While heating homes with a pellet stove may seem pretty behind the times, it is actually a more eco-friendly and more efficient way of heating since it uses highly combustible and recyclable materials.
Just to give you an idea, a pellet stove is like a traditional wood burning stove except that it uses small wood pellets instead of the usual big pieces of wood. These kinds of stoves are very useful and extremely compact.
If you want to find the best pellet stove for your home, check out our list and buying guide.
7 Best Pellet Stoves that You Should Definitely Check Out!
Contents
When purchasing for the benefit of comfort and long-term use, you probably want the best pellet stove to buy. If you are looking for a new heat provider for your home surely you will want an efficient and safe heater for your family. This article is a guide of a put-together useful list of best-rated pellet stoves to help you with your purchase.
1. CASTLE 12327 Pellet Stove with 40 lb. Hopper & Auto Ignition Review
The Castle 1,500 sq. ft. Serenity Pellet Stove is a testament to the best pellet stoves available on the market today, offering style, practicality, and efficiency. Featuring a new smart controller and 24-hour programmable thermostat, this stove ensures you heat your home exactly when needed. The aesthetic design makes it a great addition to any room, while the 40 lbs. hopper capacity ensures extended heating time. Despite its sleek design, this stove doesn’t skimp on performance, with a 32,000 BTU and 1,500 sq. ft. heating capacity. Its easy-to-clean design adds to its charm, making it a user-friendly, efficient home heating solution.
Pros:
- Features a 24-hour programmable controller and smart thermostat for efficient heating.
- Easy to clean design with no tubes, corrugations, or hidden chambers.
- 40 lbs. hopper capacity for prolonged heating.
- High-temperature paint over temp-protected for increased durability.
- EPA certified and mobile home approved for versatile use.
Cons:
- Some customers reported issues with component reliability after the warranty period.
- Accessing and replacing parts for repair can be challenging, as noted by a few customers.
Weight and Dimensions
- Product Weight: 186 lbs.
- Assembled Depth: 23.75 in.
- Assembled Height: 34 in.
- Assembled Width: 18.25 in.
Customer Reviews
- “After our first winter, some components had to be replaced more frequently than expected. While customer service was polite, the stove has become an expensive plant table with two holes in our wall,” a review by Poorerandwiser.
- Eric commented, “The stove has worked flawlessly in our greenhouse for three years, with only a minor sawdust jam in the auger to report.”
- “This neat, stylish stove warms our entire basement effectively. We had a minor issue, but the company’s swift response helped us resolve it quickly,” says Cj mara.
- Christopher praises the stove’s heat efficiency, but points out that one limit went bad within the first year of use. However, a spare part was included.
- A customer named Dave described his experience as “pleasantly happy” after using the stove for four months, appreciating its performance in heating his 1365 square feet home.
- “The Castle serenity stove is challenging to repair, especially when trying to replace the igniter. It also lacks a thermostat for automatic off and on switching, which would have been a nice feature,” says Nothappy1234.
- “The stove maintains the set temperature all night, and adding pellets as needed is easy without needing to turn it off. We are using it for a 1200 sq feet area and are satisfied,” Storage says.
Read more: Castle Pellet Stove – We Review The Best Pellet Stove That Everyone Is Talking About!
2. ComfortBilt HP50-Grey Pellet Stove 2,200 sq. ft. EPA Certified Review
The ComfortBilt HP50-Grey Pellet Stove emerges as a top choice for those seeking the best pellet stoves at a reasonable price. A compact and stylish model designed with European elegance, this stove comfortably fits in smaller spaces while still possessing the strength to heat large areas, even in harsh climates. High-quality engineering and materials ensure consistent performance throughout its lifespan. The HP50 is equipped with a heat exchange blower and a potent exhaust fan, making it one of the most efficient and cleanest-burning pellet stoves available in the market today.
Pros:
- Compact and visually appealing design that fits well in any room.
- Powerful enough to heat an area of 2,200 sq. ft or more, making it perfect for large spaces.
- A top-mounted 47 lb. hopper can keep the stove burning continuously for up to 22 hours.
- Boasts an EPA-certified 80.4% burn efficiency due to its superior firebox design and heat exchanger.
