Pellet stove info

[jpak]

This is going to be a hard winter for homeowners whether they use oil, natural gas or propane to heat their homes.

Pellet stoves have a lot of advantages over conventional wood stoves - once-a-day fuel loading, some operate with thermostats, many don't require a chimney for installation and pellet fuel stores more conveniently than cord wood.

Wood pellets, like all fuels, aren't cheap, but having pellet stove in your home might mean the difference between frozen pipes this winter or an empty bank account come spring.

Not a panacea, but something to consider....

http://www.hometips.com/cs-protected/guides/pellet.html

http://hearth.com/what/pelletstoves.html

http://hearth.com/what/pellet/pellet1.html

http://hearth.com/what/pellet/pellet2.html

http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/factsheets/bc8.html

http://www.canren.gc.ca/renew_ene/index.asp?CaID=47&PgID=1142

http://www.oldhouseweb.com/suppliers_of/11268_Pellet_Stoves_.shtml

[benburch]

1. Safety note.

A pellet stove or any wood or coal stove should be installed by a professional.

And I cannot repeat often enough the need to have your flue cleaned often if you use any fuel other than natural gas or propane.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I've seen them in operation and they put out good heat

but like any stove of this kind, realize that the heat basically stays localized around the stove-the farther you are away from it, the less heat you feel. Also, the one I saw utilized electricity to keep feeding the pellets to the fire-not a big cost, but something to consider if you tend to have power outages in the winter.

If you plan to heat with a pellet stove or a conventional wood burning stove, the best way to get ready is to insulate, insulate, insulate! Shut off any rooms that aren't used all that often. If you have a large living room, with the stove at one end, consider hanging drapes across part of the room, from floor to ceiling, to help concentrate the heat.

Finally, if you heat like wood like I do, please make sure you've cleaned out your chimney from last year. Soot can catch fire and burn down a house.

[jpak]

3. Many pellet stoves have battery back-up for power outages

and I agree - clean chimneys are a must when burning any solid fuel...

[ret5hd]

4. some also burn dried corn OR either corn or wood pellets...

i dont know how corn compares to wood pellets cost-wise.

[notadmblnd]

5. This looks like a do-able to suppliment

supposed to use less energy than a coffee pot.

http://www.portablefurnace.com/estore/test.html

I think I'll order one next week!

[havocmom]

6. They work where I live, and, baby it's cold outside.

Know many people who use them here in Montana. Some use them to augment other systems and keep costs down but I have been to places where pellet stove was the sole heating source (small buildings) and they work.

But I would echo benburch, have it professionally installed! CO2 is NOT to be toyed with. And I fear America will lose people this winter as they take desperate actions to keep from freezing this winter. Again, it is the poor and elderly who will pay for Cheney's energy policy.

[INdemo]

7. Winter Heat

My advice is insulate,insulate,insulate....