Much like any other appliance, it is important to spend the time to choose the right pellet stove to fit your needs. Before you make your final decision, visit a specialty retailer for experienced advice. A specialty retailer is a trained pellet stove expert. He or she can arrange for the safe and reliable installation of a pellet stove by a certified professional installer. Specialty retailers are also the best source of information about how to correctly operate a pellet stove and what is required for proper maintenance.
TYPE: Pellet stoves are classified by the amount of heat they generate – high versus low output.
SIZE: The physical size of a pellet stove is less important than the heat-generating capacity of the stove and the size of the fuel hopper. A small stove can heat a large space but might not hold more than a day’s worth of pellets.
LOCATION: Pellet stoves require less installation space than other types of stoves and can be located as little as three inches from a wall, depending on the model. A pellet stove must also be installed a specific distance away from combustible surfaces and materials, such as drapes and doors, and be placed on noncombustible surface such as a hearth pad.
VENTING: Since pellet stoves are power vented they can be installed almost anywhere in home, including through the ceiling, through a wall, or into an existing masonry chimney as long as the installation includes at least three feet of vertical chimney. Pellet stove chimneys are unique and are usually three or four inches in diameter. The chimney is also lined with stainless steel.
FEATURES: There are three different types of ignition systems available in pellet stoves: standard (requiring the use of starter gel and a match); self-starting (where the user pushes a button to start the stove or uses a remote control); and fully automatic (where the stove is controlled by a thermostat and cycles on and off depending on the heat level selected). Other optional features include self-cleaning glass, self-cleaning burn pots, and deep pedestal ash pans. Some stove models even have battery back-up systems for when the power goes out (since pellet stoves require electricity to operate).
STYLE: Full bay view doors and windows trimmed in gold or black are examples of the styling options available for pellet stoves. Porcelain or cast iron finishes are also available options with many models of pellet stoves.
INSTALLATION: To ensure the safe and reliable installation of a pellet stove, the HPBA recommends that people use a specialty retailer and a certified professional installer to perform installation tasks. In addition to assessing the construction of a house, the professionals will obtain the necessary building permits and make sure that the installation meets all local and state codes. In some situations, the chosen installation area needs to accommodate a hearth pad underneath the stove.
MAINTENANCE: Pellet stoves are simple to maintain, but routine tasks must be performed regularly to ensure proper function. These tasks include emptying the ash drawer, cleaning the burn pot, hopper, ash traps and glass, and scheduling professional service inspections each year before the start of the cold season. In addition, the HPBA recommends that chimneys and vents be inspected annually (and cleaned as necessary) by a chimney sweep certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America.
FUEL REQUIREMENTS: Two grades of wood pellet fuel are available for pellet stoves: premium and standard. The difference between the two is their percentage of inorganic ash content. There is significantly less stove maintenance with the use of premium pellet fuel. There are also pellet stoves that can burn pellets with corn, a growing trend in home heating.
AVERAGE COST: The price of the appliance itself is only part of the total cost of owning a pellet stove. Other considerations are the cost of the chimney and installation, annual fuel costs and annual maintenance.
