Pellet Fireplaces

If you use a fireplace to supplement your home heating a pellet fireplace insert should be a serious consideration.  Pellet fireplaces are a lot like pellet stoves in the way they function and in performance, but they are built to be installed directly into an existing fireplace.

Pellet fireplaces burn wood pellets that are made from wood waste that is left over from other wood manufacturing processes.  The saw dust and wood chips are ground and compressed into pellet form.

Pellets are a handy fuel source because they can easily be poured into pellet fireplaces and they are easy to package and transport.  They can be transported in bulk trucks and delivered to a storage container or they can be packaged in bags that are convenient for home owners to purchase, carry and stack.

Pellet fireplaces are one of the cleanest burning heating appliances available.  They are extremely efficient and very environmentally friendly.  Regular wood burning fireplace inserts have to be manufactured to meet EPA standards in order to be certified.  On the other hand pellet fireplaces burn so cleanly they do not even require EPA certification.  Some manufacturers voluntarily apply for it, but it is not required for pellet burning fireplaces.

There are some additional differences between pellet fireplace inserts and regular wood inserts.  Most pellet burning fireplace inserts require electrical power to run the pellet feeder and fans.  Another difference is the manner in which they are vented.  Regular wood burning fireplace inserts typically need a chimney whereas many pellet fireplaces can be vented through a wall.

Pellet fireplaces also normally come with a thermostat control that monitors the heat coming from the fireplace and adjusts air flow and pellet feeding to raise and lower temperatures as needed to maintain the desired room temperature.  Wood burning inserts often do not.

There are many models and designs of pellet fireplaces on the market to choose from so you may want to compare features as well as appearance when it comes to installing a pellet fireplace insert.