The idea of warming up your home in the frigid winter days with low-costing heating methods is an enticing prospect. However, there’s so much more to consider when it comes to buying the pellet stove that’s right for you. Let’s crack the mystery and find out the elements you should consider before making the purchase.
Why Should You Opt for A Reliable Pellet Stove?
Other than keeping you warm and cozy, there are many perks and advantages to owning pellet heaters.
They’re Good for the Environment (If Not Great)!
Pellet stoves are considered environmentally efficient because the burning fuel is composed of waste and recyclable materials. In comparison to other traditional heating options, it produces minimal carbon emissions and wood smoke.
Cost-Efficient Fuel and Installation
Oil and gas are expensive options when it comes to heating your home. Similarly, electric heaters are even more costly, but using pellets as a heat source is cheaper, rounding up to an average of 7-ton usage each season.
Ease of Use
Efficient and high-quality pellet heaters are not only cost-savvy, but they’re also convenient to utilize. From setting up the temperature via remote or control panel to refilling the hopper with wood pellets, these heaters are hassle-free.
Technical Terms You Should Know Before Buying A Pellet Heater
Once you embark on the journey of selecting the best pellet stove, you’ll come across many technical terms and jargon. Therefore, you must know the most important terms to make an informed purchase.
What does BTU rating imply?
The term ‘BTU,’ which stands for British Thermal Units, will crop up continuously during your research for buying pellet stoves. So, BTU is a unit that is a scale for heat production that is also relative to the area of your room. Bigger spaces require higher BTU output and vice versa.
What is a thermal efficiency rating?
The Thermal efficiency rating describes the amount of heat that a pellet stove will generate. When your stove pellet has a higher thermal efficiency percentage, it will utilize less fuel and deliver consistent heat.
Essential Considerations to Make When Purchasing Pellet Stoves
With various features, from design aspect to heating capacity, finding the best pellet stove isn’t as easy a decision as you might think. Before you double down on the perfect pellet stove for your home space, there are many factors that you should consider. Let’s explore!
Size Consideration
When you plan to buy the pellet heater, you must calculate the dimension of your home space. Investing in a heater that won’t fit in the allocated location in your home will be a costly mistake. In a smaller room, fitting in a larger stove would only cause complications and vice versa. An improper heater size would only cause installation difficulties and uneven heating issues.
Heating Capacity and Space
Two factors that are essential in the selection process of pellet stoves are heating capacity (BTU) & the area (square feet). The bigger the space and area of your home is, the higher BTU capacity you should look for in a heater. The heating capacity of your home space is also dependent on the insulation. The BTU output requirement will drastically change depending on the insulated and non-insulated home space. For instance, an insulated 1000 square feet space will heat up within 24,000 – 30,000 BTUs; whereas, a non-insulated space of the same area will require 42,000 – 50,000 BTUs.
You can use online BTU calculators to determine which pellet heater will be suitable for your home, depending on the space.
Determining the Hopper Size
Hopper is an essential part of the pellet heaters. It is a basket-like container where you feed your pellet fuel to heat the whole area. If you have a smaller hopper basket, then you will have to restock the fuel more frequently. Depending on the model, hopper size ranges from 20-60 pounds. If you’re someone who does not want to restock pellets frequently, then go for bigger hopper sizes.
How To Maintain Pellet Stove For Efficient Performance?
If you want to maintain the longevity of your heater, then you must not overlook its maintenance. Do not expect to restock the hopper with pellets and leave the heater to its own operations. You must ensure that the ash drawer is emptied at a regular interval; and you should properly clean the air vents, glass screen, and burn pot. Additionally, hire professional services annually to make sure that your pellet stove is functioning without any hitch.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Pellet Heaters
The following tips will accelerate the selection and installation process of wood pellet stoves.
1. Location matters! Pellet stoves require a ventilation duct to expel the gas and smoke buildup. So, make sure wherever you place your heater, it has a proper ventilation setup.
2. You will need a consistent electricity supply for your heater. Therefore, always set up your pellet stove near a power source.
3. Make sure you do not have leaky windows and cracks in your home. Otherwise, you’ll have to invest more bucks in a heavy-duty heater to make up for heat loss.
4. Take account of your ceiling height when you are deciding which BTU rating will be suitable for you.
5. Choose a pellet heater that comes with controls for temperature variation. So, you can maintain the temperature through chilly and freezing days, according to your liking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is buying a pellet stove worth it?
A: Yes, buying a pellet heater is worth it for many reasons. It’s an extremely cost-effective option in comparison to more mainstream heating methods. Plus, it gives an affordable fireplace-like ambiance and view if you can’t afford one.
Q: Can I install the pellet heater myself?
A: You can install the pellet heater yourself, only if you have the skills to set up the ventilation ducts and assemble the many mechanical parts. Due to the technicalities involved in the installation, we recommend reaching out to the HVAC experts to kickstart your pellet stove.
Q: What are the safety measures in a good pellet stove design?
A: The best pellet heaters have sophisticated safety features that minimize the chances of any mishaps. It includes features like Pressure Switch (instantly turns off the stove if improper pressure builds up), Automatic Shutdown (pellet stove turns off if burn rate increases), and Exhaust Sensing Probe (detects temperature abnormalities and shuts down).