Wednesday 28 January 2009

What is a Pellet Stove?

When you are looking for an alternate way of heating your home, a pellet stove is just the thing for you. Once you have one of these great heating sources in your home, you will never want to go without it. For just a few dollars a day, you can use your stove and benefit from the convenient heat source.

Pellet stoves are ran on little wood pellets that heat the home efficiently. A pellet stove does require to be plugged into an electrical socket to provide electricity for the blower to circulate the hot air around the home. You will find that one of these stoves will hardly affect your electric bill at all.

Pellet stoves can be placed just about anywhere throughout the home. Wherever you need an extra heat source or an extra accent piece in the home will be great. You do have to take few safety precautions when you are installing a pellet stove. You should never place it near soft furniture and some hard furniture as well. It is also a good idea to keep electronics away from the pellet stove because of the excessive heat that is provided from the stove.

Pellet stoves are usually found to be petite enough to fit in just about any area that you want. You can find them to be in all different kinds of styles and shapes as well. You will not need any additional vents or air ducts installed for your stove. All you have to do is buy the pellets and you are ready to start heating your home.

For the most part pellet stoves are safe. They are an efficient and secure way of heating your home without breaking your bank account. You will have to read up on the information that is sent along with the stove to make sure that you are following all of the recommended instructions that are given for installation and use.

This new pellet stove will be a cheap alternative to heating your home throughout those bitter cold winter nights as well as the brisk fall evenings. You will be able to control the amount of heat that is provided which makes this a great item to use all year round. They are easy to work and anyone can do it.

Another nice thing about a pellet stove is that you do not need to shovel coal or chop up wood for the heating source. Most pellets can be bought in the same place that you buy your stove or you can have them delivered to your home. These stoves are efficient, convenient, and safe. There is not better way to heat your home for less and bring style and appeal to your home.

Sunday 25 January 2009

How to Stoke Your Wood Stove for Max Efficiency

If you're interested in owning a wood stove, you probably done some research. Maybe you've heard the buzz about the efficiency of modern stoves and their small environmental footprint. Or you may already be a stove owner, in which case you've started basking in that radiant heat. Either way, you're wondering how to ensure that your stove turns out to be one of those peak performers--and a smart investment to boot. If so, you're asking the right questions, because today's stoves a designed to pay great dividends. Capitalizing on your stove's potential begins with choosing the right type of fuel. But beyond that, here are three steps to help stoke your stove to its full heating potential.

First, take the temperature of your wood burning stove.

A lot of today's stoves come with thermometers preinstalled, which makes this step easy. If this isn't the case, it's not difficult to attach a stack thermometer to your stove's flue--that pipe that carries the exhaust outside. Once you have a thermometer in place, you'll be able to check the temperature of gases as they exit the stove. For the average wood stove, the ideal temperature range falls between 300 and 400 F. If the stove is burning within this range, it is producing heat efficiently while causing the least pollution possible. You can target this optimum spectrum by adjusting the stove's burn rate or changing the quantity of fuel.

Second, do stove maintenance. This a simple step, but easy to overlook.

Modern stoves don't create a lot of waste, but from time to time you'll want to clean out wood ash. When excess ashes start to build up, it's time to service your stove with the equivalent to a quick oil change--only it's much, much easier! Collected ash can obstruct the air vents of your stove, depriving the fire of oxygen. This makes it hard to control the burn rate of your fire, and compromises efficiency. Heating your home is hard work, so the last thing you want to do is making your stove short of breath.

Third, take an outsider's perspective on your wood stove.

By "outsider" I mean outside your house. When a wood stove is burning with maximum efficiency, it creates almost no visible smoke. So when you have a good blaze going, walk outside and inspect your stove flue or chimney. If you see dark fumes, you should vary the stove's oxygen flow and wood supply, then check again. A well-tended fire with good fuel will eliminate that smokiness. When there's no smoke, and just a shimmer in the air, you'll know your stove is reaching its potential: burning clean and hot.

