Posted by Suzanne Turner on Tue, Dec 22, 2009 @ 04:46 AM
Well the politicians may have not succeeded in solving global warming, but we have a step in the right direction! And with energy going through the roof, now's the time to embrace a greener, cheaper alternative home heating option.
Enter the Pellet Stove. Requiring only a smidgen of electricity and a few hundred pounds of compressed wood pellets (which are easier to manage than they sound, honest!), these efficient stoves can heat your home cheaper and greener than both wood and natural gas. And, their carbon footprint is much lower per BTU than coal fired electricity!
Here's a brief Pellet Stove 101: A motorized auger system feeds a continuous stream of pellets from a refillable hopper (the pellet storage container) into a burn pot, where they combust. The combustion creates a visible flame, and gives off regular and consistent heat. For precise temperature regulation, models are available with a thermostat.
And now for the green part: Pellet stoves pollute so little that they don't require certification from the EPA (though many companies get certified anyway), they create no creosote (chimney fire fodder), and fall well within clean air standards.
And the pellets? Most are made from compressed sawdust and other wood waste, though some stoves can also take wood, recycled paper waste, and biomass pellets. Therefore, pellet stoves don't contribute to deforestation or consumption of other precious natural resources such as natural gas.
All of these reasons have led to a burgeoning popularity for pellet stoves: Some 800,000 Americans have gone the pellet stove route. But, "going green" with a pellet stove can be tricky, and selecting the right stove for your need can be daunting.
A Few General Tips:
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The fuel is the key. Remember, Survival Products sells and delivers pellets at a competitive price.
- Proper installation is critical, both for safety and effective operation of your stove. Survival Products has industry certified technicians and renowned customer service.
- Make sure you have a battery backup if your pellet stove does not have an internal backup system to handle power outage. A power outage while the stove is still running will prevent the blowers or fans from functioning-and make your home smokier than a 4th of July fireworks show.
Want to learn more? Head on over to our Pellet Stove section, or better yet, stop on by Survival Products today.