Intoduction to Wood Pellet Stoves

Pellet stoves can be a cost-effective and fuel-efficient way to heat any room. However, before you invest in one, you must carefully consider a few factors. Here are a couple of buying considerations for pellet stoves:

Average Cost

The price of a pellet stove ranges anywhere from $1,700 to $3,300. Its installation may cost from $350 to $550. Aside from the price of the stove itself and the installation cost, there are other costs to consider, such as delivery, hearth pad, vent or chimney, fuel supply, and maintenance. When it comes to installation, always bear in mind that unlike ordinary wood stoves that need expensive conventional flues or chimney, pellet stoves only require a vent pipe that can go through the ceiling or wall.

Type

There are two major categories of pellet stoves: high output and low output. This classification is based on the amount of heat that the stove is able to generate, which is known as their efficiency or heat output range. In general, pellet stoves have an efficiency of 75 to 90% and a heat output range of 40,000 BTU or higher. These figures vary from model to model. In deciding what model to purchase based on the type and capacity, take into consideration other factors, such as the following:

1.    Size and layout of the house
2.    Features of the house that would affect heating
3.    Intended purpose of the pellet stove
4.    Desired temperature range

Physical Size

The physical size of the pellet stove is one of the most thought-of aspects when considering where to position the stove in your house. Note, however, that the physical size is not as important as size of the stove in terms of its fuel hopper and heat-generating capacity. A smaller stove can keep a large room warm, but it might not last for more than a day because of the small amount of pellets it can accommodate.

Fuel Requirement

Pellets may be made from wood, sawdust, corn, and peanut shells among other recyclable materials. When it comes to the fuel source, take note that the type of stove that you should choose as well as the cost-efficiency of heating your home largely depend on the availability of the different types of pellets in your area and their cost. In some areas, the pellets are generally more expensive. For instance, in New York, a standard bag of pellets usually goes for $4.50 to $8 and can be consumed within 12 hours even when burned at a low setting. Aside from the type of material, pellets are also categorized based on their grade: premium and standard. What separates the two is their inorganic ash content. Using premium-grade pellets translates to less cleaning and maintenance but, of course, a higher annual fuel cost.

Location

Compared to other stove types, pellet stoves require less space to be installed. Depending on the model, they can be placed as little as three to four inches from a wall. Pellet stoves must be positioned a certain distance away from materials and surfaces that are combustible, such as curtains and doors. They must also be placed on a non-combustible material like a hearth pad.

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This article is the continuation of the first regarding a few factors that you must consider before you make a pellet stove purchase.

Venting

Pellet stoves are power vented so they can be placed almost anywhere in your homes, be through the wall, through the ceiling, or into a masonry chimney, if you have one. The only requirement is that the vertical chimney should be three feet at the least. This chimney is usually stainless steel-lined and three to four inches in diameter.

Installation

The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) of the US suggests that people buy from specialty retailers and hire certified professionals to install pellet stoves in order to ensure safety. The professional installers will be the ones to obtain the building permits and to make sure that all of the safety requirements are met, such as the length of the chimney and placement of the stove on a non-combustible surface.

Ignition System

Three types of ignition systems are available: standard, self-starting, and fully automatic. The standard system requires the use of a match and starter gel. The self-starting system provides a button or a remote control which the person uses to start the stove. The fully automatic system is managed by a thermostat that turns on and off depending on the selected heat level. Choose a reliable startup system that would suit your frequency of usage (i.e. intermittent or continuous).

Feeding System

A top-fed stove, which feeds pellets from the hopper down to a tube, decreases the risk of fire burning right back into the holding area of the pellets, but is more likely to get clogged with ashes. This is why top-fed models are recommended to be fueled with high-grade, low-ash pellets. Bottom-fed stove models, on the other hand, deliver the pellets to the side or from behind the burn box. Since the ash is pushed right into the pan during delivery, bottom-fed models don’t require the more expensive premium fuel but they may not be as efficient.

Miscellaneous Features

Some models have optional features that enhance their ease of use, convenience, and reliability. Some of these miscellaneous features are self-cleaning burn pots, self-cleaning glass that utilizes an air wash system that channels warm air over it during burning, deep ash pans to accommodate more residue and backup power since stoves require electricity to be run. Check the features or each model before making your decision.

