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Evaluate pellet stoves and boilers

Pellet stoves feed fuel automatically from a hopper and burn very cleanly, but they depend on bought pellets and on electricity.

How

1. Check pellet supply: DOE says a household heating mainly with pellets may use 2 to 3 tons a year. Store bags dry and off the ground.
2. Check power: allow about 100 kWh a month for the stove, and add it to the winter power budget.
3. Plan backup power or a second non-electric heat source, since no power means no heat.
4. Look for pellets certified to a recognised standard (DOE mentions PFI in the US) with low dust.
5. Plan weekly owner cleaning and annual professional service.

Safety: Pellet stoves still produce CO. Fit CO alarms and keep vents clear of snow.

Sources

1. Wood and Pellet Heating. U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver, accessed 2026-11
2. Buying and Storing Firewood and Pellets (FS-937). University of Maryland Extension, accessed 2026-11

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