If you’re in the market for a pellet stove, chances are you’ve heard about their many benefits, and are curious about whether or not they live up to the hype.
While many pellet stoves are freestanding, some are available as inserts for an existing fireplace. Some models can display a burning flame, affording you the traditional experience of a burning fire.
One of the biggest benefits of pellet stoves is that they are designed to provide consistent heat without necessitating the continual feeding of fuel or adjustment of air flow that’s typically associated with traditional fireplaces or even wood-burning stoves. All you have to do is ensure that the hopper has enough pellets, and the stove does the rest.
At American Chimney, we sell a few different models of pellet stoves, and would love to give you a little guidance if you’re new to the idea of heating your home with pellets. Here are a few basic facts that may help you decide if a pellet stove is right for you.
Versatility in Placement. Wood-burning stoves need a vertical chimney, however, pellet stoves can be placed almost anywhere since they can vent through a hole in the wall, due to having their own venting systems.
Green Factor. According to The Alliance for Green Heat and VU University, Amsterdam, pellets only emit about 1/10th the carbon that heating with oil does. As long as pellets are responsibly sourced (and this is easy to trace), the carbon footprint of pellets is very low compared to traditional heating. Most wood pellets made in the United States are composed of waste sawdust, not from cutting down existing trees, and are bound with lignin, a naturally occurring substance in wood--no chemicals or additives.
Technologically Capable. The image of a wood-burning or pellet stove may be of a pot-bellied cast iron antique...that’s not the only possibility for pellet stoves, anymore. We have a number of models that can seamlessly fit into any home’s decor, and the common complaint about stoves not matching a fireplace for heat output, while valid in some senses, can be counterbalanced by employing a model that has a system that allows for automating the feed of pellets to the stove, and maintaining the area’s heat in a way that can’t be done with a traditional fireplace that has to be fed logs by hand consistently. In other words, the models on the market now aren’t your Grandma’s pellet stove.
Choosing between a fireplace and pellet stove for your home’s heating needs is something we would love to guide you through, at American Chimney, and if you decide on a pellet stove, we can assist you in finding a model that is both easy on the eyes and up to the task of heating your home in a natural, reliable way.
Contact us today to learn more about the pellet stoves we offer, and how a pellet stove compares with other heating devices.
