What To Look For In a Pellet
Size
Depending on the size of your room and how important the fireplace is to serve as a heat source, you’ll want to consider the size needed when purchasing a new wood fireplace.
Design Style
Pellet stoves come in two basic styles. Fireplace inserts are set into a home’s existing fireplace, utilizing the same chimney and flue. Freestanding units can be placed anywhere in a room once proper floor guards and vents (specifically intended for wood-burning stoves) have been installed.
Either option will need to be situated near an electrical source to run the automated features of the stove. As for as the appearance, pellet stoves can be found in a wide range of designs, from old-fashioned to modern and from ornately decorated to streamlined.
Options
Pellet stoves, depending on size and styling, sell for somewhat higher price than traditional wood-burning stoves owing to the automated features built into each unit. Installation costs usually fall in the same range as in wood burning installation but are worth the expense. When introducing any wood-burning unit to the home, be sure it meets local safety codes.
The pellets themselves are typically sold in 40-pound bags for $5 to $8 (or by the ton for about $250; similar in price to a cord of firewood). Before committing to a pellet stove, research pellet availability in your area, as supplies and costs vary depending on factors—whether there are pellet mills nearby or they will need to be shipped a long distance, for instance.
Before purchasing a pellet stove, determine your own home’s heating needs and compare features of various brands. Our Pellet Experts are on call to answer your many questions and concerns. Contact us today to learn more about pellet stove or insert of your choice.
The Process
Mastering Pellet Stove Installation in Four Steps
Step One: Framing & Rough
Before you can start framing in the new fireplace, you’re going to need to do some planning to know where the venting will go and to make sure all clearances are met. We can pass this information along to your contractor or your architect if you are building a new home. Customers may need to apply for a wood burning permit through their local municipality.
Step Two: Pellet & Venting Installation
Now it’s the exciting part! We’ll have our certified professionals install your fireplace and venting.
Step Three: W.E.T.T. Certification (Wood Energy Technology Transfer)
With the installation now complete, you can request for W.E.T.T. certified inspection, ensuring that your wood unit has been installed up to manufacturer’s specifications and building code requirements.
Step Four: Finishing, Mantle Installation & Completion
You can now enclose the fireplace area to suite your tastes. We offer a consultation and design option for those of you who are unsure about the finishes that will be suite their home décor. Call our office at 613.727.4328 to book your in home consultation today.