FAQ About Pellet and Wood Stoves

How Do They Work?

• Pellet stoves burn small pieces of recycled material, such as wood chips, sawdust or corn bits. The pellets feed into the stove from a reservoir, using a hopper to release pellets into the stove as specified by the user. Wood stoves require chopped wood, some newspaper and a match to get started.

How Well Do They Heat Rooms?

• Heat output is easier to measure in pellet stoves compared to wood stoves. Pellet stoves have an output ranging from 8,000 to 90,000 British thermal units depending on size, with some units having a fan to circulate warm air. Wood stoves require information about room size to estimate the amount of heat produced for the room.

What Are the Drawbacks?

• Electricity often runs the hopper in pellet stoves, meaning the unit needs access to an outlet. They also need venting through an outside wall, limiting location choice. Wood stoves require a stovepipe to vent smoke through a ceiling. While this allows for better location, it does require periodic cleaning to prevent flue fires.