Pellet Stoves for heating
In the push to save energy and costs, we're finding all sorts of new ways to heat our homes effectively. But why reinvent the wheel? Pellet Stoves are exactly what they sound like--ovens that burn wood pellets for fuel, heating homes the old-fashioned way. But there are a few things about these easily-installed appliances that beat out a fireplace or furnace any day.
First of all, Pellet Stoves are highly efficient at heating! This is in contrast to the standard fireplace, which can be as low as 25% efficient. This makes an insert Pellet Stove a great addition to any home with an existing fireplace--enjoy the same warm glow of the fire, and let it heat the house as well. But Pellet Stoves also come in stand-alone form, so you don't need to have a fireplace to install one.
Because Pellet Stoves burn wood or plant waste (like sawdust or wheat hulls), less of this "garbage" ends up in the landfills. Plus, burning these true biofuels is more eco-friendly than consuming the equivalent in non-renewable energy, like oil or coal.
One of the greatest conveniences of Pellet Stoves is that they can be fully automated! They can be connected to an electrical source to light, and then can be set on a timer just like a standard heating source. This does use a small amount of electricity, but is still less energy wasting than a standard heater.
Worried about smoke polution? It's way better than you think. The smoke production of Pellet Stoves is typically 1/5 of the emmission from a standard fireplace. The emissions of Pellet Stoves is so low, in fact, that the EPA doesn't regulate them.
Pellet Stoves can be used as a main heating source for a small home, or as supplemental heating to keep from using central heating as much in winter. A good friend of mine just bought a two bedroom, two-level home, and she uses the pellet stove to heat the whole house.
As we head into winter this year, you may just want to consider having a Pellet Stove to do the brunt of the heating work. Stay warm!