Chimney Care Company's Blog
All About Pellet Stoves
Opt for a clean-burning, safer, and cheaper heating system — a pellet stove.
Looking for an economical way to burn wood? A pellet stove is recommended by the US Department of Energy as a cleaner-burning and more efficient way to heat your home. What exactly is a pellet stove? Our knowledgeable staff at Chimney Care Company., as well as the Department of Energy, are happy to explain exactly what a pellet stove is, its benefits, and how you can enjoy this environmentally-friendly and cost-conscious method of heating your house.
What is a pellet stove?
According to the US Department of Energy, a pellet stove is an appliance that burns compacted pellets made of wood or other organic materials, like nutshells, corn kernels, and small wood chips. More convenient to use than wood-burning stoves, pellet stoves are also the cleanest solid fuel heating appliance on the market, with EPA-certified units boasting efficiency ratings of 70 to 80% and heating capacities of a range between 8,000 to 90,000 BTUs an hour.
How do you operate a pellet stove?
Equipped with every pellet stove is a fuel hopper, which will hold about a day’s worth a fuel at a time. A feeder device drops a few pellets at a time into the burner, and the rate of speed the pellets are fed into the burner determines the heat output. Exhaust gases are vented through a small flue pipe out the roof or an exterior wall. At Chimney Care Company, we have pellet stove models with a small computer and thermostat that control the feed rate automatically.
Is the fuel inexpensive and easy to store?
Sold in 40-pound bags for three or four dollars a piece or a ton for about $180 to $250, most homeowners who use a pellet-fueled appliance as their main source of heat use two to three tons of pellet fuel a year, much cheaper than any electric, oil, or propane-fueled appliance. As for storage, two tons sounds like (and is) a lot, but you do not have to buy all of your pellet fuel at once. Also, the pellets are very compressed and do not take up a lot of space. Compare the space taken up by firewood or propane tanks.
What are the drawbacks to pellet stoves?
More complex with expensive components that can always break down, pellet stoves must be cleaned weekly by the homeowner and annually by a professional. Also, these stoves require electricity to operate fans, feeders, and controls, so if your power goes out in a winter storm, you will be without heat in your home, unless you have a back-up power supply. Under normal usage, pellet stoves consume approximately nine dollars of electricity per month.
If you are interested in a pellet stove, contact Chimney Care Company today to schedule an appointment to come in and look at all of the pellet stove options we have for you. We are happy to answer any more questions you might have about this economical, clean-burning heating system.
Extending the Life of Your Chimney
Extending the Life of Your Chimney
Have you ever wondered if it was possible to maintain your chimney so well, that it could last for decades? With regular maintenance, it is certainly possible. We will give you tips and ideas on how to get your chimney to perform better and to last for a very long time. Call Chimney Care today.
Water is your chimney’s biggest enemy. A chimney cap can divert water away and keep your performance high.
The biggest secret in extending the life of your chimney is to make sure that you maintain the vital parts inside and protect it from water and from different kinds of obstructions. Maintenance includes regular cleaning and also repairing or replacing parts if the need arises. Sure it might cost quite a bit, but anyone would rather be safe than sorry when these minor damages cause major accidents.
First off, note that water is one of the biggest enemies against your chimney because it slowly, but surely, destroys the structure of the chimney. That’s why one of the major keys to extending the life of your chimney is to keep water out. Here are some of our recommendations:
Waterproofing
Have one of our chimney specialists apply a waterproofing sealant in the brick walls. This will prevent leaks and moisture from accumulating inside. Because where there is moisture, molds can inhabit and this will be a whole new health hazard for your home.
Chimney Cap and Chimney Crown
Having a chimney cap installed is very helpful. It will prevent animals and things from entering and destroying the inside of your chimney. The chimney crown’s function is to seal off the mortar bricks at the very top of the chimney so water can’t seep in through them and cause the bricks to slowly crumble.
Chimney Relining
One of the many parts that need ultimate protection is the chimney flue and liner. If in cases when damage has already been done, and the flue or flue liner already has cracks and holes, this needs to be fixed right away so that no backflow will happen. Backflow is when the smoke will enter your home instead of passing through your chimney. This is both unpleasant and very dangerous because everyone inside the home will be inhaling toxic byproducts of combustion, including the deadly gas, carbon monoxide. Chimney relining will solve this issue.
Extend the life of your chimney with Chimney Care. We have been proudly serving areas in the Cincinnati, Southwest Ohio, and in Kentucky. Call us to learn more.