If you’re interested in supplementing your home heating system, two of the most effective choices you may want to consider are pellet stoves and baseboard heating.
Now, you may want to know which one is the better choice for you. However, we will tell you that there is no objective best choice. The best choice will depend on your own needs and circumstances.
That said, we’ll present a list of advantages and disadvantages. This way, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of both options and you’ll be able to decide which of the two you need.
Let’s pit pellet stove vs. baseboard heating against each other.
Pellet Stove Vs. Baseboard Heating
When we compare the two, we usually have some criteria for comparison. We’ll use 5 criteria to differentiate the two:
Fuel Efficiency
With regard to fuel efficiency, we refer to how much fuel is used to power up the heater. For pellet stoves, combustible pellets are used as fuel. You put the pellets into the stove and burn them up to produce heat, much like how you’d heat up a fireplace with wood.
On the other hand, baseboards use electricity to heat up. Just plug it in and the heating element distributes heat to a fan. The fan will then further distribute heat around the room.
From that information, we can see that the baseboard wins this one. Since baseboard heating doesn’t need fuel, it’s technically more fuel efficient than the pellet stove.
Costing
Fuel efficiency is just one part of the equation. You must also consider overall cost incurred for when you install both. Generally, electric baseboards are cheaper costing up to a $100 or slightly more. Pellet stoves, on the other hand, cost thousands depending on brand.
For installation, both need the help of professionals. In the case of pellet stoves, you need a contractor to install the ventilation. As for electric heat, you need an electrician. In any case, it is cheaper on an overall level to buy electric heating systems.
Environmental Friendliness
Because pellet stoves produce a lot of smoke and gases, they aren’t the most environmentally friendly choice. In this situation, electrical heating systems produce cleaner heat. So, the more environmentally friendly pick is the baseboard heater.
Strength
If there’s one thing that pellet stoves trump baseboard heaters at, it’s strength. Pellet stoves have the capacity to produce up to 50,000 BTU of heat, which is definitely more than the average baseboard heater can produce. Therefore, if you live in a really cold region and it’s winter season, your electric heater may not cut it.
Coverage
Since pellet stoves are generally stronger than baseboard heaters, we can also say that pellet stoves can give more coverage. Coverage refers to how far the heat can reach. If you have a big house and would want your heater to cover the entire first floor, then you may want to get the pellet stove instead of electric heating.
Conclusion
As you can see, both the pellet stove and the baseboard heater have their own specific pros and cons. To break it down for you, pellet stoves trump baseboard heaters in power and coverage. However, baseboard heaters are more efficient and affordable.
So, your choice will really be which of the two suits your situation the best. By comparing the pellet stove vs. baseboard heating, you can at least get an idea of how they work. With that knowledge, you can apply their respective pros and cons to your own situation. From there, you’ll know which of the two suits your needs and wants the most.
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