Feel like you're getting the idea? Modern stoves are designed to take most of the guesswork out of all this. Feeding your stove the right woods and following the "common sense" tips above will turn your stove into a radiant heating machine.

Monday 19 January 2009

How To Get The Best Out Of Your Camp Stove

There are various ways you can insure that you get great performance from your
camp stove:

1. Select the right stove:

Where do you plan to go on your camping trips? How many people do you plan to cook for? You need to answer these questions before deciding on the stove you want to buy.

2. Portability:

You won't want to lug a heavy stove around when you trek. So, a light-weight stove is the best choice, unless you have a vehicle to help transport it around.

3. Fuel Type:

Choose a fuel that's easily available, with refills you can carry. For instance, propane is a popular fuel available in mot camping stores. Also, a fuel that generates more heat will help you conserve fuel. Butane and propane meet this requirement. Weather conditions can also influence your choice of fuel. For instance, white gas is better in cold weather. Look for a stove with multiple fuel options.

4. Multi-burner:

A single burner stove may suffice if you trek alone or have to cook for very few people. A multiple burner stove will allow you to cook more than one thing, simultaneously, saving time, and effort.

5. Brand-value:

Buy a camp stove manufactured by an established brand that's been around for many years. That way you can be more certain of getting a quality product that works. Also, a reputed brand is likely to offer a wide choice of models, giving you different fuel and burner options.

6. Price:

This should not be a restrictive factor, if buy a quality product. The important thing is to get value for money.

7. Warranty:

Look for a life-time warranty on the stove you buy.

Richard J. Runion is the President of Geostar Publishing & Services LLC. Rich loves net research & blogging.

His new blog on Coleman Camp Stove is fast becoming popular, as it is comprehensive and well-researched. Read his blog at: http://www.colemancampstovesreview.com/

Tuesday 13 January 2009

The Wood Stove

A Wood Stove dates back hundreds of years, but these days they are a small fireplaces designed to look attractive and most importantly radiate heat around the home efficiently. A Wood Stove can be made from several materials, it really depends upon your choice whether you like the look of modern ceramic or old styled cast iron.

Why choose a wood stove? Well, they are safer than other heat options. A wood stove does not use gas so there is no chance of an unexpected gas leak. So a wood stove cuts out the danger of inhaling fumes and the chance of unexpected gas explosion, two of the real fears with a gas fire.

A wood stove is a decorative piece within the heart of a house, they draw everyone's eyes. There are many styles to choose from, but your stereotypical wood stove is free standing on four small legs. These legs provide foundations for intricate bodies of many designs. Following on from here is the pipe which diverts all the smoke created out of harms way.

A wood stove is an effective and attractive way to heat your home. Placing the wood stove on the ground floor in the main room is the most efficient way to take advantage of the heat provided.

The price of a wood stove ranges but when you compare the price of a wood stove to other sources of heat what you get with a wood stove far out weighs the others, not only do you get a heat source with a wood stove but a decorative item as well.

Lastly, the environment is very important these days and with the use of inexpensive and plentiful wood the wood stove will contribute to a green world. Wood is renewable source and is the perfect fuel for a wood burner.

A wood stove is a real option to take when deciding on a heat source, they are contemporary, efficient, safe, well priced and do there part for the environment.

www.woodstovesite.info has been created to give a collection of facts, instructions, advice and general information all based around a wood stove.

Saturday 10 January 2009

Customize Your Pellet Stove With Pellet Stove Accessories

You have made the decision to purchase and install a pellet stove in your home. Once you get your stove home, you find that maybe you need to make a few upgrades to the appearance of your new stove. The good thing is that most retailers of these units have pellet stove accessories that will enable you to customize your unit and make it your own.

