All About Pellet Stoves: How They Can Keep You Warm This Winter

Pellet stoves are so hot right now--literally. The small standalone stoves are an alternative to gas heating that may come in handy this winter, when home heating costs are expected to rise. A pellet stove works by burning actual "pellets," which are tiny bits of recycled sawdust, wood shavings, corn, peanut shells and so on that look like rabbit feed, according to HomeTips.com.

Pellet stoves burn hotter and therefore more efficiently than wood stoves and give off fewer emissions. Basically, a pellet stove provides a simulated wood fire, with some added benefits, says the Pellet Fuels Institute. Because of the warmth and low environmental impact, they are catching on among the budget-conscious and green-minded. Don't think of those cast iron contraptions seen in log cabins either; pellet stoves have automatic ignition, self-feeding and temperature-stabilizing mechanisms. As fuel costs fluctuate, some families adopt pellet stoves as a second form of home heating.

Pellet stoves aren't cheap, though--a new stove runs about $1,500-$3,000, plus the cost of installation and pellets. Pellets typically come in 40-lb. bags and most stoves can hold enough pellets to heat continuously for a day or two. Unlike wood stoves, a pellet stove doesn't get so hot that touching it would burn, so families with children and pets may find them to be a good fit.

Popular brands include Harman pellet stoves, Breckwell pellet stoves and Englander pellet stoves, though they are also available at the Home Depot. According to manufacturer Breckwell, 500,000 pellet stoves have been sold since 1984. For more info, check out Planet Green's Buying Guide to pellet stoves.