- Comes with an easy to use thermostat which can preset room temperatures from 61° to 82° F, and a 1-touch ignition feature for added convenience.
- Equipped with an air wash system that cleans the large ceramic glass window automatically.
Cons:
- The small opening on the pellet hopper can make it difficult to load pellets.
- Some customers have mentioned that a larger hopper would be an added advantage.
Weight and Dimensions
- Assembled Depth: 27 in
- Assembled Height: 38 in
- Assembled Width: 20.25 in
- Firebox Depth: 8 in
- Firebox Height: 20 in
- Firebox Width: 12 in
- Product Weight: 237 lb
Customer Reviews
- “This is one of the best pellet stoves I’ve installed. I’m in awe of its heat output and safety features, especially when compared to traditional wood stoves.” – Selfer
- “After a disappointing winter with my oil company, I switched to this ComfortBilt pellet stove. Its size, appearance, and BTU output impressed me. It evenly distributes heat throughout my two-story house.” – RyanVT
- “Set up was easy, and cleaning is straightforward. I’m looking forward to seeing how it performs on really cold days.” – Tully
- “This stove is fantastic. Since we started using it, we haven’t had to use our furnace. It efficiently heats our home.” – HomeDepotCustomer
- “I had a hard time filling the pellet hopper due to its small opening. But other than that, it works great. The heat is consistent, and starting it is as simple as pushing a button.” – LM
3. ComfortBilt HP21 Pellet Stove 2,400 sq. ft. EPA Certified with Auto Ignition Review
The ComfortBilt HP21 Pellet Stove is a top contender for the best pellet stove on the market. It not only combines high performance with a pleasing design, but also showcases remarkable quality engineering and construction. With features such as a quiet heat exchange blower, a 40lb top-mounted hopper, and a preset thermostat, this pellet stove stands out as a quiet, efficient, and clean-burning unit. The attractive bay view window adds charm while providing radiant heat, and its EPA certification assures users of its safety and compliance with emissions standards.
Pros:
- Exceptionally quiet, efficient, and clean-burning, making it a comfortable and environmentally friendly choice.
- Its large heating capacity can comfortably warm up to 2,400 sq. ft.
- Comes with a top-mounted 40lb hopper for an extended burning time of up to 16 hours.
- Thermostat enables preset room temperatures ranging from 61 to 82 degrees F.
- An attractive bay view window provides additional radiant heat to complement the forced air heating.
Cons:
- Some users reported a problem with paint peeling off after a short period of use.
- The design of the hopper can sometimes result in pellet binding.
Weight and Dimensions
- Assembled Depth: 27 inches
- Assembled Height: 36 inches
- Assembled Width: 24 inches
- Firebox Depth: 6 inches
- Firebox Height: 17 inches
- Firebox Width: 17 inches
- Product Weight: 242 lbs
Customer Reviews
- “ComfortBilt is rated the best pellet stove. I love the programmable features. It keeps a steady temperature and manages itself efficiently.” – Kaci
- “Despite experiencing issues with the paint peeling off, I am generally satisfied with its performance and would recommend it.” – Michael
- “It’s a fantastic purchase! Easy to install and operate. The stove lights quickly and puts out a lot of heat.” – ChefMarc
- “The ComfortBilt is digital and took us some time to figure out the adjustments, but overall we are happy with it.” – SAD
- “A great investment. It heats my house sufficiently, and it’s easy to clean.” – Rock
4. ComfortBilt HP22 Pellet Stove 2800 sq ft EPA Certified Review
The ComfortBilt HP22 Pellet Stove is one of the best pellet stoves on the market today. It stands out for its robust heating capability and efficient operation. With five heat levels adjustable manually or via a programmable thermostat, this stove can keep a space up to 2800 sq ft warm and cozy. The stove features a modern bay view window, and with its high heating efficiency, is a testament to the quality of its engineering and construction.
Pros:
- Highly efficient: It has a certified efficiency of 80.5%, which means more heating from each bag of pellets.
- Impressive heating capacity: It can heat up to 2800 sq ft and produce up to 41,000 BTUs per hour.
- Long-lasting: The 55 lbs top-mounted hopper can keep the stove burning for up to 24 hours continuously.
- User-friendly: The stove comes with features like a programmable thermostat, 1-touch ignition, an air wash system, and a powerful room blower.
