Wood Pellet Stove and Wood Pellet Boiler

The most popular form of wood pellet heating is the wood pellet stove. Wood pellet stoves are available in a range of heating outputs, from only a few kilowatts up to around 15 kilowatts. Beyond this, the use of pellet boiler is normally used to heat larger properties. The wood pellet stove can either heat through pure convection heat, or maybe fan assisted to force hot air into the room and ventilate cold air back past the heat exchanger on the pellet stove. Some wood pellet stoves are also fitted with a back boiler, this provide the option to connect the stove up to a central heating system. Wood pellet stoves are also used as a decorative feature, therefore are generally used in the central living space as a focal point. There are more expensive designer wood pellet fuel stoves.

Though the fuel source between a log stove and pellet stove is essentially the same, the abilities and efficiency of a pellet stove are far beyond the basic log stove. Firstly, with respect to the fuel source, wood pellet stoves use pellet fuel. Pellet fuel has a uniform shape, size, density and moisture content. Therefore the user can be confident how the stove is going to perform. With wood logs, the density, size and moisture content of the fuel is always different. This can lead to various issues and varying heat outputs. With density, pellets have over double the density of wood logs, this on its own gives pellets a higher combustion efficiency, which means less smoke and ash and more useable heat. With regards to moisture content all pellet fuel has a moisture content of 10% o below, this again generates a very high combustion efficiency and higher combustion temperatures and less smoke. Wood logs however in many cases have a moisture content around 40%, the lowest moisture content a seasoned log will have it at minimum 30%, which is still at least three times more than pellets. One of the main complaints about pellet fuel, is the cost compared to logs for example. However if you consider how much of the log fuel is actually water, buying pellets is actually a much better deal.

Wood Pellets For Sale and Fuel Pellets

There are a range of available wood pellet fuels, depending on the species and type of wood used will affect the percentage of ash the pellets generate. The lowest ash percentage grade of pellets are premium grade pellets, and as you would expect they are always the most expensive type of pellet fuel. However, if you are prepared to clean the stove, you can also get cheaper forms of pellet fuel which will generate around 1-2% extra ash. However you must also check if you pellet stove can actually use the pellets, as many pellet stoves can only burn premium.

Wood Pellets Online and Pellet Dealers

Most people today turn to the internet to find the best deal on buying pellets, and this can be the best option. However this is not always the case, as the fuel quality may not be up to the specifications quoted, and delivery costs maybe higher than buying from a local pellet dealer. Generally therefore, it is advisable to try a test sample of pellets from any online pellet dealer, before purchasing a large quantity. Then before you purchase request a quote from your local pellet dealer with the online quote to see if they can beat the deal.

 The Wood Pellet Production Guide © PelHeat Ltd - Wood Pellet Stove