Rising oil prices should no longer be a shock to anyone. The fear and trepidation of the uncertainty about how high they will climb is common. Planning for ways to reduce our reliability on fossil fuels is the logical next step. For those who live in the northern half of the northern hemisphere heating the home is a major concern.
Pellet stoves may be the answer for many folks. The pellet stove offers a low-cost fuel with very little mess. Unlike oil, propane, and natural gas it is not directly affected by the rising oil prices. It also does not have the mess factor associated with regular wood and coal burning stoves. Installation is fairly simple and the cost-benefit ratio is very good.
Pellet stoves cost between $800, for a low-end, basic model, and over $3000 for a more decorative, or larger model. The pellet fuel for these stoves varies in price by region, but generally runs around $225 per ton. There are many variables that must be factored in when looking at the efficiency of the pellet stove. The size of the structure being heated, the insulation factor, the regular maintenance and cleaning of the appliance and the outside temperature are all important pieces to the puzzle.
To understand the savings potential of a pellet stove, it is first important to look at the options. Electric heat can be expensive to install and the trade off in a higher electric bill may not really off-set the cost of oil. Coal is a very messy and inefficient, as well as environmentally unfriendly, method of heating. Solar heat is very |
