Selecting a Wood Pellet Stove

Many of us do not like to see the arrival of the Winter season. Winter arrives every year without fail. Not even the eternal summer dances have been known to work. With the rising price of fuel costs alternative heating sources have become an attractive alternative. Many homeowners are turning to wood burning stoves to reduce their home heating costs, particularly homeowners that have natural gas or electric heating.

The perspective buyer can choose from many models of wood burning stoves, but he or she should consider several factors before committing to any particular make or model. First, is the type of fuel the stove uses --typically wood or pellets, second is where the stove will be placed, and third is the area around the stove as this will affect the type of pipe needed to adequately protect your real estate investment.

The type of fuel for a wood stove may seem odd, but there are two basic types -- the wood pellet stove, and the type that burns regular logs. The pellet stoves usually can be loaded from a hopper on top of the unit, while the type that burns logs is usually loaded from the front. Many pellet stoves can also burn sawdust, but this is not recommended. The price for the fuel for either type of wood stove is similar, although the pellet stoves are easier to load and require less maintenance by the owner.

The second thing a home owner installing an alternative heat source should consider is where the stove will be installed in the house. The walls surrounding the unit will determine what kind of exhaust pipe -the third consideration -- is needed to best protect your house. Areas surrounded dry wall or other highly flammable materials should use double wall pipes, while a wood stove installed in the basement only requires single wall. It is a good idea to check with your insurance provider to see what they recommend.

Finally, wood stoves do need to be checked on and cleaned from time to time. This keeps the exhaust clear and helps prevent dangerous gases like carbon monoxide from flooding the home. A carbon monoxide detector should be bought for homes that do not already have one. Carbon monoxide monitors range in price from $20 to $30 depending on the features. The energy savings from a wood stove installation can vary, but on average the stove is cheaper to run than an electric heating system.

Note: A professional furnace technician provided information for this article, although he did not wish to be identified for content that would appear on the Internet.