Pellet Stoves: The Alternative
Michael Jason
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.
About The Author: Michael Jason writes articles on a number of
different topics. For more information on Pellet Stoves please
visit http://www.stove-ideas.com/pellet-stoves.html and for
additional Stove articles please visit the following article
page
http://www.stove-ideas.com/stove-articles/
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