Pellet Stoves Place

Archive for the ‘Installation and Placement’ Category

Pellet stoves are power vented so they can be installed almost anywhere in the home. The stove may be vented through the wall, ceiling, or through a pre-existing chimney. The only real requirement is that installation must allow for at least three feet of vertical chimney. Smaller than traditional chimneys, pellet stove chimneys are usually three or four inches in diameter and lined with stainless steel.

Pellet stove features
Pellet stoves rely on one of three ignition systems. The standard way to light a pellet stove involves a specially prepared starter gel and a match. Pellet stoves that are self-starting are also available, that utilize a push-button ignition system. Fully automatic pellet stoves with a thermostat that helps the stove cycle on and off depending on the desired heat levels are also available. Some pellet stoves come with self-cleaning glass, burn pots, and extra-large pedestal ash pans, as well as back up battery power sources. Pellet stoves are available that are extremely attractive. Trimmed in either gold or black, with porcelain or cast iron finishes.

Installation of pellet stoves
Your family’ safety should be your highest priority, and to that end, it is recommended that you contact and hire a professional installer to install your new pellet stove.              Professional installers know which building permits you are likely to need in your area, and how to install your new stove for maximum efficiency and safety.

Maintenance of pellet stoves
Even though pellet stoves are relatively simple to maintain, certain actions must be taken regularly to ensure safe and reliable operation. The ash drawer and burn pot must be emptied and cleaned regularly for safe performance. In addition to regularly scheduled professional service inspections every year, the fuel hopper, ash traps and glass must be cleaned as well. Chimneys and vents should be inspected and cleaned yearly by a chimney sweep that has been certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

Fuel sources
Pellet stoves generally rely on one of two fuel sources, premium and standard. With consistent use of premium grade pellets, one will experience significant decrease in the need to perform maintenance on your stove. The biggest difference between premium and standard pellets is in their content of non-organic ash. A third alternative are pellet stoves that can utilize fuel made of corn.

Cost
Aside from the cost of the pellet stove, one needs to take into account the cost of the chimney and of professional installation. While generally more efficient than other types of stoves, you still need to budget funds for fuel and for yearly maintenance.

A properly designed and installed ventilation system for a pellet, or wood stove will meet three basic criteria. Firstly, the waste gas from the combustion of fuel will not accumulate inside your home. Second, the installation of the ventilation system will not damage the structural integrity of the home. Finally, the oxygen consumed for the ventilation process must be able to be restored.

An effective ventilation system for a pellet stove will safeguard the structure it is installed in from overheating the surrounding fixtures, such as frames and walls. High heat over a prolonged amount of time can cause surrounding materials to dry out, which lowers the combustion threshold, which will, in turn cause burning, even if direct flame is not applied. A trained installer is aware of the “combustion clearance” for different types of ventilation. Careful installation will ensure that your pellet stove operates in a safe and effective manner. By reducing the temperature of the waste gases, and by careful design, utilizing intervening air pockets.

Condensation of water vapor can cause damage to the stove, the vents, furnishings, and the building itself if not properly vented. If flue gasses cool too much before being vented, condensation may occur, causing damage to the system. The most crucial piece of the ventilation puzzle involves providing an adequate oxygen supply for the home’s inhabitants. Combustion of any material consumes and transforms oxygen.

An adequate oxygen supply is also essential for complete and efficient combustion of fuel sources. Factors to be taken into account when installing a new pellet stove include the size of the space to be heated, as well as the natural ventilation properties of the house, or the lack thereof. It is important to be aware of the fact that there are a number of situations that can cause negative pressure inside a home, such as other vented appliances, like clothes dryers, hot water tanks, and bathroom exhaust fans.

The Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association highly recommends that consumers locate and use a professionally trained retailer and certified installer when installing their new pellet stove in their home. By relying on a certified professional, the consumer ensures that the proper building permits are in place, and that all the work takes place according to code.

A certified pellet stove installer knows all of the unique considerations to pellet stove installation, such as including the necessary three feet of vertical chimney, and making sure that placement is in a safe and efficient location for heating your home. The maintenance of a pellet stove relatively simple, but requires that some aspects be performed with regularity. The burn pot, hopper, ash traps, and glass need to be kept clean, and the ash drawer must be emptied often.

It is also a good idea to have a professional come and inspect your pellet stove yearly. It is a definite must to have your chimney cleaned by a chimney sweep. A professional chimney sweep will be certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America.
Make sure their credentials are in order to ensure that you have quality and safe work performed on you pellet stove.

Compared to more traditional types of heating appliances such as wood burning stoves, pellet stoves require much less installation space for safe use, and can be installed with as little as three inches of clearance between the stove and the wall, depending on the specific stove in question.

Of course, a pellet stove does need to be installed a safe distance from flammable materials, such as drapes, doors, and carpets. It is advisable that the pellet stove rest on a non-flammable surface, such as a hearth pad. Pellet stoves utilize a power-venting system.

Because of this, a pellet stove can be installed anywhere in the home, as long as you can include at least three feet of vertical space for the chimney. The stainless steel lined chimney is usually three or four inches in diameter, and can be installed through your ceiling, walls, or even an existing chimney left behind by a previous heating application.