- Quality Assurance: Comes with a limited 1-year warranty on all parts.
Cons:
- The ash drawer may not collect all the ash efficiently, leading to a pile-up behind it.
- The hopper design could be improved as some users report that a fraction of pellets may get stuck.
Weight and Dimensions
- Product Weight: 273 lb
- Assembled Dimensions: 35 in (height) x 24 in (width) x 25 in (depth)
Customer Reviews
- “I’ve had this stove for over two years now and it’s everything we hoped for. Despite minor initial hiccups, the company was quick to send replacement parts and it has been running like a champ since then. It’s actually hard to keep the house under 75 degrees when it’s around 50 outside.” – Ron
- “This stove has been a game-changer. It pumps out some serious heat and creates very little ash. Simple to install and operate, this is the best pellet stove I’ve ever owned!” – Kowlbeanz1021
- “The stove looks good and works much better than our previous pellet stove. Though controls took some time to figure out, it has been an excellent investment for our home heating.” – Suprstreet
- “We’ve had some issues with the stove in the first two years. The ash drawer doesn’t collect all the ash, and the burning pot developed a crack. It heats our 600 sq ft shop effectively, but these issues make me wonder what we’re going to face in the coming years.” – Dave
- “This stove is sturdy, well built, and puts out a lot of heat. However, it had some installation issues due to misaligned holes for the control unit and exhaust vent pipe.” – Anonymous User
5. ComfortBilt HP61 Pellet Stove 3,000 sq. ft. EPA Certified with Programmable Thermostat Review
The ComfortBilt HP61 Pellet Stove is a high-performing heating solution ideal for homeowners seeking a traditional log-burning stove aesthetic. Its key features include a robust 80.1% EPA Certified efficiency, a programmable thermostat, and a high CFM convection blower. This well-engineered pellet stove not only delivers maximum heat from each pellet fuel but also helps reduce particle emissions, contributing to cleaner air. A powerful exhaust fan and ultra-quiet convection blower ensure complete burning of pellets and efficient heat transfer to your living space, respectively.
Pros:
- Powerful heating capability, effectively warming up to 3,000 sq. ft. of space, making it ideal for larger homes.
- Engineered for optimum efficiency with an 80.1% EPA certified burn efficiency, providing great heat output while conserving fuel.
- Comes with a programmable thermostat allowing for preset room temperatures ranging from 61 to 82F, ensuring personalized comfort.
- Large front window provides radiant heat, adding to forced air heating, and features an air wash system for automated cleaning.
- The 51 lb. hopper offers a burn time of up to 24 hours, reducing the frequency of refueling.
Cons:
- Size of the pellet hopper could be larger; some users find refilling it every 24 hours inconvenient.
- The feeding of pellets can’t be easily adjusted, leading to faster consumption of pellets in some instances.
- Some users noted that the design doesn’t allow the full utilization of the hopper capacity, with a small amount of pellets left unburnt at the bottom.
Weight and Dimensions
- Product Weight: 242 lb.
- Product Dimensions: H 35.5 in, W 23.5 in, D 30 in
- Firebox Dimensions: D 8 in, H 15 in, W 18 in
Customer Reviews
- “The ComfortBilt HP61 is more than I expected, heating my 2500 sq ft two-story home with no issues. Even in single-digit outside temperatures, it operates efficiently on level 2. I consume an average of one 40lb bag per day.” – Jim B
- “This stove is an excellent heat source for winter use and significantly reduces cost when compared to a heat pump. However, it would be ideal if the hopper could hold 60-80 lbs of pellets instead of 50 lbs.” – HomeDepotCustomer
- “While I’m pleased with the heat output of this stove, I wish there was a way to reduce the feeding of pellets. It consumes a 40lb bag of pellets in 12 hours on the lowest setting.” – Bigolan
- “The heat output is impressive as promised. However, the cleaning process has to be done once a week, not every two weeks as mentioned. Also, a small amount of pellets remains unburnt at the bottom of the hopper.” – David
- “The HP61 pellet stove is very quiet and significantly easier to maintain and clean compared to my old stove. The ash drawer is a great feature!” – Pennsylvania
Read more: The Best ComfortBilt Pellet Stove Reviews You’ll Want
6. United States Stove Company 2000 Square Feet Natural Vent Freestanding Wood Pellets Stove Review
The United States Stove Company’s Natural Vent Freestanding Wood Pellets Stove is an innovative and patented product designed to heat areas up to 2000 square feet. As an EPA-certified and UL listed product, it prides itself on being the only non-electric pellet stove available in the market. With a natural gravity feed system, this stove simplifies usage and reduces the need for mechanical parts, consequently minimizing maintenance and breakdowns. Perfect for areas prone to blackouts or off-grid installations, this stove radiates heat off the steel baffles without requiring any electricity.
