From: rrw@sunset.cse.nau.edu (Bob Wier)
Newsgroups: misc.rural
Subject: Pellet Stoves...
Date: 10 Nov 92 06:11:44 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff AZ
Originator: rrw@sunset.cse.nau.edu

I tried to post this several days ago, but found that our new
server wouldn't accept it - hopefully now this has been fixed...


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From article <1992Nov3.171920.9611@netcom.com>, by geoff@netcom.com (Geoffrey Le
ach):

> A few years ago, I was considering a pellet stove, but was talked out
> of it by a dealer, who made the following points.  The dealer, it should
> be mentioned, is now selling the stoves again, but I have not asked
> why the change of heart.  Could it be that they are very popular??
>
> However, here are the points he made.
>
> o  Pellet stoves (PS) require electricity.  No lights == no heat.

   True, but you can order them with a 12 volt DC auger instead of 120
   volts, about a $50 option.  Just stick on a car battery with a
   trickle charger and you have no problem. Or use a PV charger...

> o  PS require fuel at a specific moisture content.  You can't just
>    stack the bags outside in the rain.

     Perhaps so - my dealer didn't say anything about that.  What they do
     offer is similar to an automatic propane delivery service. They com
     e around and if your supply of pellets is low, they stick some more
     onto the heap (actually they are in bags).  The ones I saw are in
     sealed poly bags (bad for the environment?) so they won't dry out
     or get wet.  Presumably at the warehouse they are stacked inside
     so the exposure to the weather factor is mitigated...

> o  The binder used in the pellets off-gasses and can be a problem if
>    the pellets are stored in an unventilated space.  It made their dog
>    sick.

     My dealer was VERY emphatic about this - the technology they use
     (they sell the stoves AND make the pellets) is pressure adhesion
     only - no binders are used.  In fact, they went out of their way to
     say they don't use sawdust from a local Louisiana-Pacific plant which
     makes plywood for that very reason - it has glue in the sawdust...

> o  PS are "high tech" and are thus subject to the woes of such devices.
>
     Could be - I'd be very interested in reliablility figures myself.

> I have also observed that the price of pellets is not very different from
> that of cordwood -- and that's in the city.  I doubt that they are much
> cheaper in rural areas, where cordwood is a lot cheaper.
>
> My feeling is that hwile the idea of using wastewood is a good one,
> PS are solving the wrong problem.  After all, you must still move to
> pellets to the stove, and that consumes renewable resources.  Firewood
> farms would be a much better solution.  For my money, and I'm about
> to lay down $$ for one, a Vermont Castings Defiant/Encore.  Very low
> emissions, no catalytic converter or other things-that-could-go-wrong.
> Winter's wood out back under a tarp.  Very low tech.  Nice fire when the
> lights are out -- for whatever reason!
> --
> Geoffrey Leach                geoff@netcom.com

  Yeah, it would be a tough call for me also. Just right offhand, it seems
  like PS might be more convenient than dragging in logs. They emit no
  visible smoke and produce amazingly small amounts of ash - but with a
  good design standard wood stove, you might have the same benefits, plus
  a nice "fireplace" glow (especially if you have a glass door).  On the
  other hand, PS are automated to the point you can actually run 'em on
  a thermostat.  The auger delivers a measured amount of fuel to the
  firebox on demand.  It's even conceivable that you could use a "set back"
  thermostat on one.  Additionally, there are models (I am told) which are
  multi-fuel - you can burn wood, pellets, OR fire them with propane.
  (in fact, one model I have literature on says if you can't get pellets,
   you can use dried corn!).

  But all this is dealer talk - hopefully somebody who actually OWNS one of
  these guys will jump into the discussion...

  Food for thought in talking with a dealer...

- Bob Wier

  ---------- insert favorite standard disclaimers here ----------
                   College of Engineering
      Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff Arizona
  Internet: rrw@naucse.cse.nau.edu | BITNET: WIER@NAUVAX | WB5KXH