Corn vs Wood Pellet vs Gel Stoves

[yooperdave]

I am looking into converting a conventional log fueled fireplace into a more efficient insert unit. The cottage is far away from civilization.

What are the pros and cons for wood pellet, corn, and gel fuels? Which are usually cheapest to operate?

I have a CO-OP nearby in the next town, and may be able to buy corn in 100# bags.

What is initially surprizing me is the $2,000 to $3,000 price tag for the basic uninstalled unit.

Any insights are greatly appreciated.

TIA

Yooper Dave

 

[mikefromnh]

I'd go with wood, I have heard of many corn/pellet stoves that break after a year or two.

Locally we are able to buy "hearth blocks" or "bio-bricks" that are made out of the same sawdust as pellets but are made into blocks. They burn very well in any woodstove or fireplace.

Home

There are others but I can't think of the names

 

[beenthere]

Are you expecting to heat the cottage with this unit, or use it as an occasional warm fireplace-type unit?

In the future, corn is prolly the most reliable, and maybe most cost-effective.

But I'd really rely most on solid wood as being available at a reasonable cost. Easy to go collect some solid firewood. The other products have to be manufactured which means you rely on someone else to make it. I'd let the tree do the production part.

 

[whistlepig]

I have no personal experience with burning corn but I have read it draws moisture. I know for sure it draws mousies.

 

[whistlepig]

I'd go with wood, I have heard of many corn/pellet stoves that break after a year or two.

Locally we are able to buy "hearth blocks" or "bio-bricks" that are made out of the same sawdust as pellets but are made into blocks. They burn very well in any woodstove or fireplace.

Home

There are others but I can't think of the names

Just checked out the "Bio-Brick" website. Pretty darn neat idea. I just wonder if anyone has tried these in their fireplace and how much they cost.

 

[soulasphil]

I have no experience with any of these forms of fuel, only burning logs so far, but I'm having a pellet boiler installed as soon as the paperwork is finished and I have the necessary permit. Here is a link to a study done for the Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources :
http://www.mass.gov/Eoeea/docs/doer/publications/doer_pellet_guidebook.pdf
The system I'm planning to install is about the same on a lower scale, meant for bulk delivery and automatic feed but with no outside silo.

 

[timswi]

For a cottage (not sure what size) a wood pellet stove would be a good option...i have a big Quadrafire...Works great and keeps a nice temperature in a fairly efficient manner...As others have said, you are stuck with potential supply issues.
Last year you couln't get pellets at any price. This year, they said that the logistics have been worked out. That appears to be true, so far. Bought a ton in Sept, and have been burning the stove every night and weekend and still have half a ton + left. I don't run it 24x7. It's definitly convenient.

The price sounds about right for a quality unit...Mine ran about $4,500...That hurt. You do get what you pay for. The guy i bought it off of charged $350 to install it. That was money well spent..That thing is HEAVY and he had to bore through the concrete for the direct vent chimney. I hate paying labor, but after watching them install it, the money was a bargin.

 

[whistlepig]

We have a pellet stove and are very happy with it. We are considering a pellet stove insert for our fireplace. Pellets are nice. Easy to handle. Clean to handle and clean to burn. Very little ash. No flue fires. No bugs. No bark on the carpet. It's far cleaner than wood and a whole lot less hassle. Can you beat the price of pellets? For sure if you have free firewood. For secondary heat, I.E. back up emergency heat (generator powered), and comfort heat on a cold night it would be hard to beat pellets. I wouldn't use a pellet stove as my primary heat source. But I wouldn't even think of having a house now with out a pellet stove in it also. No more than I would think of living in the country with out a generator.

 

[GE222]

I would avoid corn, mostly due to the varmint issue in the bulk storage. I was also told that the clean up of a corn stove was substantially more than a pellet stove. I don't know anyone who has one so I can't verify this claim.

I also had a demonstration of some really nice pellet stoves. I don't remember the brands, and the weren't cheap. The costs were on the $3000 range and up.

Fuel estimates were for an average 2200 ftｲ home in the mid state area of Wisconsin were in the neighborhood of $750, when used as a primary heating source. This was also over two years ago, and I am going from memory.

 

[20 20]

I have had 3 pellets stoves over the past 14 years 2 now and 1 that died after 10+yrs of service{it died because of misstreatment}. I have a pellet furnace and a very small pellet stove. I HIGHLY recommend, get one that burns dual fuel{corn/wood/coal/????} The cost might be a couple $'s more, mine didn't. They have a better auger plus your not stuck on buying just pellets. I burn a mix 60% wood pellet 40% corn it works very well. Just make sure if you do go with a corn mix, that the corn is DRY! I mention corn mix because I feel it is better then just corn. I have used only corn but the headaches of burning weren't worth it. The mix is easier to start and burns fairly well. I have also talked with some folks about a coal pellet mix, they say it will burn hotter, I've never tried coal so??????