Pros:
- The stove does not require electricity, making it ideal for off-grid use and blackout-prone regions.
- It uses a natural gravity feed system, which means there are no mechanical parts, leading to less maintenance and fewer breakdowns.
- With the heat radiated off the steel baffles, the stove provides efficient heating.
- The stove has a silent operation as there are no moving parts.
- The simple and easy damper adjustments provide user convenience.
Cons:
- The stove lacks an auto-light feature, which may not be as convenient as other models with this feature.
- There is a safety concern as one customer reported a malfunction that nearly caused a fire.
Weight and Dimensions
- The overall dimensions of the stove are 52” H x 54” W x 15” D.
- The stove weighs 131 lbs.
- The diameter of the flue is 3”.
Customer Reviews
- “Incredible pellet stove. Functions exactly as advertised. Lighting it is simple and it burns efficiently. I am even considering buying another.” – Paraphrased from a review by Albert
- “The product arrived three weeks earlier than anticipated. The delivery was perfect, and the delivery personnel were very polite. The overall experience was flawless.” – Paraphrased from a review by Chris
- “The stove looks good. However, unlike other pellet stoves, this unit requires manual lighting, which is a bit of a drawback.” – Paraphrased from a review by Denise
- “Please reconsider before purchasing this pellet stove. It malfunctioned and nearly resulted in a house fire. The house filled up with smoke, which was extremely scary. We live off-grid, so we thought this stove would be a perfect fit until it almost resulted in disaster.” – Paraphrased from a review by Margaret
Read more: Wiseway 2,000 sq. ft. 40,000 BTU Non Electric Gravity Fed Pellet Stove Review
7. Vogelzang 2200 Square Feet Freestanding Wood Pellets Stove with Blower Review
The Vogelzang 2200 Square Feet Freestanding Wood Pellets Stove with Blower is a state-of-the-art, fully automated pellet stove that offers user-friendly operation with automatic ignition and easy-to-reach top-mounted controls. The 60 lb. hopper contributes to extended burn times and reduces refueling intervals. The product comes with a user-friendly remote control and is set for connection to a wall-mounted thermostat. Designed with a digital control panel, it boasts an easy-to-read digital temperature display and soft-touch buttons. The stove comes with a blower to distribute warm air throughout the home for efficient heating.
Pros:
- Fully automated operation with automatic ignition and top-mounted controls for easy operation.
- A large 60 lb. hopper capacity extends burn times and reduces the frequency of refueling.
- Comes with a digital control panel and a wireless remote for convenient temperature adjustments.
- An included blower ensures efficient heat distribution across the room.
- Its slim design fits well in smaller rooms or tight spaces.
Cons:
- Does not support gas conversion.
- Lacks storage space for keeping additional pellets.
Weight and Dimensions
- The stove’s overall dimensions are 39.75” H X 24” W X 20” D.
- The product weighs 245 lbs.
Customer Reviews
- “The stove has a beautiful design, I am eagerly waiting for the cold weather to use it.” – Inspired by Malachi’s review
- “I’m really happy with the stove, it’s an excellent addition to my home.” – Inspired by Theresa’s review
- “This is a wonderful product. I simply love it!” – Inspired by Kathy’s review
Buyer’s Guide for the Best Pellet Stove
In our list, we have about 7 choices for the best pellet stove from our pellet stove reviews that you can take a look at.
However, it may be a bit hard to choose the most suitable for your home if you don’t know a thing or two about pellet stoves.
For that purpose, we came up with a short buying guide to help you out. In order to choose the best pellet stove, you may take these factors into consideration:
Pellet Stove Hopper Size
The first thing that you have to consider is the physical size. The size refers to the hopper of the stove or the amount of wood pellets that it can burn.
