There’s nothing like curling up to a warm fireplace on a cold day. The issue is getting your hands on the firewood. Carrying it around can be pretty heavy.
Not to mention, fireplaces tend to give off fumes that can be dangerous to your health. The smoke that comes from the wood burning doesn’t do wonders for your indoor air quality anyway.
That’s why many homeowners are switching to pellet stoves. They don’t put off any harmful smoke, and the pellets are a little easier to manage than the big logs that come with fireplaces.
This easy-to-use home warming option doesn’t come without its fair share of challenges, however. Keep reading to weigh the pros and cons.
Easy to Use
If you’re looking for home heating options that aren’t too much trouble to use, buy a pellet stove. They use an automatic electric ignition.
Most of them include a thermostat, which will turn the device off and on when needed. You can even purchase a pellet stove that has smartphone features and remote control!
High Maintenance
A new pellet stove might be easy to use, but it’s not too convenient when it comes to maintenance. It contains a burner pot that you’ll need to vacuum out once a week.
You’ll have to clean your stove every quarter and have it serviced once a year. These devices also have a lot of moving parts that you have to worry about. The blower fan, hopper feed, and temperature sensor all require maintenance of some kind.
Cost-Effective
We will warn you that the upfront cost for a pellet stove can be pretty pricey. Once you get past that, however, you’ll find that running your stove will allow you to save a lot of money on your electric bill. It prevents you from having to run your central heating too much during the cold months.
The pellets that go into the stove are cheaper than a lot of other fuel options on the market, as well. The price for them has been pretty stable over the years, so it’s most likely not going to go up any time soon. The pellets also come in a pretty big bag, so you’ll be able to go a while in between buying more fuel.
Noise
Again, pellet stoves are packed full of moving motorized parts. That includes a ventilation system that makes a ton of noise while you’re running the device.
We will say that with new advances, this problem is starting to become a nonissue. If you buy a more modern pellet stove, it might be a little less noisy than the older ones.
Are Pellet Stoves Worth It?
Are you looking for a home heating option that’s easy to use and won’t break the bank? Look no further than pellet stoves.
While they come with their own fair share of problems, they don’t put out as much smoke as a fireplace, and they use less energy than your central heating. What’s not to love?
For more ways to keep your house nice and toasty, visit the Home & Garden section of our blog.
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