Qualities to Look For in a Pellet Stove

Tiny house living is on the rise across the globe.

11:51 17 February 2021

So many people are embracing this movement toward living simply and with a lowered impact on the environment. The lifestyle strives for minimalism and intentionality which Tiny House dwellers find utterly fulfilling. When planning a tiny household, there has to be a lot of care and strategy used to choose the right furniture and appliances. 

 

Heat a Tiny House With a Pellet Stove 

 

Pellet stoves are energy-efficient heat sources. They burn pellets that are composed of organic materials and are ideal heating appliances for a tiny house. As the demand has grown for tiny houses, so has the variety of pellet stoves available. 

 

Luckily for consumers, experts on small house living have set widely accepted standards for appliances suited for these unique homes. Essentially, the best small pellet stoves have specific features and benefits. If you have a tiny house, you can use these qualities to help you choose the right pellet stove. 

 

1. The Perfect Size

 

First and foremost, all the little pieces contained within a tiny house have to be -- little! In general, you don't want anyone appliance to take up more space than necessary. Also, the pellet stove's size should allow for proper clearances, meaning there is sufficient space around the stove to meet fire safety standards.

 

Another element of size is the overall size of your tiny house. You will ultimately require a stove that is capable of heating an area of your home's dimensions. Don't automatically buy the most petite stove unless it's rated to heat suitable square footage. A pellet stove’s BTU (British Thermal Unit) rating determines the amount of surface area it can heat. 

 

1. A Great Warranty

 

This is true for all consumer products, but when it comes to a specialized appliance like a pellet stove. The better the warranty, the more confidence a manufacturer has in their product. While a warranty doesn't guarantee that the stove will have a long life, it provides quality assurance. Buying a small number of high-quality household items is one of the cornerstones of tiny house living. A general guideline is to look for a pellet stove with a warranty of at least one year. Some pellet stoves even have a lifetime warranty.

 

1. Manageable Care And Maintenance 

 

Pellet stoves are complex heat sources composed of many parts. They require regular cleaning and some models and brands require components to be disassembled occasionally for inspection. Another point of consideration is how often the pellets need replenishing. Pellets are loaded into the hopper of a stove. A high hopper capacity guarantees fewer refills. 

 

Some pellet stoves have a paid professional maintenance service available. If you can afford this kind of service, then the stove's maintenance will be of minimal concern. In any scenario, your pellet stove's maintenance process should reasonably fit into your household and daily life.

 

1. High Efficiency

 

Pellet stoves are naturally-efficient heating appliances. Their efficiency ratings range between %70 and %83. Choosing a stove with a rating on the higher end of the efficiency spectrum means keeping less fuel on hand for regular use. Another benefit of higher efficiency is a lower long-term cost of heating your home. 

 

1. A Clean Burn

 

The tiny house movement focuses on ethical and eco-friendly living. Pellet stoves are known to uphold clean environmental standards. The team at the Tiny House, Huge Ideas website extol the virtues of using pellets as a means to avoid oil. Believe it or not, some pellet stoves are cleaner than others. The EPA requires that pellet stoves create no more than 2.0 grams of emissions per hour. Some pellet stoves are officially EPA certified. 

 

1. Easy to Operate

 

Just like with care and maintenance, pellet stoves that are easy to operate are ideal. Depending on personal preferences, this could mean several things. As mentioned, some pellet stoves require infrequent refueling, and some have adjustable digital thermostats. Whether you would prefer to load a stove with pellets from the top or the bottom may also determine ease of use. Other features that make a pellet stove more desirable are auto-light ignition, pellet refill, and easy installation.

 

These are only some of the qualities that can help decide which pellet stove to buy. Budget or consideration of daily habits can solidify the choice between one or another. Regardless of the selection of brand or model, a pellet stove will significantly enhance a tiny house's inner life. They have a low impact on both a floor plan and the environment. They are a safe and affordable way to heat a small space. Although choosing a pellet stove may be daunting, there are apparent qualities to prioritize, but ultimately you really can't go wrong!