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The pellet stove is made up of a hopper, auger, fans and a combustion chamber or burn pot.There is an exhaust vent. The unit also requires combustible air intake.
A bag of the wood pellets is emptied into the hopper. A bag is usually about 40 lbs.
The auger moves the fuel from the hopper to the combustion chamber. Many stoves will run automatically for up to approx. 24 hours.
A heat-circulating fan provides heat to the room by blowing air through heat exchangers in the unit. A control is set on the stove to regulate the amount of fuel automatically released into the burn chamber. Some designs come with a wired remote thermometer that is wall mounted or placed next to your favorite chair. Some models even come with a wireless remote.
The exhaust fan blows the by-products through a vent pipe to the outdoors. This prevents a harmful build up inside the home causing health problems
This vent must terminate in the outdoors. The location must also avoid the possibility of exhaust by-products being drawn into a neighbor’s home through any of their intake inlets.
The stove air intake is either from the surrounding interior space or from the outdoors.
If room air is used it must be provided from an open space. An air pipe from the heater must not pull air from a closed space such as a closet or garage. On some models outdoor air intake is necessary in order for the unit to function properly. Mobile homes must have a fixed outside combustible air source.
The fans and augers of the unit require electricity in order to operate.
If power is interrupted there is a chance that smoke and fumes would fill up in the living space. To avoid this, a small battery back up pack is recommended. It will keep the exhaust fan running when the power goes out. It provides enough time for the fuel in the combustion chamber to burn up and the exhaust to be forced to the outdoors.
A pan located at the bottom of the unit collects the ash for removal.
The unit should sit on a non-combustible hearth pad. In areas that are prone to seismic activity, the unit should be bolted through the pad to the floor. Anchoring is also required in mobile home installations.
Work with an experienced retailer to determine which model best suits the size of the room. Understand how the stove operates.
The movement of the auger may be an unexpected sound.
It is important to follow all manufacturers instructions when installing and venting a pellet stove. The installation instructions must comply with Canada’s Installation Code for Fuel Burning Appliances and Equipment’. All homeowners installing a pellet stove must also comply with this code and any local by-laws.
Hiring a professional installer ensures the unit is set up and vented to function with utmost efficiency and safety.
A unit that is not installed and vented properly is a health and fire hazard, for both the homeowner and the neighbors.
A few of the many important requirements to follow:
All venting pipe joints and connections must be air tight and sealed, to prevent exhaust fumes and ash from leaking into the home.
The exhaust air vent must terminate in the outdoors. It is also extremely hot. Using a vertical pipe to vent the air at a safe elevation is necessary to avoid any contact with people, pets and combustible materials.
A minimum 4-foot clearance is required from a non-mechanical air supply inlet to the building or the combustion air inlet to any other appliance. A minimum of 3-foot clearance from any forced air intake of any appliance. There are many other code requirements to be considered, the location of windows, doors, regulator meters, grade, grass, plants, adjacent buildings, the neighbors home, etc., all for both fire and health issues.
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