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New Pellet and Woodstove 101

Before you run out and purchase your new pellet or woodstove, give us a call. It makes sense to have an evaluation of your heating needs and to determine the size, type and best location for your new appliance. Too many folks purchase in haste only to be disappointed to find they cannot locate the appliance where they thought they could. There are considerations such as existing window placement, hearth extensions and clearance to combustible materials issues that must be addressed.

According to state and local laws, as well as the manufacturer's specifications of your new appliance - A chimney inspection MUST be performed before a new appliance is installed. If someone tells you that all you have to do is stick a pipe three or four feet up your chimney to vent your stove, RUN. This practice is ILLEGAL and LETHAL. Now, lets get right to some of our most frequently asked questions about woodstoves and pellet stoves!

We have an old woodstove that we want to have installed, will you do that? Please understand that "old" woodstoves are not nearly as energy efficient as the newer models produced today. Old woodstoves typically utilized eight inch connectors to the their venting system. Eight inch connectors are not found on new woodstoves. Eight inch connectors have been found to be too large and are one of the major contributing factors to chimney fires. It is critical that the connector size and the size of your venting system be correctly sized per the manufacturer's specifications and installation requirements. We cannot stress this enough. If you have a woodstove with an eight inch connector, we will strongly advise you to replace it with a newer, energy efficient model.

Why do I need a chimney inspection? There used to be a woodstove connected to this chimney before, and it worked fine then; but we have not used it in years. It is important to know that the National Fire Protection Association recommends an annual inspection of your chimney and for it to be swept when necessary. It is the law that all chimneys be inspected before an appliance is installed. It is the law that chimneys be inspected when an appliance is replaced. This includes furnaces. No furnace can be replaced without a chimney inspection. A flue that has not been used is a great home and storage center for birds and animals. They do not mind if the flue lining has fallen in and is blocking the flue. They do not mind that the mortar joints have deteriorated to the point of non-existence.

I don't know if I want a wood or a pellet stove, what are the differences? A woodstove burns wood. Preferably cut and split wood that has a moisture content of between 15-25%. Keep your wood under cover, but still allowing air to circulate. A woodstove needs to be fed as needed by you. The size of your woodstove and the type of wood you burn will determine how often it needs to be loaded. A woodstove is most beneficial to those who have access to their own woodlots and can cut and split their own wood. This allows for the greatest cost savings to the homeowner. Learn to use your woodstove correctly. Woodstoves must be allowed to combust properly. Again, after initial startup, you should not have black smoke emanating from your chimney. Refer to our video on proper woodburning technique. Remember, a cord of wood is 4 feet high, by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long. Moisture content determines the degree of seasoning, NOT how long it has been cut.

A pellet stove consumes manufactured wood pellets. A pellet stove can be likened to a furnace which can be controlled by a thermostat. You set the temperature that you wish and the stove will ignite to warm the area to your desired temperature and then go out, this cycle is then repeated until the pellet hopper needs to be refilled. Pellet stoves are electrically operated. In areas of frequent power outages, you may wish to purchase a battery backup option for your pellet stove. Bags of pellets are typically forty pounds each. Pellets need to be stored in a moisture free area. Bulk pellet purchases by the multiple ton are the most cost effective for the homeowner as long as they have the room to store them properly. Do not introduce garbage or paper products into your pellet stove. Pellet stoves have no sense of humor in dealing with any types of fuels other that what the manufacturer recommends. Pellet stoves need weekly maintenance, such as cleaning the glass and tending to the firepot. Read a pellet stove owners manual before you decide to purchase.