Pellet Stoves
Stoves have been around for ages since man knew how to tame fire for household use. In the United States, revolution in stoves took place when the famous Benjamin Franklin invented what was then called the Pennsylvania Fireplace. Franklin saw the hazards of the traditional heating system of the old Colonial American days. And his invention proved to be ground-breaking, as what used to be just a heater, evolved into a kitchen cooking device. As the years went, stoves have changed and improved a lot. Including safety features that would inhibit the spread of suffocating smoke, modern design help households incorporate with home furnishing and a whole new approach to stove fueling – from the most common wood, the less messy gas, to the cost effective pellet stoves.
Pellet stoves are a household appliance, mainly used for cooking, that relies on a fuel made out of corn pellets. American interest on corn pellet stoves began on 1973 when the oil crisis broke out. This was the time when the whole nation had to resort to renewable fuel resources and environmentally harmless stoves. This whole new method of heating and cooking was categorized into what is termed as biomass stoves. Biomass stoves are the stoves that make use of pellets that are by products of corn. Other pellet ingredients that are used as substitute to corn are cherry pits, sunflower seeds, or wheat.
Pellet stoves have been a favorite to many American households due it its functional design. Some pellet stoves are free-standing or independent of fireplaces. While some pellet stoves are used as inserts to make use of fireplace chimneys. Either way, pellet stoves work conveniently and efficiently since it uses cast iron for a durable built and trapped heat features.
Modern versions of these stoves like the Harman pellet stoves are equipped with thermostatic igniter. This serves as a temperature reader and controls when to heighten temperature or signals when to load new pellets. Its versatility also includes a computer chip that checks status of the stove, whether the ashes are needed to be removed or the pipe is needed to be cleaned. Some have remote controls. While these advancements make it more advantageous, pellet stoves still function in its basic form – without the electricity.
One of the many considerations in pellet stove installation is the positioning, the component and the choice of right materials especially for its pipe. Pellet stoves usually run on vertical piping method however other approaches to piping may also be employed. To prevent leaks in pipes, there should be 3 to 5 feet of vertical run. Its pipe can also be installed horizontally passing through the wall and ends below the roof line. This is helpful in homes where there is no existing fireplace chimney. Some pellet stoves come in inserts for homes that have existing fireplaces. Installers typically require adequate sized steel liner with the same length as the chimney for proper draft. Stainless steel can be a good material for stove pipes.
Maintaining pellet stoves benefit the users in two ways: efficiency and safety. Manufacturers offer high grade pellet fuels for these stoves. Nevertheless, there must be enough awareness on the rampant production of sub-grade pellets as these could cause unfavorable effects on the pellet stoves. A well maintained stove will also rid the users of the very unpleasant substance called creosote that is produced by the burning of pellets. However this is not common to clean stoves. Creosote is a sticky but flammable by product of untidy pellet stoves.
Today, a variety of pellet stoves have populated store shelves in under this category. Aside from the Harman pellet stoves, Quadra fire pellet stoves are also available. Whatever the product shape or the brand is, there is one commonality why Americans continue to patronage pellet stoves, that is efficiency.