A pellet stove is one of the most efficient alternatives to an open fireplace. It delivers serious heat output for relatively low running costs, produces a real flame effect, and because it burns wood industry by-products, its carbon footprint is far lower than gas-fired heaters.
What is a pellet stove?
A pellet stove is a heating appliance that burns compressed hardwood pellets. Those pellets are made from sawdust and pure wood waste produced by sawmills and joinery workshops.
That is why pellets are considered carbon-neutral: the CO2 released during combustion is roughly equal to what the wood would release if it decomposed naturally.
Compared with logs, pellets have one significant advantage: they contain almost no moisture, which makes them considerably more thermally efficient.
Parts of a pellet stove
A pellet stove consists of the following components:
- Hopper: the storage chamber that holds the pellets;
- Auger (feed screw): a motorised spiral that moves pellets from the hopper to the burner;
- Burner or combustion chamber: where the pellets are ignited and burn to generate heat;
- Ash drawer: sits below the burner and collects ash (empty at least once a week);
- Convection fan and heat exchangers: distribute warm air around the room;
- Exhaust fan: expels combustion gases through a flue pipe or wall outlet;
- Thermostat: controls temperature and auger speed.
How does a pellet stove work?
You pour pellets into the top-mounted hopper. The auger carries them down to the combustion chamber automatically.
Pellet stoves ignite electrically: press the button on the thermostat and an electric element lights the pellets within seconds.
Set your target temperature on the thermostat and the stove manages itself from there.
How much does a pellet stove cost?
Depending on size and output, prices typically range from €700 to €2,500. Think of it as a medium-term investment. Running costs on pellets are usually well below gas, so the payback period is meaningful.
Browse our full range in the pellet stoves section of our online store.
What to check when buying pellets?
- wood species used;
- calorific value: look for above 4.5 kWh/kg;
- sawdust content in the bag;
- ash residue class: A1, A2 or B;
- moisture content: no more than 12%;
- no heavy metals or formaldehyde;
- certification to DINplus and/or ENplus standards.
What output do you need for your space?
Work in kW. Formula: floor area (m²) × ceiling height × thermal coefficient (30, 40 depending on insulation level) ÷ 862 = kW required.
Example: 80 m² flat with 3 m ceilings: 80 × 3 × 35 = 8,400 ÷ 862 = 9.74 kW.
Before you buy, explore our current pellet stove selection in the online store.