Green Benefits of Pellet Burning Stoves

The first gas stove was patented in 1826 with the first practical coal stove being invented in 1833. After that came the invention of the first electric stove in 1891. They have certainly come a long way and there is no doubt that stoves provide efficient heating in addition to being timeless in their unique styling. Nowadays, there are numerous different styles to choose from ranging from gas, wood and even pellet burning stoves. Consequently, you are sure to find one that fits your needs and lifestyle.

The cast iron stove is one more style that is not only efficient but also extremely stylish that remains a popular choice today. Apart from their decorative and attractive traditional styles, they are also capable of using a number of different fuel types, such as coal stoves and wood burning stoves, and numerous other types of smokeless fuels. Of course, they are also able to operate as fully functioning cooking stoves and still provide efficient heating. An output of high heat is a standard feature on all of the styles and models, starting at a low of six kilowatts up to a large wattage of sixteen kilowatts, which is more than capable of heating a large room.

Wood Burning Stoves vs Pellet Stoves

Pellet Burning Stove

With everybody turning toward a greener lifestyle, there is a natural focus on what can be done to make appliances, such as stoves and fireplaces, more environmentally friendly. That is where pellet burning stoves come in, as they are extremely easy to operate and are more convenient than conventional wood burning appliances. Many folks consider that they are as easy to operate as the gas, oil or electric heaters that they are familiar with.

This type of stove burns wood pellets, which is compressed wood that is collected from what would otherwise be waste products of wood and lumber. There are also corn pellet stoves that offer the same type of environmentally friendly and simple operation as the wood pellet stoves.

Pellet Burning Stove Efficiency

Most of the pellet stoves 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. This type of system is highly efficient and causes very little pollution.

An additional benefit to these types of pellet burning stoves is that they burn wood so efficiently that a standard chimney is not normally required. Typically, the exhaust fumes are routed through a small hole in the wall to the outside using a pipe known as a pellet stove vent. Pellet stove inserts can also be vented up through an existing chimney, but normally the chimney will need to be relined with a stainless steel liner.

Corn Stove Pros and Cons

Although the majority of pellet stoves are designed, as their name implies, to burn recycled and processed sawdust, there is another type that are specifically designed to burn corn pellets. While both corn stove and wood stove look much the same from the outside, the inside workings are slightly different.

Both types are highly efficient and they have no need for a chimney. In its place, a pellet stove vent in conjunction with a pipe through an outside wall is used. This venting arrangement makes it easy to have one installed in any room you wish.

The corn pellet stoves include a small screw that is responsible for gradually feeding the firepot. Of course, the speed is adjustable and that is what controls the amount of heat output. They are equipped with draft blowers where combustion air is drawn in and then goes over the pellets while forcing it outside. A slight vacuum is created inside of the heater, which stops smoke from getting indoors.

Wall thermostats are also available to set up for automatic use. The temperature is set to the desired level so that once the day warms up, it will shut down. When the temperature begins to fall towards the evening, it will start up again. The corn stove also has glow plugs as optional igniters that will light the fire automatically when required. With an eighty-five pound hopper, you will be able to run it on a normal basis for many days without having to refill it.

Of course, there are pros as well as cons associated with operating a corn stove. For instance, because corn is clean burning, you will be hard pushed to notice any smoke being emitted from the outside vent pipe. Nonetheless, they do not burn as cleanly as wood burning stoves and they tend to require cleaning out more frequently. In addition, the corn pellets vary more in their moisture content. Nevertheless, they are environmentally friendly because they are a renewable resource. However, chemicals are sometimes used during the growing of the corn, which can result in some toxicity in the exhaust.

Corn pellet stoves do compare more favorably with the wood pellet stoves when it comes to efficiency, yet they do not emit as much heat as conventional wood burning stoves.

The cost to run a corn stove versus a wood stove depends on where you live more than anything else does. For example, if you happen to live in Maine or Massachusetts, you may find it difficult to locate an economical and reliable local supplier. Many times, there is a waiting list for folks who wish to purchase a corn pellet stove, so they are obviously gaining in popularity. In 2006, an estimated 65,000 corn pellet stoves were sold in the United States. In 2007, that figure reached 350,000 of them being used in the US and the number of owners just keeps increasing.