Did you know that around 2 percent of homes in the United States of America rely on wood heat from wood staves? Wood stoves are a great option for providing that ideal and comfortable heat that you love during those frigid winter months. One of the best options on the market for using wood heat in the home is pellet stoves.
A pellet fireplace is more efficient than a typical wood stove and it is a perfect addition to your home if you’re looking for a reliable and affordable heat source. The good news is that you’ve found a perfect guide that will teach you all about how to use pellet fuel and a pellet stove to keep your home nice and toasty until spring returns.
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Pellet Fuel
The first thing to learn about if you plan on using pellet stoves in your home is the pellet wood that you’ll burn in order to produce heat. Avoid using wood logs in your pellet stove as well as anything else that isn’t approved for use in your new stove. The ideal wood pellets are larger than 3/8th-inch and smaller than 1-inch for the best heat results.
If you plan on burning fuel sources besides pellets then it’s best to use a stove that allows for burning things like small wood chips, corn kernels, soybeans, and sunflower seeds. Check your owner’s manual before trying to burn any of these items in your new pellet stove.
Venting
It’s also wise to make sure that the stove pipe and venting in your home meet the local building codes prior to firing up your new pellet fireplace and relaxing. Always follow the instructions in the owner’s manual when you start the installation process as you need to make sure that the stove is ventilating properly.
A good tip is to use stove cement to caulk the seams of your stove pipe. Depending on where you live, it also might be required to get special piping installed to prevent fire damage to your home. It’s also vital to make sure that the vents are the required distance away from the roof as specified by your local building codes.
Starting the Pellet Stove
Once you’ve confirmed that your pellet stove’s venting is installed in a safe way, it’s time to fire up your stove and enjoy that sumptuous heat. You should note that each pellet stove manufacturer has a different start-up process when you want to get your pellet fireplace lit. You can click here for pellet heaters and their start-up instructions.
There are some pellet stoves that use an electrical ignition that requires you to do nothing more than press a button. Other stoves require you to use certain start-up materials like certain gels that are designed for use with pellet fuel.
If you have a pellet stove with an electric ignition then you’ll want to make sure the stove is off prior to filling the hopper with pellet wood. The next step involves adjusting the dial on the stove to the heat setting that you prefer. You should also use this time to adjust the strength of the stove’s blower.
Give your pellet fireplace a bit of time to build up the heat that you want in your home. Your stove should have a way to measure the inside temperature and slow down by feeding the stove pellet fuel to keep the home from getting too hot.
Stoves that don’t have an electric ignition require you to fill the hopper with pellet wood and then set the heat to the stove’s lowest setting. You should hear the combustion motor start, at which point you should pour a bit of starter gel on the pellet fuel. Next, light the pellets and the gel with matches.
Turning Off the Pellet Stove
You should always follow the instructions provided with your pellet stove when you start operating it. One big mistake that many new pellet stove owners make when it comes to turning off the pellet stove is unplugging it from the electrical outlet. Your stove should come with some automatic controls that make it quite easy and safe to turn the heat down and your stove off.
Pellet stoves need some time to cool off after you’re finished using them. The stove won’t turn off until after it is finished cooling itself off. At that point, the automatic controls will take care of everything for you so that you can go to sleep and rest easily.
Maintaining Your Pellet Stove
A pellet stove is an expensive piece of equipment, so it makes sense that you’d want to go the extra mile to maintain it. You need to remain consistent with the maintenance of your pellet stove if you want the best results. The owner’s manual should have some helpful tips for keeping your pellet fireplace in tip-top shape.
You need to get in the habit of checking the burn pot on a daily basis to ensure that your pellet wood stove is safe. You should also add the step of emptying the ash drawer on a weekly basis into your normal routine.
It’s also a good idea to consider hiring a professional to help you with cleaning the heat exchanger in your wood stove. Depending on the pellet stove that you’re using, it’s possible that you can handle this maintenance step on your own without the help of professionals.
Start Shopping for Pellet Stoves Today
Pellet stoves are the ultimate answer to keeping a warm home during the coldest months of the winter season. Make sure that you install your pellet fireplace in the correct manner based on local codes, and always keep up with your wood stove maintenance. You should also avoid using anything besides pellet fuel and starter gel in your wood stove for the best results.
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