Pellet stoves , a popular way to heat your home without relying on oil, gas or electric heating. Many people often ask what is a pellet stove and how do they work. Pellet stoves are a machine consisting of a minimum 3 electrical motors, at least 3 sensors to keep you safe and a control panel. For a homeowner the use of a pellet stove is quite simple. Fill the hopper with wood pellets , push the on button and the stove does all the work. Set your temp either manually or with a thermostat. The stove will begin dropping pellets into the burn pot and the ignitor will light them up and within minutes you have a fire with just a push of a button. Most pellet stoves have 5 or six heat settings on them each one determines how fast the stove drops pellets into the burn pot. The higher the setting the faster the pellets will drop and the more you will burn. Some pellet stoves will adjust the fan speed relative to the pellet feed rate by them selves for example the Enviro and Hudson River Stove Works pellet stoves will adjust the fan speed to match your feed rate automatically. Others however you can adjust the fan speed yourself such as the Napoleon pellet stoves and the Timberwolf pellet stoves.
How do pellet stoves work? Pellet stoves are a machine the auger motor is a slow moving electric motor that turns the auger which drops pellets down into the burn pot of the stove.The speed of the auger motor determines your feed rate of the pellets and the heat output of the stove. There are 2 fans on a pellet stove the first fan is the combustion air fan this fan pulls in air into the firebox for combustion and is often used to power vent the exhaust out also. The other fan is the room air fan on a pellet stove this fan has 2 purposes first it blows air through the stoves heat exchanger tubes our into the room to warm your house. Its second job is to cool off the stove so it does not overheat. Without the room air fan most pellet stoves will overheat and shut down when the high limit switch has been tripped.
Pellet stove safety is another question people ask often. When installed properly and manufacturers directions and fire codes are followed a pellet stove is a very safe appliance. All pellet stoves have built in safety mechanisms. The high limit switch will turn off the auger if the unit gets too hot, the low limit switch will shut off the stove if it is not hot enough or went out. The vacume switch will turn the unit off if the flue is blocked. The door is always shut and gasketed on a pellet stove so there is no danger of sparks flying out like a traditional wood stove. A pellet stove can be a very safe choice to install in your home if properly installed and maintained.
Pellet Stove maintenance should be a routine practiced by all owners of pellet stoves. Weekly during the burning season your pellet stove will require a basic cleanup. All pellet stove instruction manuels will provide instructions on how your particular stove should be cleaned weekly. Generally this involves brushing off the firebox and heat exchanger tubes, cleaning out the burn pot and below and cleaning out any ash in the firebox and ash pan. Monthly the electrical components on the back of the stove including all the fan motors should be vacumed to remove any dust build up. Either bi annually or anually depending on the quality and quantity of the pellets you burn the exhaust system of your pellet stove should be cleaned as well.
Fireplacesrus.net offers a variety of quality pellet stoves from Enviro, Hudson River Stove Works, Napoleon, Flame energy and Breckwell Give our experts a call or email we can help you make a educated decision on which pellet stove is right for your home.