Pellet Fuel as an alternative

Pellet stoves work on the principle of convection, not radiation, the surface stays relatively cool, which means you can install them as little as three inches away from the wall. The only requirement is a nearby electrical outlet to power the feed system and fans (and a battery back up in case the electricity goes out).

Typical Pellet Stove Pellet-burning appliances rely on sophisticated computers and circuit boards to determine how much pellet fuel should be burned. Most models have at least two burn settings and some use thermostats to control the fire. They also use a forced-air system to distribute heat. Pellet-burning appliances are highly efficient and pollute very little. Depending on the model, they may furnish between 10,000 and 60,000 Btu per hour.

Because these appliances burn wood so efficiently, they do not typically need a standard chimney. Rather, they exhaust fumes through a small hole in the wall to the outdoors. This pipe is called Pellet Vent or Class L chimney, and consists of a stainless steel interior and an aluminum or galvanized exterior. Pellet stoves and inserts can also be vented up through existing masonry and prefab (class A) chimneys, but the chimney typically must be relined with a smaller size of stainless steel single wall pipe.

The stoves might also need a little more maintenance than your current heating system. Just like the family pet, they require a regular feeding schedule. You’ll need to load in pellets every four or five days, depending on the size of the hopper and how often you use the stove. Since pellets burn with greater than 99 percent efficiency, they leave little ash behind (about one gram per hour), but you’ll still have to clean out what little remains every week or so.

There is no doubt in my mind,” says Melvin Fallin, owner of Thomaston Hardware in Thomaston, Georgia. While he’s been selling pellet stoves for about a decade, Fallin is seeing heightened demand now as customers try desperately to combat the rising costs of gas, oil, and propane.

Now that we’ve told you all of the advantages of pellet stoves, there’s something else you should know. Last year, some people had a heck of a time finding pellets. Even our secret-source-savvy editor in chief, Scott Omelianuk, couldn’t track them down, resorting to tossing in dried feed corn, little bits of dowels, and scraps of cedar shingles. (Ed. note: The only thing you can burn in one of these is pellets.)

The reason for last year’s shortage was both higher-than-expected demand and the fact that a number of U.S. pellet manufacturers had existing contracts with sellers in Europe, where the stoves have been popular for decades. To meet the growing need, some local retailers are resorting to new sources. Case in point: The owners of Thomaston Hardware in Thomaston, Georgia, have struck up a deal with a local wood flooring company to start manufacturing their own pellets.

Another fan blows the hot air out into your house. Some models require you light the fire yourself, others let you push a button on the stove (or a remote control!) to fire them up; fully automatic versions are attached to a thermostat and turn on or off depending on the selected heat level.