Heat Things Up With Pellet Stoves

Lower winter energy bills, heat individual rooms, and reduce the amount of waste that goes to the landfill - all at once. Sound too good to be true?

Actually, it isn't, thanks to a little something called a pellet stove. Think of it like a fireplace insert or freestanding stove - these devices typically heat individual rooms rather than the entire house (although they can do that too), so that you can turn down the thermostat. But instead of wood, they burn pellets: compressed sawdust, corn, wood shavings, and other wood waste that would normally go to the landfill.

A charming alternative to gas or electric heating, pellet stoves don't require EPA certification because they emit so little pollution. Seriously. And unlike your standard hearth, pellet stoves produce zero creosote.

Here's how they work: You pour pellets into a refillable hopper. From there, a motorized auger feeds these pellets into a burn pot, where they combust. And that generates much-needed heat.

According to home expert Don Vandervort, pellet stoves can be complicated and require occasional maintenance and regular attention, so you might be better off signing a service contract rather than trying to maintain the stove yourself. Another drawback: If you don't have a thermostat in every room, the heat from the stove might trick nearby thermostats into thinking the temperature in the area is at the set level. Nearby rooms become cold, and you end up raising your thermostat anyway. So when shopping for a pellet stove, opt for one with a built-in thermostat - this feature ensures better temperature control.

You'll also want to hop on over to Consumer Reports, where you'll find all kinds of important considerations for selecting the best stove for your heating needs. For instance, you'll want to determine fuel costs in your area and whether or not it makes sense to purchase a self-contained firebox insert or a freestanding stove. And just so you're as informed on the topic as possible, I also recommend reading the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy guide to wood and pellet heating.

Lexicon Consulting, Inc

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