Pellet wood boilers

Pellet wood boilers have some huge advantages over oil and gas boilers.

Modern pellet-Wood boilers

Pellet-wood boilers are complex appliances, but like oil and gas boilers they are mostly or fully automatic.

Modern pellet-wood boilers use microprocessors to control the amount of fuel and air being supplied, ensuring high efficiencies (often in the range 90%-96%) and, also, very little pollution.

The feed system of these wood boilers is based on a suction system (or an electrically spiral conveyor) doing the transport and making the process largely or fully automatic.

Modern pellet-wood boilers are stainless steel, compact and modulate their firing rate to match the house’s energy needs.

Capacity of pellet wood boilers

There are a wide range of models and capacities. All depends on your needs. Capacities to 100,000 BTU/hr are common.

The main manufacturers present different models, with different outputs and prices. Pay close attention to the capacity issue, and avoid oversized boilers: boilers are often greatly oversized, which is a common cause of low inefficiencies and higher energy costs.

In new homes oversizing is often related with the fact that people do not take into account modern levels of insulation.

Qualified Pellet Wood boilers

Qualified models of pellet wood boilers are certified or approved by organizations as ASME, UL and Energy Star.

Maintenance and ash

Pellet-wood boilers do not demand more maintenance than oil or gas boilers.

The difference is basically on ash removing, whose periodicity - variable and typically oscillating between once a month and once every six months - depends on models and brands, and also on the type of pellet: using premium and super premium pellets will produce lower quantities of ash.

Chimney or Direct Vent & Pellet Wood Boilers

Modern pellet wood boilers allow sealed combustion and are extremely safe appliances.

You may use a chimney, but many models allow direct vent with PVC pipe (in order to vent the exhaust combustion gases).

The most efficient boilers may produce an acidic exhaust gas, and that demands some modifications in old and unlined chimneys. If you have an unlined chimney, and if you want to use it, you must line it in order to accommodate boiler combustion gases…

Load demands

Pellet-wood boilers respond very well to variable load demands. They can operate on a timer, and support intense uses or the inverse.

Pellet Wood Boilers disadvantages

Besides their high initial investment, pellet wood boilers also require facilities for pellet storage. You can store pellets in appropriate basements, small fabric-sided containers, silos, etc.

See, on this issue: Pellet prices, availability and storage.