sensors that monitor airflow and combustion, flue temperatures, and pressure. If the system is able to determine that it requires more pellets or less, it sends a signal to the auger to accelerate or slow down accordingly.
All stoves have a storage hopper which can accommodate between 35 and 130 pounds of pellets. The size of the hopper will determine how often you need to replenish your stove. Larger hoppers can be used for longer time periods before refills is required. A grille draws air out of the room, then passes it through the heat exchanger and blows heated air in the living space via convection. A auger, grate or another device distributes the pellets, and a pan below will collect any pellets that are not burned as well as combustion remnants.
Although pellet stoves are more efficient than wood-burning stoves, they're not as efficient as natural gas furnaces or electricity-powered heaters. The electric components that drive their motorized parts require electricity and could pose a problem during a power failure, but backup systems are readily available, such as batteries and generators.
2. Low Maintenance
Pellet stoves are extremely efficient, but they require some attention to function properly. Cleaning your stove and exhaust vent regularly will help prevent the accumulation of harmful creosote. This can cause a fire or explosion that could cause damage to your stove and/or house.
A pellet stove makes use of natural particles that are compressed (such as nutshells, kernels of corn or tiny pieces of scrapwood) made from wood or other substances. An electric-powered auger feeds 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. The fire can be kept burning, or it can be modulated lower and even extinguished according to the temperature you set. When the fire is out the ash is thrown into an empty ash tray beneath the burner, which can be easily removed and then disposed of.
Pellets are made from byproducts that would have been discarded when processing lumber. They are a renewable resource and emit far less particulates into the air than traditional wood-burning stoves, which results in a clean burning heat source. The amount of carbon monoxide, carcinogens and other harmful chemicals released by pellet stoves is also much lower than those with modern wood stoves that are EPA-certified.
Due to the low emissions they produce, these stoves are not required to be vented through chimneys as traditional wood stoves, but they must be properly vented through a wall or an exterior structure. Pellet stoves have flue ports that open from the rear or the top of the appliance and are connected to the vent pipe which extends outside of the home.
A pellet stove comes with one drawback that you must purchase or store enough fuel pellets for the entire winter time. On average, pellet stove owners consume three tons of pellets throughout the course of winter season at a cost of $200 per ton. These expenses add up over the years, but it is less expensive than buying and hauling firewood to a traditional wood-burning fireplace or stove. Be sure to purchase enough pellets to ensure your stove can function throughout the coldest winter months and you have a suitable space to store them (preferably cool, dry and off the ground).
3. Reduce Carbon Footprint
Pellet stoves make use of renewable biomass fuel to generate heat, thus reducing the dependence on fossil fuels that are finite. This helps reduce the carbon footprint and helps diversify the energy sources used in homes.
The emissions of pellet stoves are significantly lower than those from woodstoves, including the latest ones that are EPA-certified. The emissions from pellet stoves also are significantly lower than the ones from gas furnaces. Pellets are made of compressed sawdust, bark, and other lumber waste. They may also contain 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 (leading to respiratory issues and allergies) as well as carcinogens, carbon monoxide and the nitrous oxides.
The major difference between wood stoves and pellet stove is the feed system. Pellet stoves come with hoppers to hold the pellets. When the thermostat or sensors indicate the room requires heating, the furnace turns. The pellets are placed in the combustion chamber and burn to generate heat. The air from combustion chamber is then pumped through a heat exchanger which transmits click here heat to the blower. This process results in low emissions and no creosote accumulation.
After the hopper is empty, the ash gets removed using a cyclone and it is then deposited into an ash container. The stove is equipped with a fan that circulates the clean, heated air throughout the room. Most pellet stoves are made to be maintenance-free and have a large viewing window for you and your family to take in the flames.
The quality of pellets is the main factor that influences pellet stove emissions. The poor quality pellets emit more emissions. When selecting your pellets, ensure that they are certified to meet certain standards and do not contain other ingredients like petroleum products or urea. Look for a company that offers a guarantee and will repair or replace parts in the event of an issue. If you want to take the greener route certain states allow homeowners to claim a tax credit for installing pellet stoves. This is a great opportunity to help offset the initial cost of this type stove and makes installation more affordable.
4. Reduced Noise
Pellet stoves produce very little emissions or smoke compared to fireplaces with wood burning. A fan is employed to spread heat more evenly throughout the room. This feature is one reason pellet stoves need less maintenance than wood stoves. While wood stoves require frequent cleaning of chemical residues and particles to prevent their deterioration stoves can be cleaned using the use of a vacuum cleaner made of metal.
Many manufacturers have made an effort to design their stoves to be easy to install and operate as well as maintain. Their appliances are available in a variety of styles that are designed to match the design of your home. Some models include a WIFI app, remote control and thermostat that can be programmed.
The majority of pellet stoves have a large fuel hopper which can hold 35 to 130 pounds of pellets. The pellets are then fed into the combustion chamber via an auger. The output of heat and the degree to which the fire is will depend on the speed at which the pellets are fed into the burner. The hopper may be filled with hardwood pellets, composed of dense wood species such as oak and hickory, or softwood pellets. Some stoves will even burn alternative biomass pellets, such as those made of switchgrass or corn which are an eco-friendly option.
Since pellet stoves burn an environmentally friendly fuel, they produce far less smoke than traditional wood-burning fireplaces and require fewer maintenance. They don't require chimneys and are a better choice for retrofits and new construction.
Pellet stoves don't require regular cleaning of creosote and other chemicals like wood stoves. They only need periodic inspections to ensure the proper operation and maintenance. Depending on the model, this might include a periodic inspection and cleaning of the accumulation of the ash or "clinker," as well as the motor and fan. Your appliance dealer can provide the correct procedures for your specific model and brand. He can also assist you to determine the right fuel for your stove, and give information regarding storage and safety.