| Lower winter energy bills, heat individual rooms, | | | | maintenance and regular attention, so you might |
| and reduce the amount of waste that goes to | | | | be better off signing a service contract rather |
| the landfill - all at once. Sound too good to be | | | | than trying to maintain the stove yourself. |
| true? | | | | Another drawback: If you don't have a |
| Actually, it isn't, thanks to a little something called | | | | thermostat in every room, the heat from the |
| a pellet stove. Think of it like a fireplace insert or | | | | stove might trick nearby thermostats into thinking |
| freestanding stove - these devices typically heat | | | | the temperature in the area is at the set level. |
| individual rooms rather than the entire house | | | | Nearby rooms become cold, and you end up |
| (although they can do that too), so that you can | | | | raising your thermostat anyway. So when |
| turn down the thermostat. But instead of wood, | | | | shopping for a pellet stove, opt for one with a |
| they burn pellets: compressed sawdust, corn, | | | | built-in thermostat - this feature ensures better |
| wood shavings, and other wood waste that would | | | | temperature control. |
| normally go to the landfill. | | | | You'll also want to hop on over to Consumer |
| A charming alternative to gas or electric heating, | | | | Reports, where you'll find all kinds of important |
| pellet stoves don't require EPA certification | | | | considerations for selecting the best stove for |
| because they emit so little pollution. Seriously. And | | | | your heating needs. For instance, you'll want to |
| unlike your standard hearth, pellet stoves produce | | | | determine fuel costs in your area and whether or |
| zero creosote. | | | | not it makes sense to purchase a self-contained |
| Here's how they work: You pour pellets into a | | | | firebox insert or a freestanding stove. And just |
| refillable hopper. From there, a motorized auger | | | | so you're as informed on the topic as possible, I |
| feeds these pellets into a burn pot, where they | | | | also recommend reading the U.S. Department of |
| combust. And that generates much-needed heat. | | | | Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy |
| According to home expert Don Vandervort, pellet | | | | guide to wood and pellet heating. |
| stoves can be complicated and require occasional | | | | |