Growing concern for the natural environment and the legislation accompanying it have made outdated coal stoves a thing of the past, replacing them with boilers fueled by environmentally friendly fuels. According to a survey conducted by the Fixly service, 18 percent of renovations carried out in 2019 involved heating systems. In addition, 41 percent of respondents paid attention to ecological solutions when making changes.
One of the most popular ecological alternatives is installing a pellet boiler. Pellet is a fuel produced from sawdust, shavings or wood chips compressed under high pressure. It is available in granulated form, which makes it much easier to store. Its most important advantage is that it is a high-calorific and ecological fuel, as well as a renewable energy source. As a result, boilers using this fuel are an excellent alternative to coal-fired and even gas-fired heating systems.
It is worth mentioning that the calorific value of pellets is usually equal to that of wood. Nevertheless, burning pellets produces a small amount of biodegradable ash, which can be used, for example, as fertilizer. Burning coal produces even several dozen times more waste that cannot be disposed of independently. Of course, it should be borne in mind that many varieties of pellets are available for sale, intended for different applications, such as households or industrial buildings. Therefore, the calorific value of this fuel may vary depending on its composition; the usual range is approximately 13–19 MJ/kg.
In addition, installing pellet boilers means that the boiler room is free from dirt, soot and unpleasant odors. This fuel has very low emissions of tarry substances, while wood dust is much easier to clean up than coal dust.
One argument in favor of installing a pellet boiler is its ease of use. This applies especially to modern devices, whose automated operation requires the user only to clean the boiler or add fuel from time to time. What is more, high-quality pellet boilers are often equipped with an intuitive touchscreen controller, allowing users to manage their operation remotely, for example, using a smartphone.
It is also worth adding that a pellet boiler hopper can hold enough fuel to enable the device to operate continuously for several days. This is another aspect supporting the trouble-free and comfortable operation of this type of installation. Pellet-device burners are equipped with automatic igniters, meaning that the boiler can switch off automatically when the indoor temperature reaches the desired level, or restart when the rooms begin to cool down. This operation plays a key role in reducing fuel consumption, especially in summer, when the device is operated only to obtain hot domestic water.
Installing pellet boilers brings a range of benefits that have a significant impact on the natural environment and on the thermal comfort of the home's residents. However, it should be remembered that the trouble-free, long-term operation of such devices depends to a large extent on the quality of the fuel purchased. It is also worth seeking expert assistance when choosing the right boiler and then having it installed. Proven specialists with ratings from previous customers can be found on Fixly.