Wood Pellet Stoves
The wood pellet stove is the modern alternative to the traditional open fire or wood burning stove. The pellet stove uses renewable fuel which is a byproduct made from compressed waste sawdust. They are very efficient and should be less costly to run than oil, electric or gas heating (Consult our fuel cost guide for comparisons). They also only release a very small level of pollutants into the atmosphere.
There are three different types of pellet heaters on the market
Type A is situated inside the house and has a visible flame behind a glass door. As this stove does not have an integrated boiler is only used as a room heater. Pellets are put in a storage bin inside the unit and once it is switched on it work automatically. Price Guideline: €1,500
Type B is also situated inside the house and has a visible flame behind a glass door. This stove however does have an integrated boiler so the stove can heat the room, the radiators and the hot water. The stove has a top loader where the pellets are fed into an internal basket and fed automatically into the fire. The basket holds around 50 kgs of pellets and will require refilling every couple of days. The units have automatic ignition and are thermostatically controlled. Because of size requirements these units have a limited heating capacity (houses up to 2,000 sq ft roughly). They need minor cleaning weekly as they burn very efficiently so there is very little ash. Price Guideline: €4,500
Type C is usually situated in a boiler house as they are not decorative type units like Type B and are larger in size. They generally have a higher output of heat so are more suitable for larger homes above 2,000 sq ft. Pellets can be fed automatically by an auger from a bulk store hopper so that there is no requirement to fill the unit as with Type B. Price Guideline: €7,500
Pellet Storage
One of the main considerations when thinking about a wood pellet system is where the pellets will be stored. The pellets need to be kept moisture free so your store should not allow rain or damp air in. The least expensive way to buy pellets is in bulk delivery form. The storage unit can be placed in the shed, garage or garden but it should allow easy access for the delivery lorry (similar to an oil lorry) and be close to your boiler to minimize any further handling. You should consult with the pellet delivery company as special couplings are required for your storage unit so that the lorry hose can be connected. Your storage unit should be capable of holding a minimum of 4 tons (6m3) (3 Tons is the minimum bulk delivery of lose pellets).
Pellet Purchasing
In the early days there was problems obtaining pellets however most general merchants now stock them. They can be purchased in convenient single 10kg bags but buying in bulk is significantly cheaper. In a smaller house or holiday home buying pre-packed pellets would probably be the best option. It is also now possible to get one ton bags of pellets delivered (Like a gravel or Sand load). These are delivered on a pallet and are perhaps the most versatile way of getting pellets as they can be stored in almost any dry space and you do not need the special couplings for the bulk delivery lorry hoses.
On a medium sized permanent house the bulk storage system would work out cheaper in the long run. As discussed these deliveries are made by a small tanker lorry and the pellets are blown into your bulk storage unit through a hose with special connections.
Summary Of Pellet Costs
Bags - €3 for 10Kg = €0.30 per kg
1 Tonne Bag - €265 = €0.265 per kg
Bulk per Tonne - €220 = €0.22 per kg (min order 3 Tonnes)
Make sure you buy good pellets supplied by a reputable supplier, they should not contain too much moisture, dust or ash. The Pellet Guide below will help you to check the quality of the pellets that you are ordering. Your stove installer can advise you on your likely annual pellet consumption based on your house size, hours of operation and unit efficiency. Comparisons can then be made between the cost of a pellet system versus the alternatives using the fuel cost comparison guide.
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