A pellet stove is an appliance that can be used in your home for heating and cooking purposes. It has become increasingly popular over the years, as it burns renewable energy or waste products rather than nonrenewable energy sources, like gas. If you're thinking about buying one, review the following guide to learn more about them and determine if it's the right choice for you.

What Should You Know Before Buying a Pellet Stove?

1. Burn Clean and Hot

The pellets used to power these stoves are made of organic materials, such as wood chips, bark, brush, sawdust, and other byproducts of lumber milling. They are purposefully created to be dense, which helps them burn clean and hot, decreasing the amount of smoke and waste gases produced. While this type of appliance produces less soot than wood-burning stoves, new models burn the pellets more efficiently and cleanly than older machines.

2. Self-Light

Most pellet stoves light up on their own. As long as you make sure there are enough pellets in the hopper or holding bin, the machine will ignite on its own with the push of a button. 

This self-lighting feature is beneficial for those who may struggle with the manual work required by wood-burning models. Carrying logs, placing them in the firebox, and lighting a fire may be difficult for elderly individuals and those with mobility issues, but pellet stoves eliminate these complications.

3. Don't Harm the Environment

Since the materials in the pellets come from renewable energy sources, pellet stoves are seen as more environmentally friendly than gas fireplaces that burn nonrenewable fuel. The stoves also use fuel that would otherwise be seen as waste, like bark or sawdust pellets. This reduces waste production across various industries and promotes the act of recycling.

4. Require Regular Maintenance

Pellet stoves are reliant on hopper feeds, which means they require more maintenance than other kinds of fireplaces. If you are using high-grade pellets, you will be able to clean the stove less frequently. Low-grade pellets are usually not as dry, so they will release more creosote—a dangerous byproduct of incomplete combustion when wood is burned. This substance will coat parts of the pellet stove, requiring more frequent maintenance and cleaning.

If you want to learn more about pellet stoves, reach out to Warming Trends in Onalaska, WI. This family-owned business has been serving customers throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota since 1991. They are dedicated to helping you transform your outdoor or indoor spaces with gas fireplaces, fireplace inserts, and pellet grills. Visit the website to learn more about their services, or call (608) 783-6400 to speak to a friendly and knowledgeable team member about your needs.