Made of compressed sawdust, they burn cleaner than traditional firewood. Burning pellets used to require a pellet stove, but New Hampshire-based Energex has created an add-on product, called Prometheus, that allows homeowners to convert any fireplace or wood-burning stove to pellets.

Consequently, is a wood stove or pellet stove better?

Fuel Cost. The primary difference between pellet and wood stoves is their fuel source. Wood stoves operate much like fireplaces in that they burn logs. Pellets are slightly higher in price per year, though they burn longer than wood.

Also Know, do you need a chimney for a wood pellet stove? The burn grate area needs to monitored to prevent buildup but generally less work is required to operate a pellet stove than wood or coal. Energy Source: Electricity is required to operate a pellet appliance. Venting: Unlike wood stoves, pellet stoves do not need a chimney and can be vented out through a side wall.

Also asked, are wood pellet stoves worth it?

Pellet stoves can be an effective and affordable primary or secondary heat source for most residences. “Pellet fuel appliances are almost always less expensive to operate than electric resistance heating, oil, and propane-fueled appliances,” says the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Is it safe to run a pellet stove when not home?

It's safe enough to leave a pellet stove burning while you're out and it will continue to burn unattended as long as there are pellets to burn. A massive attraction of pellet stoves is the integration of modern technology.

How much is a 40 lb bag of pellets?

Wood pellets cost an average of $5 per 40-lb bag. Pellet bags can range from $4 to $9.

How long does a 40 lb bag of pellets last?

24 hours

How many pellets equal a cord of wood?

A: Pellets are normally sold in 40 pound (18 kg) bags. You can estimate how much fuel you will need for a heating season by noting that one ton of pellets is equivalent to approximately 1.5 cords of firewood. Many homeowners who use a pellet stove as a main source of heat use two to three tons of pellet fuel per year.

Do pellet stoves create creosote?

Pellet stoves produce much less creosote than other stoves, but creosote can build up in the exhaust venting after a while. Pellet stove venting is not designed to handle high temperatures, and if a fire occurs in the exhaust vent, it can easily spread into the home.

Will a pellet stove increase homeowners insurance?

The environmental benefits of pellet stoves are unclear. Your pellet stove may also increase your out-of-pocket costs for homeowner's insurance. This is because homes that feature pellet stoves are significantly more likely to suffer fire-related damages than structures heated using traditional means.

Do pellet stoves use a lot of electricity?

The average home uses about 7.3 tons of pellet fuel or 6.5 cords of wood per season. You should also note that most pellet stoves have fans, controls and fuel-feeder systems that run on electricity; the monthly electric bill for a typical stove is about $9.

How often should a pellet stove chimney be cleaned?

Compared to a wood burning stove, a PELLET STOVE is easier to clean. It produces little ash so cleaning it shouldn't be very messy. Depending on how often it is used, it needs to be cleaned every three days or at least once every two weeks. Proper cleaning and maintenance is necessary to keep it from malfunctioning.

Can a pellet stove heat an entire house?

Pellet stoves are not designed to heat your entire home, instead they are room/zone heating appliances to provide heat to the immediate area in which they are located.

Is it cheaper to burn wood or pellets?

Pellet fuel appliances are more convenient to operate than ordinary wood stoves or fireplaces, and some have much higher combustion and heating efficiencies. Most pellet stoves cost between $1,700 and $3,000. However, a pellet stove is often cheaper to install than a conventional wood-burning heater.

Is it cheaper to run a pellet stove or natural gas?

Pellet Stove Pros Less expensive - Pellet stoves tend to cost less than gas fireplaces. They usually cost less to operate, too, despite actually being less efficient, because natural gas and propane are usually more expensive than wood pellets.

Are pellet stoves bad for your health?

Other research has shown that the particles from pellet stoves, although fewer in number than from a log-burning stove, tend to be in the small fine particulate size range that are particularly damaging to health, since they penetrate into the deepest parts of the lungs and can enter the bloodstream.

Where should I put my pellet stove?

The Best Placement Installing your pellet stove near a stairway is an ideal location because it provides heat to the upper and lower levels of your home. The best placement within the room is near an exterior wall so you can vent the pellet stove directly outside.

How long does a pellet stove last?

On the other hand, pellet stoves have a shorter life span than wood stoves: 15 to 20 years, versus 20 to 25 years for the latter. The vast majority of pellet stoves operate on wood pellets, made from sawdust or compressed wood residue.

What is the most efficient pellet stove?

4 Most Efficient Pellet Stoves Of 2019
  • Pleasant Hearth PH50CABPS Pellet Stove. The Pleasant Hearth Pellet Stove has an efficiency rating of 86% with 50,000 BTUs, meaning it is powerful enough to heat a large space of about 2,200 square feet.
  • Comfortbilt HP22 Pellet Stove.
  • US Stove 5660 Pellet Stove.
  • Castle 12327 Serenity Pellet Stove.

Can a pellet stove be direct vented?

Pellet Stoves – most are vented horizontally directly through the wall to the outdoors, similar to direct vent gas fireplaces. Fireplace Inserts – most are vented vertically through the roof via the existing chimney.

Is a pellet stove cheaper than propane?

Both heater types have their benefits and downfalls. Propane heaters are cheap and require little maintenance, but are expensive to run. Pellet stoves cost more to install and require constant refueling, but are very cost effective heaters.

Does a pellet stove need a fresh air intake?

Fresh Air Intake Kit for Pellet/Multi-Fuel Stoves. It is required to allow these stoves to be installed in a mobile or modular home as it brings in fresh air from outside the living space directly into the burn chamber providing a more efficient burn especially in tighter sealed homes.