Choosing a Site for Your Pellet Stove
Pellet stoves are considered by many to be a suitable alternative to home heaters that rely on electricity or gas. This is because it burns wood that might otherwise have been thrown away, is less polluting than log-burning fireplaces, and is easy to operate. For them, transitioning from other sources of heat to a pellet stove is an easy choice to make. What may not be so easy is choosing its appropriate location in the room.
If you too have decided to switch to pellet stoves and have actually ordered one that is appropriate to your needs, it is time to decide where exactly should it be installed. It can be in one corner of the room, the mid-point along one wall, or any place where it can distribute heated air more equally throughout the room. The latter will depend on the room’s design and dividers if there are any.
The stove, however, should be close to an electric outlet. If you plan on buying a stove with a 12-volt battery back-up, pick a site where there is enough space to store the battery. As a rule, pellet stoves should be at least four feet away from doors and windows. This is to prevent exhaust fumes from the stove from getting sucked back into the room. However, if air source for combustion comes from outside, this can be reduced to 18 inches. This is because air supply coming from outside reduces negative pressure in the room that could draw in vented gases.
Be sure that the stove is kept away from combustible materials, such as drapes and curtains, chairs and sofas made of fabric or other light materials, or electrical appliances that might be affected by high temperatures. Often, stoves come with recommendations on acceptable distances from combustible items.
If you have a wood floor, be sure to get a non-combustible hearth pad. This could be made of ceramic or stone tiles or cast cement pad. Its front should extend at least six inches beyond the stove. The sides and back should also exceed those of the stove, although not necessarily by six inches. Wood floors should also be checked if they can support the weight of the stove, especially if you opted for a heavy cast iron type. You may need to reinforce it with added timber strategically positioned in relation to the joists under the floor.