A pellet stove is a stove designed to burn pellets, made from compressed wood, sawdust, bark, waste paper and other organic materials. Some pellet stoves can also burn corn pellets, grain and seeds along with wood pellets. Pellet stoves are mainly preferred for their heating efficiency and high combustion. They are cleaner and convenient to use than wood stoves and this is the reason why they are increasingly used in both residential and industrial sector as a source of supplemental heat. However, like other types of stoves, these too have certain advantages and disadvantages.
How Does a Pellet Stove Work?
These stoves resemble the log burning stoves in appearance. But, their working mechanism is quite different. All types of pellet stoves usually contain a hopper, which is the storage container for the pellets. The pellets are kept in the hopper and then, fed to the combustion chamber by an auger system. Now pellets stoves are basically of two types, bottom fed and top fed stoves. The bottom fed stoves usually have a horizontal auger that moves the fuel or pellets horizontally into the combustion chamber.
On the other hand, the auger of the top fed stoves is located above the burn pot, which moves the fuel into the top or side of the combustion chamber. For top fed systems, the use of low ash or high quality pellets are usually recommended. This is because, top fed systems are found to be more clinker deposits than the bottom fed stoves. The ash and clinkers in bottom fed stoves generally fall into the ash pan, from which they can be discarded. So, it is not necessary to use low ash pellets in this system. Both top fed and bottom fed stoves also contain fans that help to draw air to the combustion chamber and also transfer the heat generated to the entire room.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Pellet Stove
The main advantage of pellet stoves is their high heating efficiency. As far as air pollution is concerned, the pellets stoves are superior than the wood stoves. They burn much more cleanly without creating too much ash, unlike the wood stoves. Even the fuel for this type of stoves are readily available and some of them are manufactured from the otherwise useless waste materials. The fuel can also be easily stored and handled. In other words, pellets stoves are quite eco-friendly, as no tree or any other natural resources, need to be destroyed to create the fuel for these types of stoves. These stoves are thermostatically controlled and they are more convenient, as no physical adjustment is required. They also do not require the construction of a chimney. All these features have made pellet stoves a popular choice for those who are looking for one of the cleanest heating appliances.
The main disadvantage of pellets stoves is their cost. Pellets stoves are comparatively expensive, considering both the price and the cost of installation. Additionally, the stoves need to be vented outside, which too can cost a little. However, the cost of venting is much less than the construction of a chimney. There is another cost component, which is the cost of electricity required to run these stoves. Apart from these, the pellets or the fuel of these stoves are not cheap and they may not be available throughout the year in some places. Being mechanical stoves, pellet stoves can also make a dull, but continuous sound or noise while operating. Again, the stoves and its various components can require some care and maintenance, along with occasional repair and replacement of certain parts.
For some, pellet stoves can be a clean heating appliance, suitable for cutting down the level of air pollution, while for others, pellets stoves may not be as appealing as the conventional wood stoves. So, a decision would basically depend on the individual preferences. Therefore, it is better to carry out a detailed research in order to make a concrete decision.
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