Best Pellet Stove Reviews & Buying Guide for 2018
Pellet stoves are a great pocket-friendly alternative to central heating systems that are a big chore to take care of. Pellet stoves have dozens of elegant designs and shapes to go with every house interior. The fuel used in the burning process is environment-friendly compressed bio-mass wastes known as pellet. Recycled corn, sawdust and even wood shavings are used in producing low-cost heating elements instead of the two times more expensive logs, gas or liquid fuel. Using recycled wastes to heat room has a great number of advantages apart from money saving. In this round-up about pellet stoves, I’ll discuss every important detail you need to know about these amazing appliances to help you decode those technical terms and catch-phrases in the product description.
Picture | Product | Brand | Class | Review | Editor's Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Hearth | ||||
| Comfortbilt | Top Class | |||
| Harman | High End | |||
| US Stove | High End | |||
| Pelpro | |
Reviews of the Best Pellet Stoves of 2016
Pleasant Hearth Cabinet Style Pellet Stove
Editor Rating:
Pleasant Hearth has managed to stay at the top for several years despite of the tough competition from the other brands. A versatile heating ability is the cornerstone of its tremendous popularity.
It’s an upscale model offering 50000 BTUs output which can easily suffice small to medium apartments under cold extremities. The 120 pound hopper capacity implies 24 to 72 hours of constant heating once fully loaded. Tinker with 5 different heat settings and regulate the thermostat to enjoy a pleasant environment.
The innovative comfort control system deserves a special mention here. When you switch it on, it automatically figures out the idea temperature for the room. Auto-light ignition system helps blazing the fire in just a few seconds. The programmable thermostat setting allows precise heating. Coming to the looks, the spring chrome handle coupled with a rugged cast iron door with a glass viewing window constitute an aesthetically stunning piece of art that could act as a feature point of your room. Manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years is longer than what average heaters offer.
Comfortbilt Pellet Stove HP22
Editor Rating:
Comfortbilt Pellet Stove HP22 is an elegant and well-constructed, high performance pellet stove with an energy output of 50000 BTUs. This level of heating power is apt for extra large rooms and commercial buildings.
A noise-free blower distributes the generated heat evenly in every remote corner of the room. All the controls are accessible through a remote control, plus, the unit is backed by a year’s warranty. The ignition process can be activated by pushing the ignition button and be set to the thermostat for optimal control of the operation. The storage container capacity of 55 pounds is comparatively much lower than many premium models. Although the burn time of 12 hours is seemingly a negative, it won’t be a deal-breaker if you’re using the equipment for only a few hours
Harman P68
Editor Rating:
Harman P68 is a powerful blend of world-class engineering and futuristic smart controls to give you an optimal experience. It is one of the largest pellet stoves currently available in the market.
Has a 76 pound hopper that holds a sufficient amount of fuel for a day long ignition. The makers promise a 30 hour burn time but in reality, it’s limited to 20-24 hours. Heating performance is really what takes the cookies. The Harman P68 yields 712000 BTUs per hour which can easily sizzle up the air in a 4000 sq.ft room despite of terribly adverse weather conditions. Its exclusive air wash systems keep the room air fresh and soot-free, leaving not a single black spot on glass doors and furnishings.
US Stove Company 4840 Pellet Stove
Editor Rating:
Its one-of-a-kind wall-mounted design is what really sets it apart the other top contenders in this list. The European style Wall-hung construction is a blessing for the owners of small apartments where cramming up a giant stove set would be a foolish act.
That’s not it, being placed at a high altitude, the burner stays out of the reach of pets and children who run at the highest risk of getting injured. The secondary advantage is that you don’t have to install a hearth on the floor, a customary safety precaution for normal wood pellet stoves.
Coming to the key specs, it delivers a 24000 BTUs energy output to generously heat a room measuring up to 1000 square feet. The storage container capacity of 28 pounds can provide a 24 hours long heating before having o refill. Adjusting the smart controls is a breeze, thanks to the digital pid-based control. Its unique vented design saves the money and effort of installing a chimney separately. 4840 Pellet Stove is a complete stove kit that includes additional accessories like stove adapter, mounting bracket, twist lock pipes and many more without any additional charge.
Pelpro PP60 Pellet Stove
Editor Rating:
Pelpro provides 85% efficiency and a heating output of 35000 BTUs, which might not be the best in the industry but still, a fine choice for 1500 square feet rooms. It is packed with a truckload of logical applications, maximizing the convenience of operation.
For the starters, it has a 130 pound hopper capacity, large enough store fuel for three and a half day’s heating requirements, depending on the climate other factors. It also liberates you of the duty to load the pellets frequently. Thermostat dial control helps you keep up a desirable temperature by controlling the ignition speed. Starting a fire needs only a push of a button in this auto ignition unit.
Pellet Stove in a Nutshell
A pellet stove is a heater that operates on recycled items such as wood shavings, corn, nut shells and sawdust to spark flames. The best pellet stoves can contain a large amount of pellet at a time for maximum efficient performance. The combustion efficiency of these equipments are almost up to a 90%.the term overall efficiency is an estimation of the amount of fuel converted to heat by the unit. To limit fuel cost to the maximum, try finding a model that runs on a fuel easily available in your area. But before that, make sure the pellet you’re going to use is supported by the unit.