If the hopper is small, then the heat may not last too long since it can only carry a small number of pellets. However, bigger hoppers will allow the stove to heat up your room longer.
We also recommend that you get a stove with bigger hoppers if you’re going to use the stove for a long period of time.
For instance, you’ll find that stoves with bigger hoppers are ideal for long winter nights. They can go on for many hours without stopping since the big hoppers can hold a huge number of pellets.
Heat Produced
Another thing that you need to take into consideration is the amount of heat it can produce.
In a general sense, the bigger-sized pellet stoves can produce more heat but that isn’t always the case. The more accurate way to measure the amount of heat your stove can produce would be in BTU or British Thermal Unit.
Obviously, the higher the BTU, the more heat you can produce. So, the bigger the room you want to heat, the higher the BTU of your stove should be.
Most quality pellet stoves have an average BTU of 30,000 or even higher depending on the brand. You may use this figure to determine the overall quality of a pellet stove’s heat output.
Efficiency Rate
Another thing that you can take into consideration when buying your stove is the efficiency rating. You can inquire about the overall efficiency rating of the stove you’re looking at to have an informed decision.
The efficiency rating indicates how well the stove can give off heat. Obviously, the higher the efficiency rating, the better.
Average efficiency ratings would be around 70%. If you can find one that’s around 80 to 90%, that’s even better.
Stove Type
Generally, there are two types of pellet stoves that you can choose from. These are the wood stoves and the electric stoves.
The wood stoves are the traditional types of pellet stoves that can handle the usual wood pellets.
The second type is the electric stove which works quite like the wood stove but has added assistance from electricity. The extra energy allows your stove to heat up faster and stronger, which is useful for people during winter.
Placement of the Pellet Stove
Lastly, you have to consider your surroundings to know which pellet stove you should buy. Homeowners would usually consider insulation, number of windows, and ceiling height.
If your home already has a strong insulation, then you don’t need to buy a very strong pellet stove as you might receive too much heat.
Next, you need to consider how many windows you have in the house and what kind. If you have a lot of windows that are not in very good shape, you may need to buy a stronger pellet stove in the event that drafts can enter the house.
Lastly, you need to consider the ceiling height. If your ceiling is on the high side, you may need to buy a stronger pellet stove so that the heat can fill up even the lower portion of your house faster since heat usually rises upward.
How Does Pellet Stove Work?
Now that you’ve read our short but comprehensive buying guide, you’re now ready to choose your pellet stove. Before that though, we’d like to add a little more information for your benefit so that you can really get to know and be familiar with the pellet stove system.
With that, we’ll be explaining how pellet stoves work, and we’ll also be sharing a few pellet stove safety tips to avoid accidents.
Let’s start with how pellet stoves work.
Before knowing how pellet stoves work, you must know the important parts. The crucial components of a pellet stove include the storage hopper, the electric auger, the burn chamber, the blower, and air vent.
- When you heat your pellet stove, you’ll first pour pellets into the storage hopper.
- Once you put your pellets in, a sensor will prompt the electric auger to start carrying the pellets to the burn chamber one handful at a time.
- After the pellets reach the burn chamber, a combustion blower sucks the fresh air from outside through the air vent then exhumes the smoky air through another vent. This is how heat is produced.
- Now, you can control the temperature of heat by using the thermostat. The thermostat will tell the stove how strong it must deliver heat.
The great thing about pellet stoves is that they burn pellets at extremely high temperatures that there is almost no ash left after use. That way, there’s not much you need to throw after you’re done.
Pellet Stove Safety Tips
Pellet stoves make use of extremely high temperatures, so you have to be extremely careful with them. If you don’t follow safety measures, you may actually get hurt.
Here are a few safety tips that you need to take note of:
Keep Away from Combustible Items
This is a given but still, a safety measure that many take for granted. When you install your pellet stove, you need to keep it away from items like gas tanks, aerosol, paint thinners, varnish, or other things that have a “highly combustible” warning label.
Other than that, we recommend that you keep it away from further like sofas and chairs. This is especially true for wooden furniture since wood burns pretty easily.