The possibilities are endless, it should be noted that when purchasing your pellet stove is the best time to add upgrades to your unit. The finishes of the handles and legs can be changed up to add character to you stove. By changing the leg shape to a Queen Anne design, you instantly add formality to your stove. Go even further by changing the finish to polished brass or nickel and the look is even more brilliant. Pellet stove accessories are not only the usual fireplace side tool kits, these accessories can truly make your stove as individual as you are.

Pellet stove accessories also include cleaning products to clean the glass and finishes on your stove. There are many different brands and it is best to ask your retailer what they would recommend. You can also purchase products that assist with the maintenance of the pellet stove, high heat silicone, high temperature paint and cleaning rods. A smart and attractive way to store your pellets would be a coal hod. A coal hod is a container that holds your pellets and has a spout to help pour the pellets into the hopper of the stove. They come in different finishes and add an interesting visual impact to your stove area.

Another tool that is used to clean your stove is a special ash vacuum. It is specifically designed to suck up the ashes in your stove. Double flame retardant filters suck up the hot ash and keep the fine particles from dispersing in your home. A word of caution, use only approved vacuums that are specially made for this use. Never use your household vacuum. As you can see pellet stove accessories range from embellishments to the actual stove to the maintenance and repair of the stove. Your local dealer will be able to assist you in what is recommended for the particular model you have purchased.

The decision to buy and use a pellet stove is not only a wise and energy efficient decision, it is the beginning of placing a new heat source in your home. Using pellet stove accessories will enhance your stove and make sure it is not only looking good but also working efficiently.

Monday 5 January 2009

Wood Stove Accessories

Wood stoves are specially designed stoves that use wood as the source of fuel for combustion and heating. Many varieties of wood stoves are available in the market, which differ in their mode of operation, type of fuel used, brand, the heating capacity, and the type of materials used in their manufacture.

A standard wood stove can have a lot of accessories that can be purchased separately and are normally not supplied by the manufacturer with the product. The most common accessory available is the kettle, which is used for making tea and coffee or heating water on the wood stove. These kettles are available in many different types and materials. The next type of accessory is the stove door that can be fitted as per the need and preference of the user. Generally, glass panels are used for front doors.

The freestanding wood stoves can be fitted with legs of different shapes, sizes and material. This adds a personal touch to the customers' wood stove as they can use the leg piece of their choice. Another important accessory of a wood stove is the ash drawer, which collects the ash produced by the burning wood. It is advisable to select an ash drawer that is sufficiently large so that it does not need frequent cleaning.

Other important accessory used with wood stoves is the soapstone steamer. This is a high-density soapstone that limits the transfer of heat from the stove. It is kept on top of the stove and humidifies the place where the stove is operating because stoves have a tendency to absorb all the moisture in the room. Some customers use a self-powered stove fan, especially in winter, to evenly distribute warm air in the house. Customers can also use their wood stove as a heating device for the entire house with the help of this stove fan.

These wood stove accessories beautifully compliment any kind of wood stove. They are available in local hardware stores or on online shopping sites.

Wood Stoves provides detailed information on Wood Stoves, Wood Pellet Stoves, Outdoor Wood Stoves, Antique Wood Stoves and more. Wood Stoves is affiliated with Kitchen Pot Racks.

How to Install a Wood Stove

"There are a number of factors that must be taken into account when installing a wood stove. It is important to make sure that the stove is set on a proper type of flooring. Wood stoves must have a stovepipe or chimney that channels smoke or exhaust outside. Finally, wood stoves must be a safe distance from all walls made of combustible material. Wood stove installation is a complicated process. It is usually a good idea to hire a professional for wood stove installation.

The first step of wood stove installation is to find a proper place for the stove. It is vital that the stove is not placed on flammable or combustible material like carpet or hardwood. Materials like ceramic tile and concrete are much better options since they do not catch fire easily. The law states that the stove must be placed in an area with at least 12 inches of acceptable material surrounding all sides of the stove except for the side used to load the wood, which must extend for 18 inches. This insures that it will not be possible for any sparks to land on wood or carpet and start a fire.

