A pellet stove is a type of heating system that uses wood pellets as fuel to generate heat. Unlike traditional pellet stoves, which only heat the surrounding air, pellet boilers are also designed to heat water that can be used for heating rooms via radiators or underfloor heating, as well as producing hot water for sanitary uses such as showers and faucets. This makes them a versatile and efficient solution for home heating.
Stoves vs Pellet Boilers:
Pellet stoves generate heat by burning pellets and distribute it directly into the surrounding environment via fans, allowing for quick and direct heating. They can also be equipped with a ducting system that enables heat distribution to multiple rooms through ducts.
Pellet boilers work similarly in terms of generating heat through pellet combustion but are connected to the home's water heating system. This means they can heat water for sanitary use and can be integrated into the radiator or underfloor heating system, thus providing a centralized heating solution for the entire house.
Pellet boilers function similarly to traditional pellet stoves but are designed to heat the water of the home's hydraulic system as well as the air in the surrounding environment. Here's a detailed illustration of how they work:
Burning Pellets: The pellet boiler burns wood pellets inside a combustion chamber, generating heat and producing exhaust fumes.
Heat Exchange: The fumes generated by combustion pass through heat exchangers, which are tubes immersed in the water of the hydraulic system. The heat from the fumes is transferred to the water, heating it up.
Heat Distribution: The hot water produced is then pumped through the home's hydraulic system, which may include radiators, underfloor heating, or other heating systems. This way, heat is distributed throughout the house. 4.
Hot Water Storage: The pellet boiler is equipped with a tank for storing hot water, which keeps the water at high temperatures even after the pellet boiler is turned off. This tank ensures a continuous supply of hot water without the need to keep the pellet boiler constantly running.
Electronic Control: The pellet boiler is controlled by an electronic system that automatically adjusts pellet combustion based on the heating needs of the environment. This system helps optimize energy efficiency and reduce waste. Connecting a Pellet Boiler to Radiators: Regarding connecting to radiators, as you mentioned, the intervention of a professional technician is necessary to properly install the collectors that connect the pellet boiler to the home's hydraulic system.
Regarding cleaning
it's important to perform regular maintenance on the pellet boiler, including cleaning the combustion chamber, ash drawer, glass, and heat exchangers every 2-3 days. Additionally, it's essential to check and clean the chimney and gas exhaust ducts annually. Regular cleaning helps maintain the efficiency and safety of the pellet boiler. Nowadays, there are pellet boilers equipped with self-cleaning combustion chambers. This type of combustion chamber is designed to ensure efficient and continuous cleaning of the bottom of the chamber during the operation of the pellet boiler. The movable grid inside the combustion chamber periodically moves to automatically remove accumulated ashes, allowing for the passage of primary and secondary air necessary for efficient combustion. This self-cleaning process helps maintain optimal performance of the pellet boiler without frequent interruptions for manual cleaning of the combustion chamber.