Install Carbon Monoxide Sensors
A lot of homeowners buy carbon monoxide sensors along with their pellet stoves in order to prevent fumes from getting into the house.
Since pellet stoves make use of biomass components for heating, there would usually be some traces of carbon monoxide around the house. If the stove malfunctions, then a huge amount of carbon monoxide might get loose. The worst part is that you may not see the gas or even smell it until it totally fills up the house.
Therefore, to prevent inhaling too much poisonous gas, install a carbon monoxide sensor so that you can tell if there are traces of carbon monoxide right away.
Buy Pellets That Are Suited for Your Model
Not all pellets are suited for all models. There are some pellets that have different specifications and are more suited for this or that type of model.
If you use the pellet type that’s not suited for your model, your stove may not burn optimally or might burn too much to the point that it lets out a lot of harmful smoke and fumes.
The tip here is to see the organic ash percentage to know. Standard wood pellets have organic ash rates of around 0.5% or higher while premium ones have rates of less than 0.5%. Choose the pellet type that’s designed for your stove.
Read the Manual
This may be common sense, but a lot of people skip reading the manual before they use the stove. For most appliances, this won’t be much of a problem.
For pellet stoves though, you need to read the manual to the dot in order to know the specific safety measures for your model. Do not try to experiment with the pellet stove without fully reading and understanding the contents of your product’s manual first.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pellet Stove
Now that we’ve discussed some of the things to consider when buying a pellet stove and the list of the best pellet stoves to buy, you may still have some questions boggling your mind right now and still remain unanswered.
Here are a few FAQs that we find useful when getting to know the product:
Can I install a pellet stove myself?
Yes, you can install a pellet stove by yourself if you are installing a freestanding pellet stove. For pellet stove inserts though, we recommend that you get a professional to do it since that job is a little more difficult.
You would usually install a pellet stove an inch away from the rear wall and connected to the event. Buy a hearth pad and let the stove rest on the hearth pad. Then use a jab saw to cut a hole on the inside of the wall first, so you can install the vent thimble that will hold the vent pipe inside of it.
After that, connect the vent pipe that is already connected to wall to the stove. Make sure everything is installed tightly, and you can start using the stove.
Do I need a permit to install a pellet stove?
Yes.You will need a building permit to install a pellet stove. Before you even install the pellet stove, you’ll need to get the area inspected for hazards.
Of course, the specific rules and policies to getting the permit will depend on which state you live in. Some states have stricter rules while others are more lenient.
Does a pellet stove need a chimney?
Not necessarily. What a pellet stove needs are an exhaust pipe that would blow all the unwanted toxic fumes and gases that come from the stove out of the house.
If you would want to install a chimney to your pellet stove, you may do so for aesthetic purposes.
However, the least that you’ll need is just an exhaust pipe.
Is a wood stove better than a pellet stove?
While this generally depends on your needs, our experience would tell us that wood stoves are not at all better than pellet stoves. We would prefer pellet stoves for these several reasons:
- You don’t need to store big chunks of wood since pellet stoves only require small wood pellets.
- A traditional chimney doesn’t need to be built with a pellet stove.
- There are fewer carbon emissions as compared to wood stoves, making this a more eco-friendly option.
- Pellet stoves don’t use up as much energy like wood stoves do, saving you a bundle on your heating bill.
Conclusion
After extensive research and comparison, the clear winner among the best pellet stoves for your home needs is the Castle 1,500 sq. ft. Serenity Pellet Stove Heating Capability. This innovative product from Castle stands out for its advanced features and exceptional performance.
The Serenity wood pellet stove comes with a new smart controller, allowing you to effortlessly program it for each day of the week. You can adjust the heating schedule based on your preferences, ensuring optimal comfort and energy efficiency. The 40 lbs. hopper capacity provides extended burn times, reducing the need for frequent refueling.
Moreover, Castle’s attention to safety features like the hopper safety switch and vacuum safety switch ensures worry-free operation. The stove’s high-temperature paint and EPA certification make it an eco-friendly and reliable choice.
With its space-saving design and attractive appearance, the Castle Serenity pellet stove is a perfect addition to any room, combining affordability, style, and practicality. Experience the convenience and warmth of this exceptional pellet stove and enjoy heating your home efficiently on your terms.
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