Wood pellet stoves have been around for over 20 years and have gained a large share of the alternative heating market over the last few years. These stoves burn small pieces of recycled sawdust that are compressed into pellets through a heat extrusion process. Wood pellets very much resemble rabbit food. Wood pellet stoves have several advantages over traditional wood stoves in that they are extremely efficient, produce very little smoke or ash, and no chimney is required, only a specialized exhaust vent.

Wood pellet stoves are fueled by compressed sawdust and are made from waste sawdust from lumberyards and logging mills. The sawdust is compressed at very high temperatures and is held together pressure, not by any type of chemicals or glue. Pellets usually come in 40-pound plastic bags and a bag of pellets can burn for up to 24 hours. Pellets sell for less than $5.00 a bag, and often for much less per bag when purchase in larger quantities.

They have a complicated delivery system that feed more pellets to the fire when more fuel is needed. Pellets are poured into a hopper and a mechanical auger delivers pellets to the fire as needed. Electricity is required to make a pellet stove function.

Most wood pellet stoves have average efficiency rating of about 80 percent. They heat more efficiently than wood, coal and gas heaters on average. Pellet stoves incorporate a negative pressure system that forces hot air into a given area via a fan blower, making the heat go farther than it would naturally. Wood pellets are burned so efficiently that they give off almost no visible smoke, therefore it is not necessary to have a traditional chimney, but only a specialized small diameter exhaust vent that resembles a dryer vent. This small pipe leads outside to dispose of excess harmful fumes.

Pellet stoves are so efficient that they produce hardly any waste. An entire 40-pound bag of pellets produces less than a cup of ashes. It is possible to burn a wood pellet stove for months without having to empty the ashes, although manufacturers usually recommend about once a week or so.

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