Owners of country houses, when deciding on the heating of their homes, are increasingly choosing a pellet fireplace. This allows you to create at the same time a unique atmosphere and take care of space heating, and even save a lot on fuel.
However, despite the prevalence, such fireplaces are not given due attention, believing that they have low efficiency. In addition, there is an opinion that this heating equipment is difficult to operate and maintain. Is this really so, try to figure it out.
Design Features
A pellet fireplace is nothing more than an ordinary cast iron or metal stove, only in the place of a solid-cast steel damper that blocks access to the furnace, there is a neat little door with heat-resistant glass. This solution allows you to enjoy the play of light and shadow, as well as an exciting "dance" of the flame.
Another design difference is the fuel supply system. If in a conventional furnace it is necessary to load firewood manually, then here it happens automatically with the help of an electric motor and auger. A pellet fireplace uses pellets as fuel - small pellets from pressed and dried wood. It is they who move along the conveyor belt.
Principle of operation
All that is required for the functioning of the fireplace is to load a special bunker with wood pellets and set the necessary parameters on the electronic control panel. After that, the system switches to the “ignition with heating” mode - the auger starts feeding pellets to the furnace, where they are ignited. At the same time, all air channels (chimney, “blowing”) open, which creates the necessary air draft for quick ignition.
After that, the pellet fireplace goes into normal operation - the air ducts partially overlap so that the heat "does not fly out into the street." The heating of the room, most often, occurs by convection. The cold air of the room, due to the difference in pressure through special slots in the fireplace body, enters the cavity between the furnace and the skin. There he heats up, goes back to the room - begins to circulate. After a complete change of cold air to a hot room, it warms up.
Pellet fireplace with duct
Due to the low heating rate of the premises by convection, models were developed using slightly different heating methods. These are specimens with air ducts and a pellet fireplace with a water circuit. In the first case, a special duct system is mounted to heat the premises, which interfaces directly with the fireplace.
Air ducts can enter other rooms. At the same time, a chimney can disperse throughout the house. Then, at the request of fire safety rules, the systems are equipped with exhaust fans to create normal air draft.
Fireplaces with water heating
Fireplaces with water heating have several design features. Firstly, they have a water shirt, which is located between the body and the firebox. Secondly, the pellet fireplace with a water circuit has a closed combustion chamber, and air is supplied only from the street using a special exhaust fan or turbine.
Thirdly, this design is combined with a water supply system, which must necessarily have a circulation pump. The principle of operation of such fireplaces is simple: cold liquid under pressure enters the water jacket, where it heats up and through the pipe system enters the heating circuit - batteries, underfloor heating and other heat exchangers.
Advantages and disadvantages of pellet fireplaces
The main advantage possessed by pellet fireplaces is the ability to long battery life. After loading the hopper with the necessary amount of fuel and setting the system, the system itself will maintain the set temperature in the home. An automatic system for removing ash residues and feeding pellets into the furnace due to a simple device rarely fails.
A second important benefit is reduced operating costs. The cost of wood pellets on average is only 6,500 rubles per 1 ton. Given the fuel consumption (less than 12 kg for 30 hours of operation of a 6 kW device), this number of pellets is enough to heat the home for 4 months.
High cost is the main disadvantage that a pellet fireplace has. User reviews report that the purchase and installation of the device cost them much more than the purchase, installation and configuration of any other heating equipment. In addition, such a fireplace can work with only one type of fuel.
Manufacturers Overview
If your goal is to create an original atmosphere in the house and at the same time solve the heating problem, then you should pay attention to the FlumenFire company from Scandinavia. This manufacturer is one of the few who exclusively produces pellet fireplaces. All models are characterized by a combination of “home design” and impressive technical features. A bright representative can be called a fireplace CITRINA.
If you are looking for an inexpensive, but at the same time reliable copy, then you should take a closer look at the models of the domestic company Vesuvius. This manufacturer is just setting up production, and so far cannot please a rich assortment.
Models are marked as control panels, differ in size and power (7-8 kW). Pellet fireplace "Vesuvius" is suitable for you if you are looking for an inexpensive solution for a country house, which you leave for the winter. The cost of copies varies, and in different regions can range from 32 to 45 thousand rubles.