Feed Wood
The Differences Between Wood and Pellet Stoves
Those looking into buying a stove to reduce their heating costs or add ambiance to their home may be confused about the difference between different types of stoves. Stoves come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and can be chosen to match just about any décor. A stove is also a great alternative to a fireplace and can act as a space heater.
Stand-alone stoves can use gas, wood, or pellets for fuel. At first, the wood and pellet choices may look very similar to a homeowner, but there are major differences between the two. Carefully consider each fuel type before choosing and installing a stove.
What is a Wood Stove?
A wood stove is a freestanding appliance that is used to contain a fire within the home. The stove is designed to allow enough air to keep the fire burning evenly and may have an igniter. They are very similar to traditional fireplaces, but there is no mantel or hearth.
What is a Pellet Stove?
A pellet stove is design to burn small pill-shaped fuel made from wood byproducts. These pellets look a lot like rabbit food. A pellet stove is heats evenly, but lets off little exhaust. They have become preferable for their environmentally friendly fuel and efficiency.
Differences in Design
These two kinds of stoves look the same on the outside, but each of them has been designed to handle their recommended fuel. A wood stove looks like a fireplace firebox from the outside, but on the inside it has special ventilation mechanisms that keep the fire burning well in the small space of the stove. A properly designed wood stove should be able to heat the room without making it uncomfortable.
Some of these stoves use the hot air inside to rotate a ventilation fan above the fire that draws in air. The extra oxygen helps the fire continue burning. Other stoves circulate air around the stove in order to pull fresh air inside. Wood burning stoves also require specific kinds of flues that can handle the build up of carbon and creosote.
Pellet stoves are much different than wood stoves on the inside. The biggest difference is the hopper full of extra fuel that sits above the flames. The pellets are gravity fed into the stove at a constant rate. Most have feeding mechanisms that ensure the right amount of fuel is added to the fire. Pellets stoves also have exhaust fans that remove heat from the stove and bring in air.
Individual Advantages
Pellet stoves have become very popular in recent years because they have many advantages over older stoves. Since pellets are made from sawdust and other filler material, they are more environmentally friendly than any other kind of burning fuel. Using them for heating disposes of materials that would otherwise be dumped with other waste. The pellets also burn cleanlier than other fuels. They do not give off creosote like wood does.
Pellets provide even heat that spreads from the stove. Wood stoves are known to heat the room they are in so well that home HVAC systems shut down, leaving other rooms cold. Since wood burns much less efficiently than pellets, it also has a much higher chance of throwing sparks and starting a fire.
Another advantage to pellet systems is that they are easier to place and install because they can use different kinds of flues and exhaust systems. The stove retailer should be able to advise a homeowner of the best system for their home. Some companies provide home installation services that take the guesswork out of making the system efficient.
Wood stoves are preferable to pellet stoves for those who have lots of wood on hand. Pellets can be hard to come by and usually only come in large quantities, but firewood is available just about anywhere.
Choosing a Stove
Though pellet stoves have skyrocketed in popularity recently, there is still reason for a homeowner to install a wood stove. Those who don’t have the space for a freestanding stove can purchase fireplace insets that utilize the same heating techniques.
Homeowners looking for a stove should ask themselves how much they would like to spend on a stove, what kind of fuel is most readily available in there area, and if the primary purpose of the stove will be heating or aesthetics. The purchase and installation of a new stove can cost a few thousand dollars, so the decision should not be made lightly.
Both varieties of stove will provide warmth during the winter and the kind of comfort that only a fire can provide.
About the Author
Brian Jenkins is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to safety and alternative heat sources such as Wood Pellet Stoves
IPL 2010: Semi-final 1, FUN FEED SNIPPETS – Chat with Mr Wood
|
|
Refurbished Wood Stove Back Blower Side and Front Feed $600.00 |
|
|
Ateco Natural Wood Spatulas Stainless steel blade with natural wood handle Spatula blade is taper ground for even flexibility Will withstand commercial use… |
|
|
Oster 3157 400-Watt Single-Speed Juice Extractor, White/Grey $53.50 Oster 3157-000 Juice Extractor 400W SS Cutter 20oz. The Oster 24oz Juicer features a convenient one-movement safety locking arm for fast and safe operation, removable feed chute for easy cleaning and storage, sturdy all stainless steel filter for durability, and powerful 400 Watt motor for tough tasks. Large capacity jar conveniently holds up to 20oz of juice. Dishwasher safe parts are easy to dis… |
|
|
VWPics Birds – Allens Hummingbird hovers in midair as it feeds on a flower.(Selasphorus sasin) – Tile Napkin Holders Allens Hummingbird hovers in midair as it feeds on a flower.(Selasphorus sasin) Tile Napkin Holder is measuring 6w x 6h x 4d. Made from high quality solid maple wood with satin finish and two 4.25 commercial grade mirror gloss ceramic tiles. Holds napkins, mail, letters or files. In addition, customized engraving, on the face of the item, is available on request…. |
|
|
Dont Feed the Hamonica Player $17.89 … |
|
|
Sacred Hymns $15.98 … |
|
|
Hog Feed [RARE] 1. Foggy Mental Breakdown 2. Rocky Road Blues 3. Mountain Dew 4. (I Know My) Rider 5. The Grand Ole Opry Song 6. Fat Bottom Girls 7. The Cuckoo 8. White House Blues 9. Blackberry Blossom 10. Drifting Too Far From the Shore 11. Barefoot Nellie 12. Little Glass of Wine 13. Long Journey Home 14. Nine Pound Hammer… |
|
|
Belkin 6-Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector $3.45 This Belkin Home/Office Series Surge Protector provides premium power protection for small home appliances, and other connected devices. Our decades of research and development have led us to the release of this breakthrough series. We’ve used advanced design elements, top-quality construction, and superior circuitry and components to provide the most complete protection from power surges, spikes,… |
|
|
Belkin BE112230-08 12-Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector with Telephone and Coaxial Protection $16.00 SAFETY COVERS FOR OUTLETSSLIM DESIGN FOR COMPACT STORAGEORGANIZES CABLES WITH DETACHABLE CORD MANAGEMENT CLIPFLAT-PROFILE PLUG12 OUTLETSTELEPHONE & COAXIAL PROTECTION3780 JOULES8-FT POWER CORDLIFETIME WARRANTY$300000 CONNECTED EQUIPMENT WARRANTYUPC : 722868594322Shipping Dimensions : 14.75in X 6.00in X 2.00inEstimated Shipping Weight : 2.15… |
|
|
Belkin Pivot-Plug Surge Protectors $26.99 Features a rotating outlet design that gives you much more convenience and flexibility in placing your plugged-in devices than traditional products Belkin Pivot Plug Surge Protectors provide premium power protection for your professional workstations and connected devices. It’s rotating outlet design gives you much more convenience and flexibility in placing your plugged-in devices than traditiona… |
|
|
Across the Universe (Two-Disc Special Edition) $7.99 Set in America during the Vietnam War, Across the Universe is a powerful love story set against a backdrop of political and social unrest: it’s a story of soul-searching, self-doubt, and individual powerlessness cleverly conveyed through a multitude of Beatles songs. Like young adults all across America during the 1960′s, Jude (Jim Sturgess), Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), Max (Joe Anderson), Sadie (Dan… |
This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 28th, 2007 at 11:56 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.