In recent years, pellet heating systems have become increasingly popular. When someone plans to switch from heating with wood, coal, or electricity to using wood pellets, they face many unknowns, and the investment can be substantial. We aim to alleviate some of the dilemmas associated with this investment.
What are Pellets?
Pellets are fuel made from compressed wood materials such as sawdust and wood shavings. Depending on the manufacturer and the source of the wood, pellets can be made from beech, oak, pine, or a mixture of different types of wood. The production process includes grinding, drying, and pressing.
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During the high-pressure pressing, the wood’s temperature rises, releasing natural binders within the wood, so no additional chemicals are used for binding. This makes pellets an eco-friendly fuel, protecting the environment and ensuring the cleanliness of the boiler or stove where they burn.
Pellets are produced in cylindrical granules in length of half to two inch. They are packaged in 40 pounds plastic bags and stacked on pallets, with approximately one ton (aprox. 2000 punds).
Pellet Stoves
Pellets can burn in boilers connected to a central heating system, and smaller spaces can be effectively heated with pellet stoves that emit heat locally. Pellet stoves are a modern replacement for wood stoves. The advantages include eliminating the need to bring in, chop, and stack wood.
Once supplied with pellets, the stove can run longer without constant fire maintenance. Starting the stove doesn’t require lighting a fire; instead, it involves pressing a button. One of the advantages of pellet stoves over wood stoves is their much higher fuel efficiency. Wood stoves are relatively basic devices where wood burns inefficiently in the firebox, and a significant portion of the generated heat is lost through the chimney. In pellet stoves, the heat utilization efficiency exceeds 90%, which is significantly better than the roughly 70% efficiency of wood stoves.
Additionally, pellets take up less space than wood, which is another benefit for many. Pellet stoves produce less ash, resulting in less frequent and more convenient cleaning. The downsides of pellet stoves are the increased noise due to the fan system and the fact that they stop heating during a power outage. There is the option of connecting to a car battery, which can be a good solution in areas with frequent power restrictions.
Boiler or Burner?
Pellet boilers, unlike stoves, are used for heating larger spaces, as they are connected to a central heating system. This solution is most appealing for homes that already have a central heating system with a wood or coal boiler, as such a boiler can be easily replaced with one that uses pellets.
Another option is installing a pellet burner on an existing solid fuel boiler. This means attaching a special burner to the existing boiler door, allowing pellets to burn in the existing boiler. This system offers all the advantages of a conventional pellet boiler: less ash, “push-button” operation, and longer run times without constant fire maintenance. However, one detail may disqualify this solution – the efficiency level.
When installing a pellet burner on an existing boiler, which is likely already old, the efficiency level may not be guaranteed. It will certainly not be as high as that of a boiler designed solely for pellets. Therefore, the lower investment in a burner compared to a new boiler may lose its appeal over a few years, depending on the heated space’s size.
Installation Costs
The first and primary expense is the purchase of a boiler. The choice of boiler depends on the area to be heated. It is impossible to provide exact data on how many kilowatts are needed per square foot, as it depends on many factors such as construction quality, window quality, and insulation.
A rough guide is that around eight kilowatts can heat a well-insulated 1.000-square-foot space, while an uninsulated house may require around 11 kilowatts. These numbers should be used as a rough guide when selecting a boiler. The boiler should always be slightly larger than the estimated requirement to ensure efficient operation during the coldest winter temperatures. Boiler costs vary depending on the manufacturer.
Some boilers come with a built-in water pump, while others require purchasing one separately or using an existing pump in the heating system. There are many combinations available, so it is best to consult with an expert. With most boiler manufacturers, the procedure is as follows: when you purchase a boiler, they deliver it to your home address.
Then, a professional needs to install and connect it to the central heating system and chimney. After installation, authorized technicians from the boiler manufacturer will check the setup and commission the system. Therefore, when selecting a professional to install the boiler, ask them which boiler would be best for your home and heating system.
Expect additional costs after purchasing the boiler, such as smoke pipes, copper pipes, and mixing valves. Depending on the boiler’s location, chimney distance, and other factors, the precise specifications should be determined by the installer once the boiler arrives. The most important aspect is having an experienced and trustworthy professional.
Heating Costs
Heating costs also depend on various factors. Although it may sound overly optimistic, a well-designed central heating system using pellets can be cheaper than heating with wood. A wood boiler, especially later in the heating season when the chimney accumulates debris, can consume a lot of wood.
A 1500-square-foot house may burn up to 700 cubic feet of wood per season. In contrast, 8 to 10 thousand pounds of pellets should suffice for the same area. Prices for both wood and pellets rise annually, but 10 thousand pounds of pellets are generally always cheaper than 700 cubic foot of wood.
The best time to purchase pellets is in the spring when pellet sellers have less demand, resulting in lower prices. Once you establish this routine, postponing the purchase will only increase your expenses.
How to Identify High-Quality Pellets
Like any product, pellets can vary in quality. The performance of the boiler, its reliability, cleanliness, and ash production depend on the type of pellets used. Look for sellers with certifications and clear labeling on the bags. By searching online, you can find information about the quality of the pellets.
The bag should state the composition and wood type used to make the pellets, as well as specifications such as granule dimensions and moisture content. Buying pellets in unmarked bags is risky, as it leaves you without a source for complaints or returns. There should be minimal dust in the bags. High-quality pellets should have virtually no dust.
The granules should be smooth and smell like wood, not chemicals. You can conduct a simple test with a few granules: they should sink in water and begin to swell and disintegrate within minutes, leaving the water clear. This indicates the absence of undesirable additives and binders, which could damage the combustion system in the boiler.
Foto: Freepik, Alfa-Plam