Thus, the clearances to combustibles are reduced and they can be closer to walls, furniture etc. They also have a range of safety features that will not allow them to operate when they are too hot, or when good chimney draft is not present. Commonly the units will not feed pellets when hopper lids are opened or the fire-door is not secured. Now some manufacturers are even using removable handles so children can’t open the doors.

It is easier to control the heat output of a pellet stove as many are thermostat-controlled or have many heat level settings. They also respond faster to input instructions because they are burning a smaller quantity of fuel at any given time. They give considerably longer burn times between fills, and can be left unattended for periods while busy families are at work or school. They develop less ash because the combustion of the fuel is so complete. This makes cleanup easier and less frequent.

Shouldn’t we all strive to use a renewable source for our heating needs, and leave the other fuels for uses where they can’t be replaced? The technology for burning solid fuel just keeps improving, and the EPA is moving toward higher benchmarks on all appliances to clear the air further. This will raise efficiency again.

Bugs, bark, and dust are greatly reduced, leading to better indoor air quality. Less time spent tending the fire.

Renewable and sustainable fuel sources are often located within a few hundred miles of its customers.

Sulfurs, chlorines, and nitrogen are virtually non-existent, so acid rain components are 5x higher with fuel oil and 15x higher with coal fired electricity for heat.