Not only should the wood stove be placed on appropriate flooring, it should not be closer than twelve inches from any combustible wall. The stove can be placed closer, if the wall is covered with a flame-resistant shield.

The stovepipe is one of the most important parts of a wood stove. The stovepipe should be made of double wall steel. This means that there is a larger stovepipe at least two inches larger around the pipe carrying the smoke. The stovepipe should not be closer than nine inches to an unprotected wall, and it should not pass through any combustible materials through the roof.

Wood stove installation is a complicated, time-consuming process. There are a number of trained installation experts who can save stove owners the trouble of installing it themselves."

Saturday 3 January 2009

Countertop Stove

One of the tings to decide when building or remodeling a kitchen is the type of stove that will be fit in. The countertop stove is a popular choice to give the kitchen an integrated look. Depending on which type of countertop stove you choose, there are different considerations that you need to consider for your kitchen countertop.

Let us start with the countertop gas stove. Being a gas fed stove, you will need to have a connection to you gas line leading all the way up to the countertop. An electrical connection is also needed if your gas countertop uses electrical features such as automatic igniting sparks and digital timers. Be sure that the gas countertop stove has removable tops to make it easier to clean. A lot of heat is generated sideways from the source of the flame while cooking so it is worthwhile to keep this in mind when deciding on the placement of the gas countertop stove. Adequate insulation is advisable to avoid damaging your kitchen countertop.

Next up is the electrical countertop stove. This countertop stove type generates heat by feeding electricity into heating elements. The only thing to get used to with electric stoves is that it takes a while for the heat level to reach the desired level due to the heating up or cooling down of the elements. On the plus side, the electric countertop stove does not lose a lot of heat sideways compared to the gas countertop stove. Installation is straightforward in which you will need to pick a spot on your kitchen countertop and ensure that there is an electrical power source coming through.

Then there is the induction type countertop stove. This countertop stove uses magnetic induction to heat up you pan directly. There is no heating of any elements on the stove itself. Instead, heat for cooking is generated on the surface of the pot or pan. However, the pot or pan used with an induction type countertop stove must be made of metal that sticks to a magnet. If you a magnet sticks to your pan, then it will work with the induction type countertop stove. You will need to get used to the stove a bit as it is very efficient in generating heat since there is in heat loss to the environment. Water boils very quickly and you can burn your steak quite easily if you think that it fries like a gas or electric stove. Installing the induction type countertop stove is similar to installing the electric countertop stove.

Want to learn more about Counter Tops?, feel free to visit us at: http://www.aboutcountertops.net

Choosing a Backpacking Stove

A stove can be a useful item to have on your backpacking trip, but many people simply can not figure out what type of stove to choose. You want to choose a stove that meets your needs. You also need a stove that is easy to use. The bottom line is you want a stove that is easy and safe to use.

The following list explains the different things you should consider and should help you to figure out what stove you should choose for your next backpacking trip.

- You don't want too big of a stove or too small of a stove.

- It needs to be sturdy. A sturdy stove is a safe stove. You may not always have a flat smooth area to set your stove so you also need to make sure it has strong legs and will be stable enough to stir a post without the pot or stove tipping over.

- It should be easy to fold up and set up.

- It should be easy to hook up the fuel and unhook the fuel.

- Adjusting the heat should be simple.

- It should fold up to be very compact so it does not take up too much space in your backpack.

- Look for a built in wind screen. This helps in windy conditions to keep the stove lit and allow you to continue to cook.

The whole idea of a stove is to help save time when cooking. If the stove is difficult to operate, cumbersome or simply just doesn't meet your needs, then it is not the right stove for you. What is good for you may not necessarily be what is good for someone else. So, you can listen to recommendations, but you also have to focus on what you need. Look at a variety of stoves and choose the one that will work for you.