As oil prices and electricity prices remain high, many home owners are turning to alternative methods for heating their homes. Two popular methods are wood stoves and pellet stoves, each offering a variety of advantages and disadvantages. This article is going to take a look at pellet stoves vs. wood stoves, the pros and cons, and what is the overall best choice.
Pellet Stove
Pros:
1. Pellet stoves have an auto on feature that allows the unit to run when the house temperature drops below a preset desired rate. Pellet stoves are extremely efficient in the regards that it only operates to meet a certain temperature, and most stoves have an auto on and off feature.
2. One 40 lb bag of pellets lasts for hours at a time, thus eliminating constant refilling. The hoppers on pellet stoves are very easy to load and they produce virtually no mess.
3. Despite the fact that pellet stoves are relatively complicated machines they are very easy to operate. The higher end pellet stoves allow for easy thermostat setting and extended hopper capacity.
4. Pellet stoves burn incredibly hot and fast, the blower fan pushes this warm air out and can heat a room in a matter of minutes.
Cons:
1. Pellet stoves not only run on pellets, but also take electricity to run. Unlike a wood stove if there is no power the pellet stove will not work.
2. Pellets range in price from year to year. Prices on cords of wood stay relatively stable from year to year, but pellets can change in price drastically. When there is a sawdust shortage the price on pellets goes up drastically. If pellets are not purchased ahead of time the prices can jump drastically if there is a shortage or high demand.
3. Pellet stoves are incredibly complicated machines, if they break the repair is almost impossible to do yourself. Repair on pellet stoves has to come from a technician as to not void any warranty; the repair can be very pricey.
4. Higher end pellet stoves are very expensive initial investments; they can take years to break even financially. In the long run pellet stoves are incredibly cost effective, but you will not notice any savings the first few years.
Wood Stove:
Pros:
1. Logs that are fed into a wood stove are not nearly as heavy as a 40lb. pellet bag, which allows for less frustration.
2. Cords of wood can actually be cheaper than purchasing pellets, and can even be salvaged from your own property.
3. Wood stoves are more attractive to watch than pellet stoves. The wood burns slower than the intense burning pellets which make for an attractive fire burning experience.
4. Wood stoves have almost no moving parts, which allow the user to fix any problems that may arise.
Cons:
1. Wood fireplace require constant reloading of wood, even during the night. Since wood fireplaces do not load themselves when the temperature dips below a comfortable level that means that you must get up and fill feed the fire.
2. Clean up on pellet stoves is very simple and there is almost no waist, but with wood stoves you have to shovel out ash and bark from the stove.
3. Firewood is messy and leaves bark and other scraps around when in storage, where as pellets are very clean and produce no mess.
4. Wood stoves often produce smoke which can leave a lingering odor, whereas pellet stoves burn very clean and produce no smoke.
Overall:
Both pellet stoves and wood stoves have their advantages and their disadvantages. High end pellet stoves are significantly more expensive than their wood stove counterparts, but are easier to use and are more efficient. Pellet stoves burn clean and are very easy to clean and load, but if you need maintenance you will be paying a considerable amount of money. Overall both stoves are good for different needs, and you should figure out which one would be best for your own comfort and lifestyle.
Sources:
Personal experience selling both stoves while working for a hardware store
