Can You Convert a Pellet Stove to Propane?

Pellet Stove Operation

• A pellet stove consists of a hopper and auger that slowly feed pellets at a specific rate, a burner ring to ignite them, and blowers to feed in air for combustion. All of these parts are specifically designed and coordinated to produce as much heat as possible from the pellets. Even if you removed the auger and hopper, the burner ring and blowers wouldn't allow for propane gas to be safely burned in the pellet stove combustion chamber.

Propane Heater Installation

• While it is possible to remove all of the pellet-specific equipment from the inside of a pellet stove, replacing this parts with propane furnace burners and blowers would be difficult and potentially dangerous. Propane furnaces come assembled to ensure that no leaks or improperly sized devices create a dangerous explosion in the combustion chamber. Trying to create your own propane combustion chamber in a gutted pellet stove could cause serious damage to your home and its inhabitants.

Replacing the Stove

• If you prefer a propane appliance due to lower fuel costs or greater availability in your area, it is best to install one from scratch. Propane heaters or fireplaces can use the pellet stove pipe already installed as long as it is sealed, because the pellet stove vent is just a propane pipe with a stainless steel inner layer, according to Nevels Stoves. Find a propane appliance that fits the opening the pellet stove used to make the replacement process easier.

Converting Pellet Stoves

• Pellet stoves are highly specialized heating appliances that are carefully calibrated during the building process to maintain specific levels of oxygen, heat and fuel. Using a different fuel, whether it is pieces of wood or a gas like propane, in a pellet stove will cause the stove to act unpredictably. The only safe way to use a pellet stove is with pellets. Even corn, which is a similar, pelletlike fuel source, won't burn correctly in a stove designed for wood pellets.