Lean, Green, Pellet Burning Machine

1 July 2010      

The increase in greener supplies and appliances is greater than ever now. With the pollution of the air and Earth itself, old traditional appliances are going more environmental friendly. And here at The Fireplace Showcase we strive to satisfy our customers to the fullest. Our pellet stoves are relatively versatile appliances. They are self-igniting and cycle themselves on and off via thermostat. Some of our stoves, with automatic ignition, can be equipped with a remote control.

An advantage of a pellet stove is if properly cleaned and maintained they do not create creosote, the sticky, flammable substance that causes chimney fires. Pellets burn very cleanly and create only a layer of fine fly-ash as a byproduct of combustion. The grade of pellet fuel used affects the performance and fly-ash output. The premium grade pellets produce less than one percent ash, while low grade pellets produce up to three percent ash. Pellet stove users should be aware of the extra maintenance required with a lower grade pellet, and that inconsistent wood quality can cause serious effects to the electronic machinery over a short period of time.

Now you may be wondering, “what is pellet fuel?” well pellet fuel is made from compacted sawdust, wood chips, bark, agricultural crop waste, waste paper, and other organic materials. Some pellet fuel appliances can burn a wide variety of biomass fuels, including nutshells, corn kernels, small wood chips, barley, beet pulp, sunflowers, dried cherry pits, and soybeans. This makes The Fireplace Showcase’s pellet stoves one of the greenest fires producers out there.

Unlike wood stoves which operate exclusively on a principle of chimney draft, a pellet stove must use a specially sealed exhaust pipe to prevent exhaust gases escaping into the living space. Pellet stoves require certified double walled venting with a stainless steel interior and galvanized exterior. Because pellet stoves have a forced exhaust system, they have the advantage of not always requiring a vertical rise to vent. Like a modern gas appliance, pellet stoves can be vented horizontally through an outside wall and terminated below the roof line, making it an excellent choice for structures without an existing chimney.