Heating with pellets offers numerous advantages over wood heating. However, despite requiring less effort, a pellet boiler still needs regular maintenance.
As the heating season begins, more people are opting for pellet heating each year. This fuel has many benefits compared to other solid fuels like wood or coal. Here’s what those who have switched to wood pellets this year can expect.
Reduced Fuel Quantity – Less Cleaning
One of the main advantages of pellets is reduced consumption. A pellet boiler uses four times less fuel mass than an equivalent wood boiler over a heating season. This means significantly less effort in transporting, handling, and storing fuel, as well as less ash disposal.
Pellets also lead to less deforestation and significantly lower pollution levels compared to wood.
Boiler Cleaning
When it comes to cleaning, traditional wood boilers and pellet boilers are incomparable. A wood boiler needs daily cleaning and produces large amounts of ash, which must be stored somewhere. This can be a major inconvenience for many.
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In contrast, pellet boilers require ash removal much less frequently, and the ash volume is considerably smaller. With high-quality pellets, the ash residue is only 1-2%.
A vacuum cleaner is helpful for maintaining pellet boilers. While not essential, it makes it easier to remove fine dust from hard-to-reach areas. However, it should not be used for the main ash removal, which should be done manually. The vacuum is only for the residual ash.
Not All Boilers Are the Same
When purchasing a boiler, inquire about the heat exchanger cleaning process. Most modern boilers feature a simple lever that moves springs inside the heat exchanger to dislodge accumulated debris.
Some boilers lack this convenient feature, requiring manual cleaning with a brush, which is far from convenient. One of the main benefits of pellet heating over wood is the comfort it offers.
Annual Boiler Cleaning
It is advisable, though not mandatory, to perform an annual boiler cleaning at the end of each season. This involves moving a spring through the flue pipe to remove impurities. After a few years, a thin layer of soot may build up inside these pipes that cannot be removed by simply pulling the lever.
This layer acts as an insulator, reducing heat transfer to the water in the boiler and increasing pellet consumption. Fortunately, annual cleaning is not overly complicated.
Chimney Cleaning
Pellet heating also benefits from less chimney soot buildup. Wood heating often leads to significant soot accumulation, sometimes clogging the chimney before the end of the season, preventing the boiler from drawing smoke effectively.
With good combustion and no condensation, chimney problems are minimal. Cleaning the flue pipes to the chimney at the end of the season is usually sufficient. The situation varies, but minimizing horizontal runs in the piping is crucial as they cause issues. Ideally, the pipe should rise directly into the chimney. The setup depends on the boiler room layout and the boiler’s position relative to the chimney. Fewer bends and horizontal runs are preferable.
If the ductwork is complex, consider using a larger pipe diameter. For example, if an three inch diameter pipe is sufficient, opt for a four inch pipe to ensure gas passage even when soot accumulates. Such setups also require more frequent cleaning.
Key Points
- Reduced fuel consumption: A pellet boiler uses four times less fuel than a wood boiler.
- Less frequent cleaning: Ash removal is less frequent and produces less ash.
- Ease of maintenance: Modern boilers have simple cleaning mechanisms.
- Annual cleaning: Recommended for maintaining efficiency.
- Chimney maintenance: Less frequent but necessary cleaning to ensure proper function.
Switching to pellet heating offers numerous advantages, including reduced environmental impact, lower maintenance effort, and greater convenience. Regular maintenance ensures optimal performance and longevity of the boiler.
Photo: ExtraFlame, LHT