Anyone familiar with pellet stoves?

[Mnemosyne]

My Mom wants to buy one, but I have no idea what to look for, reasonable price, etc.

The way the price of fuel is going is this a good idea? Will there be enough pellets to go around? It sounds as if many are buying this alternate heating source.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[htuttle]

1. Worse comes to worse, you can make your own pellets

Dung has been used as a fuel around the world for a long, long time.

[Mnemosyne]

4. Maybe, but ewwww! n/t

[NMDemDist2]

2. you may get more info from the DIY group

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=287

[Mnemosyne]

3. Thanks AZ! n/t

[B Calm]

5. My neighbor bought one two years ago and is going back to

burning wood. He said the pellets are too expensive...

You might think about building inexpensive window solar heaters.



Do you have some south facing windows? (North facing if you are in the Southern Hemisphere), If so you might want to consider some free solar heat. Don't expect this to eliminate all heating costs but it will reduce your expenses. The more windows you can place one of these solar heaters in the more you will see a reduction in your heating costs.

The main components of this solar heater design are sheets of heavy-duty foam insulation, one or more sheets of window glass, a tube of "RTV" (bathtub sealant), a box or two of aluminum foil, and a roll of duct tape. Exact sizes and angles to cut will vary, depending on the height of your window from the ground, it's width, and the winter sun angle at your latitude.

The Heat Collector can be as simple as painting the sun side of the thin foam panel flat black, or for a more efficient collector use a sheet of ten-thousandths aluminum (available as scrap from most newspaper or "offset" presses). Paint the aluminum sheet(s) flat black on both sides then mount it ?inch from the surface of the foam sheet using a couple of dozen ?inch cubes cut from foam and cemented down with RTV. This allows the air to pass by both sides of the solar heated aluminum, greatly increasing the efficiency.

Cover all inside foam surfaces with aluminum foil and glue it down with RTV. Paint or otherwise cover ALL external foam surfaces. Foam is sensitive to ultraviolet light and will decompose if left, unprotected, in direct sunlight.

Be sure and seal the glass top and all other exposed seams with RTV to insure the assembly is watertight. Moisture in the collector will reduce its efficiency, and may promote mold.

Use RTV to glue the sides to the bottom panel and end cap. Duct tape can be used to hold everything in place while the RTV sets up, if applied along all edges the duct tape can be left in place to add strength. You may want to consider pushing a few nails through the side panels and into the thinner inner foam panel to hold it in place as the RTV sets up.

Cut two foam covers to close the hot and cold air ducts at night or in the summer. Duct tape makes pretty good hinges and clasps for these covers. If you live in wind a prone area you may want to drive two stakes in the ground and attach them at each side of the lower end of the solar heater to prevent wind lift. Remember to keep the glass clean for optimal performance.

Notice: The intent of this web page is not to be step-by-step instructions, but as a source for general information and rough design ideas. If you are not handy building small projects I would suggest you find someone who is to help you with this project.



http://www.i4at.org/surv/solheatr.htm

[NMDemDist2]

7. yes, it was the cost of pellets 15 years ago that make me not go there

seemed it would take a lot to keat the house when cords of hardwood were going for $110

[Mnemosyne]

9. Thanks B, I may use this suggestion myself! n/t

[B Calm]

13. My brother made one of those window solar heaters back

in the 70s. It worked pretty good.

[NV Whino]

6. Do a DU search on this

It has been discussed before. Personally you couldn't give me one.

And remember, if the electricity goes out so does the stove. It takes electricity to power the feed-auger and the blower.

[Mnemosyne]

10. I did a quick search and got nada, maybe archives? n/t

[NV Whino]

12. Yeah, probably archives.

[TexasProgresive]

8. Pluses and minuses

My brother-in-law has one in his basement in New England. This unit replaced an air tight Earth Stove that was disintegrating.

It gives a really nice heat that heats the whole house with electric baseboards as a backup. Yes you need electricty for it to run the blower and auger and this unit has an UPS tied to it that gives about 24 hours of operation.

Wood pellets are plentiful in New England and so this is a good choice. In the MidWest a corn stove is even better. Corn has more energy and is cheaper then wood pellets. A plus is that you can burn wood pellets in a corn stove but not the other way. Corn burns hot, all that oil, I guess.

Since these stoves have a positive airflow they do not require an chiminey to exhaust. They can exhaust via a vent (more heat resistant) like a dryer vent.

Just get your Mom to do her home work.

[Mnemosyne]

11. Mom is 71 and still recovering from

my Dad's death last year. She needs my help. He did everything and she feels lost.
I just wanted some advice from those that have some ideas through experience here.
I'm researching them also, just have no idea what is required. DUers' can give some good advice.
I don't want her getting ripped off from my ignorance.

[Rainscents]

14. I love PALLET stove!!!

It save you lots of money!!! I heat my place last winter $90.00 every six weeks!!! Only way to go!

Most new ones are very good... I would totally recommend it! Few years ago, mine coasted me around $4,000.00 total including installation. If you already have fire place, you can look into on that fit into fire place.

You can also look into other types of pallet stove, not just the wood pallet stove.

[Mnemosyne]

15. Thanks Rain! That helps. n/t

Mom has an insert in the fireplace and will remove it. Hope they have stoves that will fit.