Heating with Pellet Stoves

A pellet stove is a great alternative to wood burning stoves for homeowners who are cost conscious or who are concerned with the amount of wood required to make a wood burning stove the primary heat source. A pellet stove uses compressed pellets of recycled wood shavings, sawdust or corn. This, combined with their combustion heating system, makes them an extremely cost effective heating source, as they only require a small fire to burn extremely hot.

Pellet stoves do have some drawbacks to their use, mostly in the many moving parts needed to help them heat efficiently. These multiple parts will require yearly maintenance to keep the stove working at its peak performance.

Position a pellet stove in the same way one would position a wood burning stove; in a central location in the home, with as much access to other rooms as possible.

Fireplace Inserts
A fireplace insert is a great way to adding some heating efficiency to a traditional masonry fireplace. There are multiple styles available, including gas, electric and wood burning fireplace inserts.

A fireplace insert is a type of stove which fits directly inside of an existing fireplace to help make it more efficient. Like wood burning stoves, fireplace inserts must be EPA certified, making them extremely efficient at home heating.

A gas fireplace insert or an electric fireplace insert will not give the same appearance as a wood burning fireplace, but can increase the effectiveness of a fireplace significantly. Gas fireplace inserts will require additional venting, which can make them more costly to install, but easier to use and more efficient over the long term.

Adding a wood burning stove, pellet stove or fireplace insert to a home as a back up or primary heating source can be an eye catching and comforting way to warm the home. Consider their use to make home heating more cost effective, environmentally friendly or both, today.