A pellet wood stove is made of thick metal but is quite compact. It uses wood pellets instead of logs as fuel. These pellets measure about half an inch long and are made from saw dust, wood shavings and other sawmill by products. However before purchasing a pellet wood stove be sure to check if it bears a permanent “U.S. Environmental Protection Agency" label. This indicates that the stove underwent EPA accredited laboratory testing for the updated standards in wood burning emissions.
Pellet stoves may also come in the form of inserts to modify an existing wood stove, to avoid the cost of buying a new one as an upgrade to a non EPA certified stove. Pellet stove inserts may also be installed in an existing vent system of a home to provide heating effect for the entire structure. Other types of pellet stoves are equipped with a system that fans the heat to spread out inside a room or a floor level, depending on the stove’s heat range capacity.
Like any other products, pellet wood stoves have their advantages and disadvantages and perhaps you should check them out first.
- Pellet wood stoves are quite safe in as much as the stove itself has no heat on its external surface. Children and pets are relatively safe from accidentally searing themselves against the metal fixture. This also allows the placing of the stove close to the wall by a distance of at least an inch in between.
- Pellet wood stoves have no smoke emissions and do not produce any unpleasant smell or aridness.
- A 40 pound sack of pellet costs only $3 and can last for two days.
- A homeowner is entitled to a Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit, for the use or installation of energy efficient technologies from 2009 to 2010 at a combined total of up to $1500. Provided that the equipment or installations are new and meet the EPA performance and safety standards.
Continue reading for a list of disadvantages on the next page...