How to choose a pellet stove?
A pellet stove combines the convenience of automatic heating with the low price of wood fuel. It feeds pellets from the hopper by itself, lights and switches off on a schedule and holds the set temperature, so it needs the least attention of any solid fuel stove. It also has the highest efficiency, but to run it needs electricity and a chimney or flue. Here is how to choose the right one, and the whole range is one click away.
- 01
Choose the power by floor area
As with other stoves, allow about 1 kW for every 10 m² of well-insulated space. Pellet stoves can generally run at reduced power too, so they hold the set temperature more easily without choking. Still, avoid a significantly oversized stove, because constantly running at minimum power is not ideal.
- 02
Look at the efficiency and the energy class
Pellet stoves have the highest efficiency among solid fuel stoves, over 79%, which is also the minimum EU rules require. They are the ones that most often reach the highest energy classes, up to A++. Higher efficiency means less pellet used for the same heat, so a more efficient stove pays off over the seasons.
- 03
Check the hopper, the controls and the electricity use
A bigger pellet hopper means less frequent refilling and longer unattended running, sometimes more than a day. A programmer, room thermostat and remote control let the stove light and switch off on a schedule. Keep in mind that a pellet stove needs electricity to run, so in a power cut the stove stops.
- 04
Provide a flue and somewhere to store the pellets
A pellet stove needs a flue, a chimney or a dedicated pipe outlet, with a connection fitted by a professional. Pellets are kept somewhere dry, because moisture spoils the fuel and interferes with feeding. Maintenance is simple, there is less ash than with wood, but the firebox and sensors need cleaning from time to time.
Frequently asked questions
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