A pellet stove is a stove that uses biomass and waste plant material to burn and create heat. It works much the same way as a traditional wood stove. One great advantage comes from the way the fuel is made. It is in the shape of small pellets that are added to a hopper that feeds the fuel in slowly and automatically to the burn pot. That sets up a constant flame that can be controlled automatically and needs little adjustment. During the Great Depression, braziers, barreled stoves, and oil drums were used often used while sawdust wood burning stoves also had an important role in this century. In 1930 the presto log (fuel made from sawdust collected from sawmills) was invented and resulted in the development of the pellet stove.
- In the years since then the stoves have progressed tremendously to where they now commonly have computer controlled thermostats and are much more efficient than wood stoves.
- A normal pellet stove can how hold as much as 50-60 lbs of fuel ready to be burned, saving you from time and energy you would otherwise spend messing with a standard wood stove.
- The pellets are sent to the burn pot just as needed.
- Additionally, modern stoves use a small 3-4 inch diameter vent pipe that can be sent straight through a wall without the need for a chimney allowing them to be installed almost anywhere.
- The stoves use convection to move the air around and are not prone to overheating a room like a wood stove.
A pellet stove presents a number of other advantages. One is how adaptable it is. The thermostat I mentioned earlier can turn on and ignite the stove automatically. The stoves computer chips can detect faults and other problems as well as be controlled by remote. The fuel burns completely and leaves almost no ash. And not only can they burn wood pellets but also, grain, wood chips, and corn.
These stoves should be installed by a pro as they require double walled venting consisting of stainless steel and galvanized metal. Make sure that your installer checks for any possible leaks before you kick back and enjoy the stove. As with many things pellet stoves have come a long way, just make sure the set up is well done. Then watch your wallet get fat from the money you are not spending on expensive fossil fuels.