Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

The Advantages of Pellet Stoves and Inserts

If you are looking for a heating system that is both energy-efficient and economical, consider purchasing a pellet stove or fireplace insert. John Gulland, a wood heat expert and contributing editor for the original guide to living wisely, Mother Earth News, claims, “For someone committed to using a renewable energy source and is away from home for many hours at a time, a pellet stove can be a good choice.” Knowing the advantages of this type of heating system will give you a better idea if a pellet stove or insert is your best option. At Clean Sweeps of Michigan, we sell Regency Greenfire pellet stoves and inserts, and we would like to tell you more about the benefits of heating your home with a pellet stove or insert.

Easy and Safe to Operate

To use your pellet stove or insert, all you have to do is pull out the hopper and load it with wood pellets. With one load of pellets, you will get heat for at least 16 hours before you need to reload with more pellets. Since a pellet stove does not give off external heat during its operation, you can place it as close as one inch from a wall and not worry about it becoming a fire hazard. This quality also makes pellet stoves a great choice if you have children or pets in your home.

Clean-Burning and Environmentally-Friendly

One of the main advantages of a pellet stove over a traditional wood-burning fireplace is there is no smoke produced from a pellet-burning fire. You will never have to worry about smoky rooms, dry air, or unpleasant odors when you heat your home with a pellet stove or insert. Cutting down on air pollution is another benefit of its smoke-free operation.

Inexpensive and Cost-Effective

The average price of a 40-pound bag of wood pellets is approximately three dollars, and this amount provides sufficient heat for two or more days. This means your total heating cost each month will be $50 or less, even during the cold winter months. A typical home heating bill for fuel-heated homes runs about $250 for the winter season, so you can save at least $100 on heating costs with a pellet stove or insert.

Renewable and Highly-Efficient Fuel

Another environmental advantage of pellet stoves and inserts is the fuel source itself. Wood pellets are made from recycled wood from sawmills. Sawdust and wood shavings are compacted into tightly condensed pellets, and burning these pellets is a low-moisture, highly-efficient process. Fewer harmful gases are released when burning wood pellets as compared to regular wood-burning fireplaces and stoves.

Convenient Fuel Storage
You do not need as much space for storing wood pellets since they are so condensed and compact. A ton of wood pellets produces the same amount of heat as a cord of firewood; however, you will need at least 128 cubic feet to store a cord of firewood logs but only 80 cubic feet of storage for a ton of wood pellets. Additionally, since wood pellets are already bagged when purchased, you can store them inside your home, which gives you easy access to your heating fuel.

Want to learn more about the benefits and advantages of pellet stoves and fireplace inserts? Contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan today to find out more information about these cost-efficient and environmentally-friendly heating systems.

Propane Shortage and Heating Alternatives

So the propane ran out.. not to worry, there are other ways to stay warm.

The recent explosion of propane gas prices can be directly linked to the low supply coupled with this winter’s brutally cold temperatures. Record low temperatures, heavy snowfall and poor driving conditions, combined with pipeline issues and other factors have all contributed to Michigan’s propane shortage. In spite of the skyrocketing prices, however, the demand for propane is still high. Propane is used to heat about 9-10% of Michigan homes, more people than any other state. Governor Snyder has instructed state agencies to reach out to consumers affected by the propane shortage to reassure them that the state is doing all it can to alleviate supply problems.

What Caused the Shortage?

The National Propane and Gas Association has attributed the national propane shortage to a combination of factors. First, a large, simultaneous grain harvest by several Midwestern states last October used a lot of propane to dry the product for storage. Then, the Chochin pipeline, which provided 40% of the propane used by Minnesota suppliers, shutdown for repair. There was also a huge increase in U.S. propane exports in 2013 of 20% compared to 5% in 2008. Lastly, a Midwest pipeline that used to carry propane is now used for ethanol.

Alternative Heating Options

In response to the supply problems, many homeowners are searching for alternative ways to heat their homes. People often turn to alternative heat sources to stay warm when the temperature plummets. Now is as good a time as any for homeowners to opt out of propane heat and instead install either a pellet stove or a wood-burning fireplace.

• Pellet Stoves

It is estimated that a customer can recoup the expense of installing a high tech pellet stove in about two and a half years, and a full system can be installed within three weeks. The wood used to make the pellets is literally wood waste coming from wood chips and sawdust that is then turned into fuel. As the popularity of pellet stoves has increased, pellet mills began popping up in places that might not have had them years ago.

• Wood-Burning Fireplaces

Generally speaking, burning in a wood-burning fireplace is an efficient way of heating your home. Wood burning fireplaces not only provide heat during the frigid winter months, but also create a comfortable aura in your home. Installing an energy-efficient unit can save fuel and money. The EPA is continually working with manufacturers to bring cleaner burning fireplaces to the market. Newer fireplace units can reduce smoke and dust, as well as cut heating expenses.

The propane companies are doing their best to make timely deliveries, while at the same time encouraging customers to preserve propane by turning down their thermostats 5-10 degrees, cut back on using hot water and the stove if either rely on propane, and avoid calling the propane supplier until the gauge shows below 25%. Some suppliers have even begun offering payment plans. However, if you want to be a bit more proactive, give the staff at Clean Sweeps a call to see how one of our alternative heating options can best meet your needs for the remainder of this heating season as well as for many more to come.