Wood pellet Furnaces

Environmental considerations and the high costs of oil, gas and electricity are making wood pellet furnaces (and other biomass units) a choice to consider. Just be aware of their advantages and disadvantages.

There are now new wood pellet furnaces (and wood pellet boilers) very different from traditional American Midwest furnaces. They are central-ducted furnaces incorporating several technological improvements.

The fuel issue

Most biomass furnaces run on a large set of biomass fuels. Pellets are just a very clean and probably the most efficient biomass fuel.

Wood chips, fuel crops, agricultural waste and residues (including shelled corn) are also common fuels for these type of furnaces.

Some models work indifferently with any type of biomass fuel, but some top models require wood pellets.

Pellet furnaces and boilers
Some pellet furnace manufacturers are also offering biomass boilers (including the more efficient wood pellet units). The big difference is in the air vs. water media. Instead of using hot air to heat the house, boilers use hot water. Instead of a ducted system a boiler requires a pipe system and radiators (or radiant floor...)

Installation

Like gas or oil furnaces, wood pellet furnaces units should be professionally installed and maintained. That's crucial for a good performance.

If choosing a biomass furnace, be sure that the furnace manufacturer or the dealer offers quality customer service.

Technology

Some wood pellet furnace manufacturers are publicizing several important improvements involving their systems: fully automation and monitorization of combustion, consistent gasification, minimal emissions, 90+% efficiency.

That's obviously positive, and a sharp break with more traditional models.

Image: a "successor" of traditional American Midwest wood furnaces, from Magnum.

Price and cost considerations

Pellets are being used extensively in central heating, mainly in Europe.

Using pellets, shelled corn and other agricultural residues cost much less than using gas or oil, which can make wood pellet furnaces an attractive investment. See: Pellet prices, availability, storage Pellets for furnaces and boilers

The problem is the price of wood pellet furnaces is high. It can amount to $2,000 or $3,000 more than equivalent gas and oil furnaces.

In fact, while a 90% gas furnaces may cost you around $3,000 installed, a modern wood pellet furnace may cost you $5,000 or more. See List of Pellet Furnace Manufacturers, below.

Advantages and disadvantages of pellet furnaces

Lower running costs and a lower carbon footprint are obvious advantages of wood pellet furnaces. But these advantages can be offset by higher initial prices and doubts about the reliability of manufacturers and their technology.

In fact, most wood pellet manufacturers are small or relatively small companies with products that aren't as tested or technologically sophisticated as those offered by gas and oil furnace manufacturers.

There are very few pellet furnaces models with ultra-low emissions or with very high AFUEs (over 90% efficient...) or sold and installed by the many thousands...

Environment & Wood pellet furnaces

Energy independence, sustainability or agricultural waste elimination are major goals and arguments of pellet furnace manufacturers and consumers.

Environmental considerations are at the core of the wood pellet goals and thinking: fuels made from wood and their subproducts and wastes are relatively environmentally-friendly; they release carbon dioxide, but the plants that are at their source have also absorbed a comparable CO2 amount during their lifespan. That's typically the case of wood pellets or shelled corn.

Top wood pellet furnace manufacturers

Below we list some of the most popular biomass and pellet furnace manufacturers (and also some biomass boiler manufacturers).

Benjamin Heating
Energy King
Ecoboiler
Harman
Magnum
Maxim Heat
New Horizon
Pellx furnaces
Skanden
Tarm Biomass
Traeger Pinnacle (dealer)