A pellet stove is a type of wood-burning stove that can provide warmth and comfort to your home.
They are an excellent option for those who want the benefits of traditional fireplaces without any of the hassles.
Pellet stoves use small, compressed pieces of wood pellets as fuel. They are usually fed into the burning chamber through a chute on top.
The unfortunate truth about pellet stoves is that there’s no way to know how many watts it will use before you buy one.
They all have slightly different energy requirements because they’re manufactured in different ways.
This article will help you determine what size pellet stove would be best for your needs by talking about wattage usage.
How Many Watts Does a Pellet Stove Use?
A typical fan on a pellet stove consumes between 400 and 800 watts of electricity. The new controller and motor designs necessitate the use of cleaner power. So, a sine wave is frequently required.
During everyday operation, pellet stoves use on average around 100W of energy. But during the ignition of a fire, they may consume up to 500W.
If used for 8 continuous hours per day, a pellet stove might use 1 kWh daily electricity.
What is the Wattage of a Pellet Stove?
A pellet stove is an appliance that burns wood pellets as a heat source. The wattage of a pellet stove can vary, depending on the model and its efficiency rating.
A good range for average models to look at would be around 13-18 watts per hour (WH).
A pellet stove with a higher rating and an efficiency of 97% would be more efficient than one with a lower rating and less efficiency.
How to Determine the Wattage of a Pellet Stove
The power source and heating capacity can determine the wattage of a pellet stove. The average wattage for a smaller sized stove is around 200 watts, while larger stoves have been found to range from 900-2000 watts.
Pellet stoves that are combined with boilers produce more heat. But they also require more energy input to keep up their temperature.
It makes sense to install a separate boiler in many cases if you don’t already have one. That’s because these appliances tend to use at least half as much energy per hour compared with other pellet or biomass fuel-burning equipment.
Another factor when determining how powerful your heater should be is the size of your home/building! Large homes usually need higher wattages than small homes.
The last factor to consider is the time of year you need your heater and how much daily heat output will be required.
This information, along with knowing the size of your home/building and where it’s located, can help you determine if a pellet stove meets all of your needs.
What Affects How Many Watts a Pellet Stove Uses?
Many factors will determine how many watts a pellet stove uses. With this in mind, there are two primary considerations to keep in mind: the type of pellets and the size of the unit.
Also, consider what can be used as an alternative heat source like wood or electricity if you’re trying to reduce energy usage by using renewable sources only.
How Much does My Pellet Stove cost Me?
You can calculate an estimate of your stove’s cost by determining the number of watts per hour it uses. To do this, you will need two pieces of information: How many hours a day does your pellet stove run? And how much are you paying for electricity in kilowatt-hours (kWh)?
Then plug those numbers into these equations to determine what your costs are each day and month.
The average cost of a pellet stove is between $1,040 and $3,090 (plus installation costs). But it only takes around $35 to $45 each month to maintain it. Pellet stoves are generally used in conjunction with a home’s heating system. Stoves are ideal for heating a single space, similar to fireplaces.
How Much Electricity Does a Pellet Stove Use?
A pellet stove can use anywhere from 100 watts to 3500 watts, depending upon your purchase size.
Many people prefer a larger model because it will heat your home faster and better than a smaller one.
You’ll also want to make sure that you have good insulation in place for your house or cabin. This will make it more energy-efficient and not losing too much heat when the fire goes out.
What Size Pellet Stove Do I Need?
Before you purchase a pellet stove, there are some important factors to consider. It would help if you thought about how big and efficient the room’s heating needs will be.
The size of your home, the layout of the rooms in your house, and available space for placement all contribute to this decision.
Pellet stoves come in different sizes ranging from 20-50 lbs. per hour (lbs./hr.) or kW demand determined by their BTU rating.
This means that larger units with higher ratings may need more than one unit depending on their square footage requirements.
Loading capacity also determines if two or three hoppers can fit into an area. Since they usually range between 40-100 pounds at once. But it can be less depending on the model.
The stove’s capacity is proportionate to the square footage of the home. A 60,000 BTU pellet stove, for example, would be required to warm a 2,000 sq. ft. house properly.
Are Pellets Stoves Energy-Efficient?
Pellet stoves are an efficient way to heat your home and can save you a lot of money. The average heating cost for one ton of pellets is $14-$18. At the same time, the same amount of oil would be double that price!
Pellets also produce much fewer fumes than other types of fuel sources such as wood or coal.
5 Ways to Get More Heat from a Pellet Stove
Here are five ways you can get more heat from a pellet stove:
- Use a bigger stove – Pellet stoves come in all sizes, and the larger it is, the more heat will be generated within your home or business. For example, you might want to choose pellet burners that are 36 inches wide as they provide one of the best BTU ratings around right now for heating rooms up to 1800 square feet.
- Increase the speed of the blower – You can utilize the blower settings on a pellet stove to effectively maximize the heat output of a pellet stove. A pellet stove with a higher blower setting can distribute the heat more efficiently throughout the space.
- Increase the heat output – Pellet stoves are highly automated versions of heating equipment that regulate the number of pellets fed to the fire to ensure maximum burning efficiency and heat output. To get more heat from a pellet stove, raise the heat setting. The amount of heat produced by a pellet stove is usually determined using this control on the side of the device.
- Have the pellet stove professionally installed. Professionals are trained to know how to install these appliances, so they heat your home efficiently and safely. If it’s not done right, your pellets could jam or cause other problems with the appliance that affect performance.
- Install a wood furnace filter, which will work similarly to air filters for your home’s furnaces. These filters catch ash particles before they’re released into the environment around you. This keeps your indoor air cleaner because there won’t be large amounts of ashes flying inside while the pellet is burning.
How to Run a Pellet Stove During Power Outage
If your pellet stove is not equipped with a battery backup, it can pose problems when the electricity goes out.
Fortunately, there are ways to run your pellet stove during an electrical outage by bypassing the main breaker.
You can run it directly to either another outlet in the house or hard wiring into an outside wall socket.
These ways include:
Plugging into a Generator
This is the best option if you have access to one, as generators can produce electricity indefinitely and are relatively inexpensive to operate.
You’ll need an extension cord that matches the wattage of your pellet stove. And then learn how to use a generator safely for this purpose.
Running it to a Different Outlet in your Home
This option is only advisable if you do not mind rewiring and have access to an electrical box or junction box.
You can then take out one wire from each set that connects and attach those wires instead directly onto the corresponding screws.
For whichever type of outlets are connected through these sets of wires by screwing down tightly.
If done correctly, this should light up any lights or appliances plugged into those outlets.
Hardwiring into an Outside Wall Socket
This is the most dangerous and challenging option. That’s because hard wiring requires opening up your home’s electrical system by cutting through drywall or other surfaces. This is to get at the wires inside to connect between them and any outlets connected via sets of wires from a breaker box.
Be sure it is done correctly because this could present fire hazards if not installed properly.
If in doubt about whether or not you can do this safely, consult with a professional electrician first.