What is a pellet stove?
Similar in appearance to a wood-burning stove, a pellet stove is a heating appliance that burns biomass fuels to create heat. Pellet stoves operate by slowly feeding fuel from a storage container called a hopper into the burn-pot, creating a steady flame.
How are pellet stoves fueled?
Pellet stoves are fueled by small, tube-shaped pellets that generally measure 1/4” in diameter and 3/4” in length. Pellets are a biomass product made of renewable substances including recycled wood waste and plant derivatives. When burned in a high efficiency pellet stove, a 40-lb bag of pellets can provide about 24 hours of steady heat for 1500 square feet of living space.
Where can I buy pellets?
Wood pellets are typically sold in 40-pound bags for between $4 and $7 depending on the type of wood used and availability. They can be purchased at hardware stores, farm and fleet stores, and in big box outlet stores. In some areas of the country, bulk delivery is also an option.
How many pellets will I need?
When burned in a high efficiency pellet stove, a 40-lb bag of pellets can provide about 24 hours of steady heat for 1500 square feet of living space.
What are the green benefits of heating with pellets?
Pellet stoves burn very clean and are considered carbon-neutral, with low outside air particulate emissions of between just 0.6 and 1.2 grams per hour. And, because pellet stoves produce less greenhouse gases than fossil fuel systems they are good are a good choice for those committed to protecting the environment. They also help homeowners get closer to “living off the grid” and produce less greenhouse gases than fossil fuel systems.
Are there any other benefits of heating with a pellet stove?
Yes! Pellet stoves can also help your family save on heating bills. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the cost of heating by pellet is well below oil, propane or electric. Interested in how much you could save? Check out the pellet fuel cost calculator here! Heating with pellets also offers the ability for your family to better to control heating costs since prices for pellets are much more predictable than that of propane, oil and natural gas.
How do I control the heat, does it take a lot of work?
Today’s stove technology is advanced. Many feature programmable thermostats that adjust heat output and control room temperature automatically –a few simple adjustments by the homeowner and the stove does the rest!
How do I know which pellet stove is right for my home?
When considering a pellet stove for your home, it’s important to remember one size does not fit all. A stove too large for the heat demand of your house may operate with slow, smoldering fires much of the time to avoid overheating the room, and an undersized stove can be damaged by frequent over-firing to keep up with heat demand. To find the stove that best suits your particular home and heating needs, it’s best to consult with a pellet stove dealer.
Posted by fireplaces.com | January 5 2012
Harman and Quadra-Fire proudly manufacture clean, eco-friendly heating alternatives that promote sustainability. Sustainability refers to the earth’s capacity to endure and remain productive over time, continuously providing resources that renew and revitalize. Forests are a key example of sustainable biological systems, which is why we think it is so important to invest in our national forests, right here at home.
In partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, Harman Stoves and Quadra-Fire are planting one tree in our national forests for every fan that likes us on Facebook. It is our hope that by spreading awareness of using resources for heating that are naturally renewed, such as wood; we are able to help consumers rely less on imported fossil fuels and more on the environment.
Making the shift to renewable fuels is a simple transition that is becoming more common households across the US, but it hasn’t always been that way. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 90% of Americans burned wood to heat their homes before the 20th century. As the popularity of fossil fuels rose, the percentage of Americans using wood for fuel dropped, falling as low as one percent by 1970. Then during the energy crises of the 1970s, interest in wood heating resurfaced as a renewable energy alternative.
Still today, there is a heavy focus on utilizing natural, wood-based products to heat our homes and switching to an eco-friendly heating alternative is top of mind. Wood pellet stoves and inserts, which burn wood by-products called pellets, are a popular, affordable choice for consumers looking to rely less of imported fossil fuels and more on sustainable, biomass fuels. These efficient appliances offer combustion efficiencies of 78-85%, making them the cleanest of all solid fuel-burning heating appliances.
Harman Stoves and Quadra-Fire both offer a wide variety of pellet stoves and inserts, with price points that can fit within any budget. And now, making the switch to eco-friendly heating has never been easier with 2011 tax incentives.
U.S. homeowners who purchase a 75%-efficient biomass (wood or pellet) burning stove, fireplace or insert during 2011 can receive a U.S. federal tax credit for 10% of their cost, up to $300. And for a limited time, when you visit Quadra-fire, you can receive a $100 off any biomass heating system, which helps create even more cost-savings.
We hope you join us on Facebook to learn more about the current state of biomass fuels and alternative heating. When you do, you will also help in our quest plant to 6,000 trees in our national forests. Together, we can spread the word about the importance of clean heat.
Posted by fireplaces.com | April 29 2011
The April tax deadline is almost here and Uncle Sam has already begun handing out tax refund checks to many Americans. Last year, the IRS reported 109.4 million U.S. taxpayers received a total tax refund payout of $328.4 billion, for an average tax refund of $3003. This year refunds are expected to be similar, leaving many cash-conscious consumers with tax refund checks to spend.
Given our economic conditions, many Americans will likely invest their tax refunds on things that provide sustainable, long-term value, such as home improvements. In fact, a recent study conducted by Angie’s List showed 90 percent of respondents said they plan to invest in home improvements in 2011. But not all home improvements are created equal and many smart consumers will spend on things that provide increased efficiency, such as adding a new fireplace, insert or eco-friendly stove.
New hearth products provide beauty, value and increased efficiency in many ways. Updating your current open masonry fireplace with an efficient gas insert will enhance the ambiance of the room and increase your fireplace’s efficiency by up to 85 percent. Still heating your home with costly fuel oil? By making the change to heating with pellets you can save thousands of dollars a year, while utilizing renewable fuel and living a greener lifestyle.
Also, when you make the smart choice to invest your tax refund in an efficient, new hearth product, you can also increase the value of your home. According to the National Center for Real Estate Research, adding a fireplace can increase its value by 6 to 12 percent. And it costs less than you may think. For example, you can add a direct vent gas fireplace to your existing home for as little as $3,500 including installation. For $2,900, you can add a wood or gas free-standing stove, or you can transform your drafty masonry wood-burning fireplace into a heating powerhouse with a gas or wood-burning insert. Free-standing pellet stoves or fireplace inserts are affordable too, starting at about $3,200 complete.
To share the good news about fireplaces, stoves and inserts, four major U.S. hearth brands are offering the Save Now–Save Later Contest. Now through April 29, 2011, U.S. residents can enter to win one of four $500 Visa gift cards on each brand’s website – Quadra-Fire, Heat & Glo, Harman Stoves and Heatilator. Winners can combine the $500 prize with a $100 online coupon now being offered and save up to $600 toward the purchase of an efficient hearth product. Absolutely no purchase is necessary and participants can increase their chances of winning by sharing the contest on Facebook and Twitter.
Contribute your tax refund money to the investment and you’ll be saving a bundle now, and even more later, with an efficient hearth product.
Posted by fireplaces.com | March 24 2011