Escape Next Season’s High Heating Bills Now

Pellet-burning appliances offer an attractive and cost effective way to help heat your home

Unwinding in front of a warm fire may be the last thing homeowners are thinking about thanks to the recent heat wave that’s gripping most of the nation. However, the hearth experts at Fireside Hearth & Home suggest that now is actually the best time to select and install an efficient hearth solution like a pellet stove to escape next season’s high heating bills.

“Waiting until the fall or winter to address high heating bills can be a costly mistake,” says Patty Geister, district retail manager, Fireside Hearth & Home. “Demand for hearth products skyrockets in cooler months often exceeding supply. If you were in the market for a hearth product last winter, you may have found yourself facing long delivery and installation delays—especially if you were seeking a pellet stove or insert.”

According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association demand for pellet-burning appliances grew more than any other hearth category last year. One look at pellet-burning technology and it’s easy to see why:

• Pellet-burning appliances can provide 24 hours of steady heat for as little as $3.00 per day. A furnace running for the same amount of time would cost approximately $8.00 per day1
• Pellet-burning appliances allow you to have heat only where you need it, providing comfort and savings
• Pellet-burning appliances provide greater flexibility by being able to operate on multiple renewable fuels such wood pellets and corn
• Pellet-burning appliances are easy to operate. Homeowners simply load the fuel into the hopper and start the unit. An automatic feed system delivers the pellets into the burn chamber. Some units can even automatically track and adjust heat output.
• Pellet-burning appliances burn cleaner than virtually any other hearth product, helping reduce air pollution. For example, the particulate emissions from a wood pellet stove are approximately 1.2 grams per hour compared to 7.5 grams per hour for a typical wood stove

“Pellet-burning appliances continue to gain favor among homeowners because they are the most convenient, highly-efficient and environmentally-friendly supplemental heat source available,” says Steve Tate, brand manager for Quadra-Fire, a leading pellet-burning appliance brand. “Homeowners waiting until cold weather sets in this year before finding a pellet-stove or insert could take a hit in the pocketbook all season long. That’s why right now is the best time to select and install an efficient alternative energy heating solution. In addition, pellet product manufacturers often offer off-season price discounts, providing an incentive to act now.”

Homeowners interested in burning pellet fuel can find quality pellet appliances between $1,800 - $3,400, depending on size, style and options. For those with an older, traditional wood-burning stove, pellet stoves exist that install easily using the same vent system to convert it into a highly- efficient heating system. For example, Quadra-Fire offers the Mt. Vernon Freestanding Stove, which generates up to 60,000 BTUs. It delivers the ultimate in convenience by operating on multiple fuels including pellets and corn, and has an aluminum tube heat exchanger for high efficiency and quick heat transfer. In addition, the unit automatically lights, heats your home and shuts down for unattended operation.

For more information on how to use efficient hearth products such as pellet-burning appliances to reduce heating bills, visit www.fireplaces.com.

Fireside Hearth & Home is the retail and distribution division of Hearth & Home Technologies, the world’s largest fireplace manufacturer. Fireside Hearth & Home offers more than 50 years of hearth experience, as well as the strongest brands in the industry with Heat & Glo™, Heatilator® and Quadra-Fire®. It is America’s #1 destination for fireplaces, stoves, fireplace inserts and hearth accessories. For more information on Fireside Hearth & Home and retail locations, visit www.fireside.com.

1. Calculated from average residential natural gas prices according to the Energy Information Administration /National Gas Monthly – June 2006