Wood Pellet and Corn Stoves

Pellet stoves burn dried grains like corn and biomass wood-based byproducts. These waste materials are ground with natural resins and binders to form pellets. Such biomass fuel pellets are an excellent way to convert waste products to fuel, reducing landfill and emissions of greenhouse gas simultaneously. Pellets come in a convenient form in compact storage bags that can be stacked neatly in any available space in your home. Only one scoop per day in the stove hopper is needed: the controlled feeding component supplies the right amount to the burner.

Many pellet users believe hardwood pellets are a better choice than softwoods, but both contain the same amount of energy density per unit mass. Pellet fuels cost less when purchased in bulk.  A typical biomass stove needs electrical power all day to operate, which an off-grid system may not supply in winter. Consider your energy demands wisely before choosing this type of device.

An automatic battery backup system is provided for most biomass stoves in case of power failure. The backup system is like an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), charging during normal service and discharging on power failure.  The UPS uses the battery and an inverter to generate the required electricity to power the stove. Its size should be compatible with the stove’s electrical load as well as the estimated hours of operation before grid power returns.

In cold Siberian winters, a lot of heat is required and good stoves are crucial. The masonry heater has been specially designed with a firebox and chimney covered with the right type of refractory brick and the flue directed through a maze intended to slow the smoke’s path to the chimney exit. An exterior brick, adobe or stone wall functions to increase the heat from the masonry stove. Heat is radiated by the stonework into the house. 

A masonry stove is excellent in quickly generating a hot fire which produces the same energy as any slow fire. The hot fire takes in extra oxygen to burn more thoroughly and emits fewer pollutants. However, masonry heaters are expensive and require re-firing. Weight and size are also considerations, but with the proper space available, they supply sufficient warmth for any home.