Wood Pellet Stove & Boiler Guide

Fuel

• Wood pellet stoves and boilers burn pellets that are made from wood waste materials. Most stoves and boilers burn either premium or standard pellets. Premium-grade pellets produce less than one percent ash and are usually made from sawdust that doesn’t contain any tree bark. Standard-grade pellets produce between one and two percent ash and are made from sawdust that does contain tree bark. Standard pellets should only be burned in stoves designed to burn them. Premium pellets can be burned in stoves that burn either premium or standard pellets.

Cost

• The price of pellets varies depending on the region, the season and the availability, but according to "BioMass" Magazine, the average price of wood pellets in the United States in November 2010 was $276 per ton. According to the Pellet Fuels Institute, wood pellets cost less than oil, electricity or propane gas, but more than natural gas, hardwood or coal. The Pellet Fuels Institute maintains a fuel calculator on their website so you can compare prices in your region.

Placement

• Place your pellet stove in a room that provides good heat flow to other rooms. The stove should be placed on a noncombustible floor protector. The size of the floor protector will vary depending on the stove. Consult your installation manual for more information. Maintain a distance of three to five feet from combustible materials like curtains and furniture. Since pellet stoves require electricity, there should be an electrical outlet nearby. You will also need to consider venting requirements that are outlined in the instruction manual. Wood pellet boilers come in models that can be installed indoors or outdoors.

Maintenance

• Both stoves and boilers require more maintenance than gas, oil or electric heating systems, although some maintenance duties on a boiler, such as removing ash or blowing soot, can be automated. Routine boiler maintenance includes emptying the ash container every week, checking the boiler settings and alarms, and monitoring the control devices. Maintenance on a stove is more involved. The burn pot needs to be checked every day and cleaned as needed. Empty the ashes once or twice a week. Clean the hopper and the ash traps out every few months, and inspect and clean the exhaust vents and the fan blades. Seasonal maintenance is also required, and should be done by a qualified pellet stove technician.