Pellet stoves and inserts burn compact wood pellets for steady, automatic heat with far less effort than a wood stove. Fill the hopper and the stove feeds itself for hours, making pellets a popular way to cut heating costs. Shop models from Harman and Quadra-Fire.
How to choose
Stove or insert: Stoves go in nearly any room with simple direct venting. Inserts fit an existing fireplace.
Heating area: Santa Fe and Outfitter I suit smaller spaces; the Absolute63 heats up to 3,400 sq ft.
Hopper size:Runs 45 lb to 130 lb (Outfitter II). Bigger hoppers mean fewer refills and longer burns.
Controls: Look for programmable thermostats (Trekker) or Harman EASY Touch Control for set-and-forget heat.
