Thread: Any have a Pellet Fire?

What is a pellet fire????
Perhaps a link.
Cheers
Andrew

Never heard of a pellet fire before.

From Google:

So what is a Pellet Heater (Stove) ?

On the outside, a pellet heater looks just like any other combustion heater, it's what's inside that makes all the difference. Pellet stoves burn recycled material at a low combustion rate by reducing the fuel load whereas a wood heater controls combustion by reducing oxygen (air control). So in fact wood and pellet heaters actually work the opposite way to each other.
Rather than burning chunks of wood, a pellet stove creates warmth by burning small wood pellets, which burn efficiently because they are so dense. They are a recycled byproduct of sawmills, so they are certainly a sustainable alternative to cutting down trees. Pellet fuel is also know as bio-fuel or bio-energy. The source of sawdust (harvested trees) is renewable and because the sawdust is waste, pellet fuel used for heating is great for our environment and our economy.
Pellet stoves don't take up a lot of space, they are much more compact than their old-timely counterparts. A small flame is visible in the center of the unit, which provides a room with a warm and cozy glow. If you prefer a more traditional look, find a unit with a large viewing glass and add ceramic logs to emphasize the flames and make your stove look more like a traditional wood burning stove.
The auger motor, convection fan, exhaust fan and electronics of a pellet stove run on a small amount electricity (around 100 watts), so it should be located near a 240-volt outlet but can operative on battery backup units if required. Pellet stoves may be purchased as inserts that fit into an existing fireplace or a purpose built cabinet that resembles a fire place. Other freestanding versions convect hot air directly into the room by means of a fan and radiate some heat as well. Hydronic Pellet heaters (boilers) create hot water that can be distributed by plumbing around a home connecting radiator panels where needed or in a concrete slab floor.


The search results seem to indicate they're mainly used in Tasmania.

Haha here you go Pellet

Essentially they burn compressed sawdust pellets, the fire is controlled like a fuel fire, where a motor speed sets how much fuel goes in the fire to control heat. Very clean burning, nice heat. Not cheap, hence the shout out for opinions

No Andrew. You don't burn chook pellets in them ........... Or rabbit pellets.

We looked at a pellet fire as one option for the house in South Arm. Bloody expensive.

So far, have left the off-peak electrical heating in there. It does the job and is probably no more expensive to run than anything else. I'm going to have to think about something for the shed when we move down there though. The shed there is about the same size as the one here in Kalgoorlie, and if I spend anything like a similar amount of time out there tinkering around, am going to need some heating. I'm thinking a good "arken ****en".

Originally Posted by BigBlackDog

We are looking at getting a pellet fire for our place. Would like a wood fire but the house isn't really compatible. Don't like the heat from the heat pump and to get the whole house comfortably warm in winter costs a fortune. Went and had a look the other day at some, they seem to put out plenty of heat, clean, easy. It's about winter temps here at the moment so good time to look!
Wondering if anyone here has any experience living with them or know anyone that does? Just after advice before I break out e hard earned like to be over informed

Rod

Yes, "Heat Pump" is a clever bit of marketing for what the rest of the world knows as a reverse-cycle air-conditioner. It is a cooling device that can be used to heat in a less-efficient mode.
I think the Aurora power company is very pleased with the up-take of this technology. Money, money, money.

Regarding the pellet heater, I have no experience but I am a bit leery of using special fuel heaters- you never know what the fuel prices are going to do.
We have a wood heater and heat-distribution ducting- which works well.
My preferred heater would be something that you can burn nearly anything in- something like a pot-belly stove.

These grain fueled heaters are also an interesting concept if you have access to cheap feed grain. Similar concept to the pellet heater but grain may be easier to source than wood pellets.


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Regards,
Tote

Don't have a pellet fire, but I know someone who does, and they're pretty happy with it.
The pellets are imported from Canada I think, l but I know at least one timber miller here (Mount Gambier) is seriously thinking of installing a pellet press to manufacture locally.

He plans to export the majority of his pellets as there's a big market in Europe where they use them in bulk to feed boilers used in power generation. (They can be substituted for coal in fact as a more environmentally friendly alternative).

However this feller is also keen to sell pellets into the local market if there's enough demand.

One handy thing about pellet fires is that they can be computer controlled, so you can used home automation devices to switch them on and off remotely, or by using a timer.

Alan

Rurover that seems a bit odd to get them from Canada? Maybe there is simply not enough supply in Australia. I have a price list showing pellets from Geelong and NSW, and the local people have just recently started doing them in Tas through a local mill.
I suspect there will be increasing limitations on conventional burning wood in populated areas due to air quality concerns, these seem like a good alternative, very popular overseas, I don't see sawdust being in short supply any time soon.