| With prices of oil and gas skyrocketing every | | | | low-ash, high grade pellets so as not to impede |
| week it seems, heating bills are expected to | | | | the moving parts with ash or "clinkers." The |
| increase by twenty-seven percent this winter and | | | | bottom fed models don't require high-grade pellets |
| those who use natural gas can expect a | | | | because the ash is pushed to an ash pan. Of |
| forty-one percent increase. This has a lot of | | | | course, the ash pan has to be cleaned weekly if |
| homeowners looking for ways to decrease their | | | | you're using the stove regularly. It is also a good |
| dependency on oil and gas. | | | | idea to look for a stove that has a large ash pan |
| If you're looking for the heat and nice look that a | | | | that is easy to remove and replace. |
| wood stove can provide, then you're going to find | | | | The motors on both of these units require |
| the pellet stove to be a very sophisticated | | | | electricity. This means that you will need to have |
| heating appliance. These stoves look very similar | | | | the stove plug into a 110-volt outlet. You may |
| to your traditional wood stove or fireplace insert | | | | also opt for a gas-power generator should your |
| and they work in a similar manner as well. Plus | | | | electricity goes out. This will keep you from losing |
| you get a similar flame burning effect as well. | | | | your heat as well. |
| Freestanding and fireplace insert pellet stoves | | | | Both types of pellet stoves are measured in |
| produce a small fire, although you can get some | | | | terms of heat output range. Most will range from |
| with different flame patterns so that it looks | | | | 8,000 BTUs to 90,000 BTUs. You will want to |
| more like a real fire. You can also get ceramic | | | | work with a dealer who is knowledgeable about |
| logs, similar to those used in gas fireplaces, to help | | | | the heat distribution of these stoves in order to |
| to disperse the flames as well. | | | | choose the one that is right for your home or the |
| The main disadvantage to the free standing and | | | | room you are heating. |
| fireplace insert pellet stoves is that they have | | | | There are a variety of different pellet stove |
| moving parts and motors that may require some | | | | options for you to choose from and they range in |
| maintenance. It is a good idea to select a model | | | | price from $1,700 to $3,000 plus the cost of |
| that allows you to easily access these parts | | | | installation. You will also have to have a chimney |
| should they need repair. It is also a good idea to | | | | installed in your home if you do not have one |
| regularly maintain these parts. | | | | already. The fireplace insert pellet stoves are |
| You have two options when it comes to free | | | | convenient as they can be slipped into your |
| standing and fireplace insert pellet stoves. You | | | | existing fireplace. Additionally, both are convenient |
| may select either bottom fed or top fed pellet | | | | because the pellets are simply poured into the |
| stoves. A top fed stove has a hopper that | | | | hopper and you don't have to worry about |
| delivers the pellets to the fire. The manufacturers | | | | stacking and carrying around messy firewood. |
| of top fed pellet stoves suggest that you use | | | | |