I clean the "Pot" (were the pellets fall into) every day. This takes about 1-2 minutes, It involves just emptying it and a quick vacuuming out. The Ash falls below the "Pot" into an ash drawer. I empty this Once a month. (just dump it into the trash can) The stove pipe I clean out once at the end of the season.
With the pellet stove, the heat can be really regulated pretty nicely. Were as Wood stoves you can't regulate the flame, you put in a log and it will burn hot until it burns out, so it's more of a roller coaster ride on the heat. Also I don't think they have a blower on them, so the heat is radiant.
The pellet stove is 2 chambered so the flame side isn't connected to the blower side. To get a hotter flame it turns the hopper screw and feeds the pellets faster. SO you can really regulate it evenly. The fan or blower also has different speeds, it really blows out forcefully some really hot air. The Stove pipe has a thimble it only needs an 8' hole into the wall. you can't see any of the pipeing inside, outside theres about 3 feet. It doesn't have to clear the roof at all. the pipe is also double insulated with a "critter" guard. No smoke smoke smell or ash inside the house, since that side of the chamber isn't connected to the hot air side. Creosole is almost none existant since the pellets burn so fuel efficient. It is there but not like a wood burning stove. It has an air intake... on newer and mobile homes they need to be vented to the outside or you will suffocate ( a wood stove needs a window cracked)
My house i don't need it vented, I will vent it when i am done weatherproofing my house better. Back to the Creosole.. the manufacturer recommends cleaning the air tubes and blower blades ( intake and exhuast) every 5 tons. Effiency of a fire place is + or - 10% wood stove is probably alittle better wood stove is 99% efficient ONLY Corn burning stoves beat it, not in heat, but in Dollars vs. BTU's.
Let me put it this way... My oil bill was so high I thought the Oil delivery guy was ripping me off. they say My house will use between 5-7 gallons of Oil a day to heat at near 4 bucks a gallon even on the low end it's 600 a month. Before I cut the heat zone off to the garage, i was burning over 7 gallons a day. No heat to the garage with the pellet stove and im 1 40 Lbs bag a day, this runs 24-7... cost 3-4 bucks a day depending on were i get the pellets.
Wood stove..smoke smell,smoke in house, radiant heat need chopped cords of wood Unless you have unlimited supply of free wood on your property and the efficiency I wouldn't do it. It would be a great additive to your existing heat supply. Flue and space is also a factor.
Wood Pellet.. Safer, no smell of smoke or smoke in house effient dry heat. And it does replace the Oil heat completely. You can really find any spot in the house for these, Clearance to the back 4 inches clearance on sides is about 2 inches. The drawbacks Lowe's buys the pellets at the begining of the season once gone they are gone till next season. Picking up bags and bags of pellets, daily cleaning.
Pluss's.. My Oil dependency foot print is getting smaller as well as my pollution foot print. And It's SEXY!!!
My wife LOVES the fire.
Now, your milage may vary, i'll try to post some pics..
Best Move I ever made, between my stores and house I knocked of 3k a month off my winter heating bills
NUTTZ
What are the cleaning requirements for a pellet stove? (I'm thinking like regular wood burning, where you worry about creosole?)
How about the chimney?
I heard a conversation on the radio about replacing a wood pellet stove as the heating system. Its still relatively new....but I would like to learn more.