Pellet stoves incorporate convectional method of heating which is widely regarded as the fastest and most effective way to warm up the atmosphere in an enclosed surface space. Traditional wood stoves causes soot build-up inside the chimneys, on the glass doors and furnishing, introduce the indoor air to ashes and other impurities, plus, they require time to time rigorous maintenance. On the contrary, concentrated pellet burns very hot yet flicker a small flame. Depending on the size of the internal hopper, most pellet stove hopper can contain from 35 to around 150 pounds of pellet.
How Does a Pellet Stove Work?
The combustion procedure requires the both electricity and compressed wood pellet or recycled waste materials such as wood shavings, cornmeal. The ignition can be set to a thermostat to regulate the temperature as per your comfort. A hopper (pellet container) is located either at the top or rear side of the iron frame, the fuel is transported to the burning chamber through a delivery motor or tube. Speed of the delivery motor is responsible for the operational temperature of the machine. Intense compression lowers the moisture content in the pellets below 8%, turning it dry as hardwood.
Nothing strokes a fire quicker and better than dry fuel. The best pellet stoves offer 90% ignition efficiency which means 90% of the used fuel can be converted to energy. In the firebed or burning pot, air is mixed to fuel to produce convection heat current. A silent blower channelizes the warmth all over the room, maintaining a thoroughly consistent temperature.
Types of Pellet Stoves
Pellet stoves are versatile equipments, varying profusely in terms of style and design. Each type has its very own advantage and flaws. Almost all pellet stoves have the same working principle. High efficiency top end models don’t even demand regular maintenance. Below is discussed the basic varieties of pellet stoves:
Bottom Fed
Bottom fed models are a savior for customers on a tight budget. The key characteristic is a side or rear loading hopper. The feeding action keeps off the ashes and other deposits from the delivery channel, reducing the frequency of clogging in the firebox. You can use garbage, sawdust, peanut shells, things that’d otherwise be thrown out for a constructive purpose.
Top Fed
This kind of designs comprises of a top-loading hopper. The pellet has to be fed into the stove from the top unit, instead of a delivery tube, the stove itself will carry the fuel to the burning chamber. The biggest advantage of using top-fed pellet stove is safety and ease of use. Delivery tubes often become clogged and catch fire while transporting the pellet to the firebed.
Advantages of Using Pellet Stoves
The biggest advantage offered by pellet stoves is cost savings on heating needs. Many home owners have reported to see a drastic drop, almost between 50 to 60%, in the yearly utility bill. The best wood pellet stoves are safe to operate, specially top-fed models. Store the pellet into the top of the base and flicker the flame. The ignition process takes place inside an encased casing, minimizing the overpowering smell of burning wood inside the house.
Pellet stoves are a step ahead of their times. The marvelous concept of using recycled wastes to something fruitful like room heating is not only cost-effective but also highly rewarding. Traditional heating stoves are one the reasons behind deforestation. On top of that, the unit has the ability to run for almost 48 to 72 hours at a stretch once the hopper is fully loaded during the coldest season of the year. If you’re short on free space to install a room heater, a compact pellet stove could be a great value for money since they can fit into compressed areas effortlessly.
How to Choose the Best Pellet Stove
Pellet Stove Styles
Freestanding pellet stove models are well-suited for spacious houses, building as offices. The fashionable designs can easily blend in with the furnishings. They have in-built ventilation pipes, however, you will have to build an additional exhaust port. Choose an insert pellet stove if your house already has an existing chimney.
Ignition Type
Manual V/S Automatic
Manual stoves require routine maintenance in order to keep the air inlet at optimal functioning. For the ignition, you may use a liquid starter like kerosene or gel. For a more seamless operation, consider a slightly high-key automatic ignition model which work at the press of a power button. Pay attention to the thermostat settings to maintain a consistent temperature.
Heating Capacity
The standard measuring unit for pellet stove heating capacity is BTU (British Thermal Unit).an average model can produce up to 90000 BTUs per hour which will suffice a 13000-1500 sq.ft room. For larger rooms measuring around 2000 sq.ft, consider a higher BTU rating. Apart from surface dimension, there are a lot of other variables such as ceiling height, insulation, intensity of cold etc to determine the right stove size for your heating needs.
Convenient Maintenance
Pellet stoves require regular maintenance to ensure the air inlets, receptacles, exhaust ports and heat exchangers don’t develop soot build-up. The ash traps in top loading designs are relatively easier to take care of.
Safety Cut-offs
- The best pellet stoves are equipped with adequate safety measures. Make it a point to purchase a product tested and approved by independent testing agencies.
- If you’re or already have installed an insert style stove, make sure to get the chimneystack periodically cleaned. Use a quality chimney sweep for the job.
- It takes a good amount of labour and skill to set up a pellet stove properly. Unless you’re a hardware pro, seek the assistance of an expert professional to install the device who is knowledgeable about the essential safety precautions and complicated hardware details.
- It is strongly recommended that you should always use dry pellets for the combustion procedure. Using damp pellet has certain risk factors.
Wrapping up the Article
The combustion mechanics of pellet stoves are highly energy-efficient and has no side-effect on environment. The best pellet stoves have large hoppers to deliver longer-lasting heat, saving the fuss of stashing the pellet into the unit time and again. There’s no denying that pellet stoves are an interesting approach to home heating, but one needs to be very cautious about the installation. Following the manufacturer’s safety guidelines and calling for professional help are imperative. Although these models are pretty safe, wrong set up might result in some serious hazard.
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