Pellet Burners V Wood Burners

[sizzlingbadger]

We're looking at changing our woodburner to a pellet burner. Just wondering if anyone out there has a pellet fire and what there experiences of them are. How much heat do they kick out, is it cleaner, easier to use than a good old woodburner, how much are the pellets and how often do have to fill the hopper etc, etc ? ?

We've got a sales rep coming to see us but I would like to hear real people's experiences of them. It's all very well asking a sales man but he's there to sell the product so he's only ever going to come out with positive answers

[veronica]

Havent got one but they are supposed to be much better for the environmnt that log burners, I suppose because they take away the temptation to burn all the rubbish and treated wood. Next door have had one installed but havent used it yet.

[sizzlingbadger]

Hi Veronica

Do you know what you're neighbours think of it ? We're finding it difficult to find people who have one installed and really would like an unbiased opinion before we go ahead. Don't want to get 6 months down the line wishing we had put a woodburner back in instead.

[Yogi]

Did you got for the pellet burner again?

I am curious how these work, how do the light for example an LPG cylinder?

Do you use itas just a fire or also to drive the heating and hot water?

I'd heard these were unknown in NZ.

Cheers,

Yogi.

[sizzlingbadger]

Yes, we've just had it put in this week.

They run from the power and are on battery back up. Very easy to light, press a switch and away it goes. We've found the fan quite noisy but you only need that when distributing heat. Can't quite beat the stoking of a fire but we've got an open fire in the lounge that we can light for effect rather than heat.

Very efficent and heats up the house in about 1/2 hour, will take a bit longer in the winter I think. Unfortunately haven't got the wetback option on it but that doesn't matter so much, just need the heat in winter and we only usually lit the woodburner during the evenings when we didn't need the extra hot water.

We went for it over a wood burner as it's our only source of heating in winter. Along with a couple of oil heaters for the kids rooms which are only on an hour a day. We thought that the pellet burner would be easier and so far it is. No standing over it wondering if it's going to light or not. Pellets are easy to order, phone the company and say how many bags.

We got it through Nature's Flame, a Christchurch company. The guy that put it in has apparently installed loads and think for heat they're a lot better than a wood burner.

[Yogi]

Hi,

So the pellets light right of the electric? That's cool.

Also, would it be rude to ask how running costs compare vs wood or oil heating?

Cheers,

Yogi.

[sizzlingbadger]

Not had it long enough to tell yet... but the brochures show it is 5% dearer than the average wood burner to run. This is a small price to pay for the convenience though. Press a button and 15 mins later you have loads of heat.

[Yogi]

Got a URL for the supplier of these in NZ?

Cheers,

Yogi.

[sizzlingbadger]

yep, www.naturesflame.co.nz are the biggest and main supplier. It gives you a fair bit of info apart from the cost of the burners and the pellets.

[katandbob]

yep, www.naturesflame.co.nz are the biggest and main supplier. It gives you a fair bit of info apart from the cost of the burners and the pellets.

Do they do more than one design? couldnt see a page with a selection, just the same design on all pictures?

But seems a good idea, using waste material, etc

Kat