When winter comes, energy bills usually go up and it’s time to find ways to save money on your energy bills. One way to do that without sacrificing comfort is by installing a wood pellet stove.

Convenient and Eco-Friendly

The pellets are made up of recycled wood shavings and sawdust. They burn very efficiently because they’re extremely compact and don’t absorb moisture as easily as regular wood does. Because of this, they leave less ash behind, which makes this type of stove easier to clean. Another nice thing about wood pellets is that they come in bags, making them very simple to store.

These stoves also feature what’s called a hopper, which feeds the pellets automatically into the flame. This means you won’t need to replenish the wood regularly or stoke the fire manually.

Style

Wood stoves are available in many different designs. Some are crafted to look like old-fashioned stoves, while others have a more modern, stream-lined look.  Although pellet stoves can be installed in regular fire places, there are also free-standing options available. So long as the correct floor vents and guards are used, you can install one anywhere in the room.

Price

At $1500 to $3500, with installation at around $500, pellet stoves are a little more expensive than wood burning stoves, but the automated features make the extra money worth it. A 40-pound bag of pellets usually runs around $5 to $8, or a ton at $250; pellets generally cost about the same as firewood.

There are a few things to keep in mind when think about installing one of these stoves.
  • Find out your home’s unique heating requirements
  • How easily you can buy pellets in your area
  • Compare brands and model features
  • Make sure the stove is within your area’s safety codes
  • There needs to be an electricity source by the stove
Pellet stoves offer the romantic feeling of a wood burning stove, but offer more convenience and less maintenance than traditional options.  They are an environmentally-friendly heating method.  As home remodeling contractors committed to green building practices, we're glad to be of assistance if  you have questions about improving the eco-friendly quality of your home.