How much electricity do pellet stoves consume?
There are stoves that do not consume electricity and even generate the electricity necessary for small external devices such as mobiles. Within the components of a pellet stove there are usually several electronic elements: fans, ignition system, burner supply or combustion control, which help in a decisive way to make it as efficient as possible. They also make its use easier and more comfortable.
The highest consumption occurs at the time of ignition and once the flame is generated, the electricity consumption moderates. The consumption depends on several factors, the most determining being the power of the stove. The consumptions are between the 60 and the 200 W. Logically, the higher the power, the higher the consumption.
The consumption of a pellet stove is much lower than that of common household appliances. In economic terms, an 8 kW stove would consume a euro cent per hour, taking as a reference the average price of 0,184 euros per kWh in Spain.
A pellet stove with approximately 8 kW of power, enough to heat a space of more than 60 m², has an average consumption of 80 Wh. The average consumption of a television is 200 Wh; that of a microwave, 700 Wh; the toaster, 1000 Wh; and a combi fridge, category A, 150 Wh
Stove, boiler, fireplace ... Which option interests me more?
It depends on each case. If it is a matter of heating a floor, an apartment or an office, only with hot air and minimal work, with a pellet stove or a built-in fireplace can be enough, even to heat several rooms.
If heating is required by radiators or underfloor heating and domestic hot water (DHW), a domestic boiler is recommended if sufficient space is available. You can also install a thermo-stove that heats the room and the radiators of the house, including the ACS.
Can I install a stove or biomass boiler in any home or premises?
The advisable thing is to arrange the visit of a specialized technician to be able to evaluate the concrete aspects each property. The exit of smoke to cover and the storage of the pellet are some of the factors to which we must pay attention to find an individualized solution.
Without monthly fees, with a varied range of models and powers, and with the existing leading technology there is practically an optimal solution that meets our needs.
Can I use an old fireplace?
Combustion takes place inside the biomass stove, and as a result, smoke is generated that must be removed from the house. This smoke output is made through a tube, usually between 8 and 10 centimeters in internal diameter. This tube must be approved to avoid overheating, even if you prefer you can choose an insulated tube that prevents further heating.
The hole in an old chimney can be used to fit the smoke outlet pipe, provided it is large enough.
Where to buy biomass ... and at what price?
Currently there are already several thousand sales points of pellets in bags of 15 kg: logistics centers, distributors, hypermarkets, shops and DIY centers. On the other hand, there are also several hundred suppliers of pellets and chips at home in trucks.
The price usually varies depending on the brand and the service provided. Of course, it is not the same to buy a 15kg bag than to buy 70 bags, or to have it taken home. The Price Index published quarterly by AVEBIOM indicates that the price has been stable for years: the 1-kilo sack of ENplus® A15 pellets usually costs around four euros, about € 0,26 / kg; and if they bring ENplus® A1 pellets for heating home in bulk, the average price is around € 0,24 / kg.
How is the pellet transported? And how is it stored?
The pellets can be transported and stored in two main ways: in bags and in bulk.
There are bags of 15 kilos in many points of sale and distributors: shops, supermarkets, DIY centers, hardware stores, specialized distributors of biomass, gas stations, construction warehouses, among others. They can be purchased by units or pallets. In addition, the distributor can take it home.
Bulk pellets are mainly used for stoves or boilers with automatic entry. It requires a silo or pellet tank different from the boiler itself. There are different types of silos: textile, plastic, metal hopper type or site silo, which mainly depends on the type of installation, budget and available space. The distributor silo is filled with pellets in large bags (BIGBAG TYPE) with a storage capacity between 500 and 2.000 kilos; in tanker truck similar to those that deliver diesel with automatic filling nozzles, or in large quantities in moving floor trucks with greater capacity.