Pellet stove
Pellet-burning appliances are simpler to operate and more convenient than other wood-burning appliances. In fact, they are almost as easy to use as gas, oil, or electric heaters. These stoves and inserts burn wood pellets–compressed wood which resembles rabbit food.
If you’ve purchased an inserted wood pellet stove, each year right before winter or at the end of fall you should perform a chimney sweep. Call in the professionals for this task. Your chimney sweep should include a certification which shows that other components of the stove and chimney are safe and working efficiently.
There are two basic kinds of wood pellet stoves; freestanding and inserts. Freestanding stoves are very efficient for heating single rooms and are much easier to clean and maintain compared to inserts, which are inserted directly into an existing fireplace. Freestanding stoves require a 4″ pipe that attaches to your wall and allows the gases produced to escape to the outside.
There are also many pellet stoves that are manufactured to easily integrate into your homes current vent system so that you are able to heat your entire house. Others come with fans that can blow the hot air into the room and will eventually heat the entire floor level if you give it a clear airway to all the rooms.
When purchasing a pellet stove you must look for quality if you’re looking for a stove that will last. Stoves made from real thin metal obviously won’t last long. But be aware that some of these stoves have electrical components that control the rate the pellets are released into the stove by gauging the temperature or on a timed cycle.
You should ask yourself questions like “do I need a freestanding stove or insert?” or “how many square footage do I want to heat?” These are normal questions you should have answers too before you buy a pellet stove. Understanding the maintenance and cleaning procedures is also very important before buying a pellet stove. Many different models offer different hopper capacities and internal dimensions. Cleaning could be more difficult based on the type of stove you choose. Inserts need annual chimney sweeps, while some freestanding stoves need weekly cleaning.
A Corn Stove is designed for whole kernel shelled corn combustion and is similar to a pellet stove. The chief difference between a pellet stove and a dedicated Corn Stove is the addition of metal stirring rod within the burnpot. These vary in design, but usually consist of one long metal stalk with smaller rods welded at a perpendicular angle, in order to churn the burn-pot as it spins.
If you’re thinking about getting a stove, lay in your pellet supply early. “I tell everybody the same thing,” says Joe Galok, owner of Berkshire Fireplace in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. “There are enough pellets for everybody-but not for everybody all at once.