Wood Pellet & Gas Stoves

Ace Chimney Sweeps, Inc. owner Skip Creswell is a CSIA-certified chimney technician and a National Fireplace Institute (NFI)-certified Pellet, Wood, and Gas Specialist. Not sure what kind of stove is best for you and your family? Put our 25 years of expertise to work – we’d love to help you find the perfect heating appliance for your needs. We carry both gas and wood pellet stoves, and proudly feature comprehensive lines from industry leaders Napoleon Fireplaces, Regency Fireplace Products, Vermont Castings, and Pacific Energy Stoves.

Why Should I Consider A Gas Stove?

With a gas stove, you get the ambiance of a freestanding wood stove with the convenience of gas. Along with realistic log sets and beautiful craftsmanship, many modern gas stoves are incredibly convenient, turning on with the push of a remote button. Also, today’s gas stoves are designed to work with all kinds of home décor styles. Whether you prefer a traditional or contemporary stove, gas stoves from companies like Regency, Vermont Castings, and Napoleon go a long way to add character to your home. Plus, you won’t have to clean a gas stove out or haul logs like you would with a wood stove.

What’s The Difference Between A Direct Vent Gas Stove And A Ventless Gas Stove?

Direct vent gas stoves, fireplaces, and inserts eliminate the need for a conventional chimney setup. These appliances draw in air from outdoors and use a pipe venting system to exhaust outdoors. Direct vent hearth products can vent out through the roof or wall of the house. These units come with sealed glass doors in order to maintain proper combustion efficiency and indoor air quality.

Meanwhile, vent-free or ventless gas appliances do not require an outside venting system to operate. They draw combustion air from inside the room and are designed to burn up to 99.9% efficiently, eliminating the need for outside exhaust.

What Is A Pellet Stove?

A pellet stove is a residential heat source that requires electricity to burn biomass or wood pellets that look a lot like rabbit food. Pellets themselves are made from sawdust and other small wood particles, which are byproducts of wood milling, and might otherwise be headed for the landfill. The stove feeds this fuel from a hopper-style storage container into an area called the burn-pot, creating a constant flame that needs minimal adjustment. These stoves are very efficient—75 to 90 percent efficiency overall—and have a BTU output content four to five times higher than cord wood or wood chips. Pellet stoves also have very low particulate emissions; 50 times less than older, non-EPA certified wood stoves, and two to five times lower than more efficient, EPA-certified wood stoves. Pellets are generally considered affordable, costing approximately $180-$195 a ton (1 ton consists of 50 bags on a pallet). Approximately 1 bag is used in a 24-hour period.

Why Might I Want A Pellet Stove In My Home?

Compared to wood stoves, pellet stoves have a lot of advantages including:

• They circulate heat rather than radiating it.
• They use electricity (or battery back-up) to run.
• Temperature is easier to control.
• Pellet stoves can be a good option for those without a fireplace or chimney, because they can often be vented through a small hole in the wall, rather than a whole chimney.
• You may be able to take advantage of a tax credit for installation.
• They are easy to use and need only be loaded once a day.
• Precisely regulated fuel feed automatically operates the stove according to owner-determined settings.
• They’re clean and allergy-free. No dust or dirt is brought into the home with pellet fuel.

We do inform our customers that more maintenance is required with pellet stoves. The chimneys/venting systems of these appliances should be professionally cleaned at least once a year, and the stove should be cleaned out at least once a week.

Want to learn more about gas or pellet stoves? Come visit us at Ace Hearth and Home at 804 E. Pulaski Highway in Elkton, MD, call us at (800) 685-4078, or click here to schedule an appointment online!

You may find that factory-built chimneys and fireplaces are the perfect solution for your design ideas and budget. Ace Chimney Sweeps will be happy to discuss all the pros and cons to see what type of installation works best for you.