Style

There are many options to choose from in terms of the external design of pellet stoves. From modern to old world, from cast iron to porcelain, you’ll be sure to find one that suits your taste and the interiors of your home.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Pellet stoves contain motors, moving parts, electronic gadgetry, and electrical features. These are easy to maintain, but regular checking and servicing must be done in order to ensure that they perform their functions properly. The routing tasks that must be done include the following:

1.    Emptying the ash pan
2.    Cleaning the glass, hopper, burn pot, and ash pan
3.    Scheduling inspection services yearly as recommended by the HPBA

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Online shopping was introduced as a more convenient way of buying goods. You can purchase whatever you want at your own time and the transaction will be complete in just a few moments. When you access the World Wide Web, everything is only one mouse click away.

However, buying things online is not as easy as you might think it is. Because you are not in a physical store, there are many aspects that you must consider such as the lack of a salesperson to guide you in your choices as well as the difficulty in choosing from different items without being there in person to check them out and scrutinize them for their features and flaws.

When it comes to pellet stoves, you must do several things and take into account several considerations before you even click on that “Buy Now” or “Add To Shopping Cart” button.

The first thing that you must do is to conduct a thorough research regarding what a pellet stove is, what its features are, and what are the different types available. Take into consideration the following:

•    The size and layout of your house (use your floor plan since it contains the dimensions of the rooms of your house)
•    Features of your house that affect heating (i.e. materials used to build it, kinds of insulation in it, etcetera)
•    Intended purpose (primary heating for the whole house or just for a particular area)
•    Desired temperature (determine the temperature range you want for both day and night time)

If you go online and do a quick search, the search engine will release hundreds of thousands of results. Check for websites of companies that seem the most credible to you. In general, trustworthy online retailers have a decent website containing detailed information about their products, and contact details, among others. Once you have chosen an online stove retailer, go through their product list, read through the specifications of each model, and make your preliminary decision. After you’ve done this, there are a few more things to consider:

Sales Tax
In most states, shopping online will save you 5 percent or even more in terms of sales tax. Most of the time, the only online shops that collect sales tax are those that have a physical store in the state where you are in.

Discounts
Most online retailers give discounts of 10 percent or even more. They may also offer price slashes in the form of free shipping and credit options. If you’re lucky, you may chance upon a seller that offers no down payment and installment programs.

Delivery
You will be offered free shipping in some instances. Coordinate with the retailer regarding where and when you want your order to be delivered. Note that stove retailers usually don’t deliver to an APO or Post Office box address.

Installation
It would be better if you don’t order your elbows, vent pipes, and other parts from the online retailer where you bought your stove. Since there are local building codes in the US, just let the professional stove installer determine which parts are needed to be ordered. If you don’t know of a certified installer, you can ask companies like Service Magic to help you look for one in your area.

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Many people are resorting to buying a pellet stove in order to save money on heating bills. But if you think about it, spending money on an expensive brand new pellet stove defeats your purpose of saving. Why buy an unused stove where you can get one for a half the price? With these enormous savings, you can even afford to pay for one year’s worth of fuel.

Buying a second-hand item has pros and cons. It is easier because you have limited choices plus you can save more money. However, it is very difficult to assure the quality of what you’re buying since you’re not its first owner. Moreover, there are updated models already out in the market. But if you do decide to settle for a second-hand pellet stove, here are a few tips on how you can make an informed choice.

Do your research first. You can immediately narrow down your choices to several pellet stoves once you’ve determined the following factors: the heating features of your house (i.e. the materials it is made of and kind of insulation), layout and size of your house (refer to the floor plan that has the dimensions of the rooms), intended purpose (heating whole or merely part of the house), and desired temperature range for both daytime and nighttime. Also determine what fuel type you need. Some fuel types are not available in all states. They may also be more expensive in some areas than in others, depending on the supplier. This factor may highly affect the cost-effectiveness of your setup.

Once you’ve identified what kind of pellet stove that you need, you should start searching for the model that would be closest to your preferences and needs. You may check the newspaper classifieds for ads or you may go to retailers that carry used pellet stoves. But if you want a more convenient way of shopping, you may start your search online. Web classified and auctions such as Craigslist and eBay contain a lot of listings. You may narrow down your search based on the brand or model that you want, and your location, among other filters.

Finally, check for the sweet extras that used pellet stove sellers include in the package. These may include the hearth pad, log set, venting pipe, and any leftover pellets. Free shipping may also be included. These small things can add up to a lot of savings on your part.

In general, buying second-hand pellet stoves can save you more money depending on their original retail price. The observed trend is that the higher the original price tag, the more the stove depreciates. No buyer would want to purchase a used item for a high price. Thus, sellers whose stoves originally cost a lot are forced to price their items lower, usually at 50 to 70 percent off.

After you’ve made a deal with a seller, talk with him/her about the delivery setup – how it will be delivered, who will do it, and when. Furthermore, don’t hesitate to contact him/her regarding any questions that you may have about, say, installation and the warranty of the pellet stove.

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