| Before deciding to switch heating your from | | | | That translates into 8,000 pounds of pellets at |
| natural gas to pellets do your homework. Pellet | | | | price of $3.50 per bag. The costs for heating |
| stoves are great for area heating, but if you're | | | | would be about $700.00, not including delivery |
| considering whole house heating it may not be as | | | | charges and taxes. |
| economical as you think. | | | | Depending on your choice of pellets this number |
| The costs of installation depends on whether you | | | | could vary. To make it more accurate try to |
| purchase a new or used one. Newer stoves can | | | | imitates the exact scenario as close as possible. |
| cost upwards of $2,000 or more compared to a | | | | Compare these costs to the prior years heating |
| used one which you can easily find under | | | | bill. Select the bills corresponding to late |
| $1000.00. They can be free standing or fireplace | | | | September through May. Peak heating months are |
| inserts, which means they are installed in the | | | | generally late November, December, January and |
| fireplace. There is also a version usually installed in | | | | February. So include calculations for the other |
| the basement that can be operated as a furnace. | | | | months as well. |
| The customary method of heating a home is with | | | | This should give you a rough estimate of the cost |
| natural gas. It does less labor intensive because | | | | difference between heating with pellets versus |
| you just light the burner, adjust the thermostat | | | | natural gas. You'll have to add some specifics for |
| and you're done. Depending on the setting the | | | | your region, your lifestyle and factors like those |
| furnace turns on and off to regulate the | | | | mentioned above, but all we're looking for is a |
| temperature. However, pellet stoves require a bit | | | | rough estimate. Your utility company provides |
| more work. You'll need to constantly monitor fuel | | | | annual gas and electric usage comparisons, which |
| to maintain the desired heat output. If you don't | | | | may help in your estimations. |
| add pellets at regular or scheduled intervals the | | | | Now you look at side by side costs and you |
| fuel runs out. | | | | should be able to determine if this is a good |
| Unless you're retired or have lots of time on your | | | | investment. Be sure to consider installation costs, |
| hands, consider carefully the switch to a pellet | | | | maintenance and other variables if you also heat, |
| stove. In addition time requirements, the average | | | | cook and clean with natural gas. |
| amount of pellets needed per season ranges | | | | Pellet stoves are quite attractive. The ambiance |
| between three to five tons. This can also add | | | | and aesthetics may outweigh any calculations |
| more time to your maintenance sessions. | | | | you've made about the economy of pellet stoves. |
| Other considerations are the size of your home, | | | | That is an individual choice that you give weight to |
| the length and severity of the winter weather | | | | based on your preferences. |
| and the temperature you prefer inside the home. | | | | You could also restrict your pellet stove to |
| From a cost perspective, a forty pound bag of | | | | heating certain zones in your home. But again |
| pellets will cost about $3.50. Just like coal furnaces, | | | | consider the impact if you supplement with natural |
| it is usually more economical to buy pellets in bulk, | | | | gas. Regardless of your calculations the most |
| which may reduce the cost to around $3.25 per | | | | difficult ones to quantify are preference, emotion |
| bag. As an example of costs, let's assume you | | | | and desire to enhance your homes beauty and |
| use 4 tons of pellets during the heating season. | | | | ambiance. |