GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

Do pellet stoves generate much creosote?

Martin Holladay| Posted inGeneral Questionson

Having lived in a house with wood heat for over 40 years, I’ve fairly familiar with the ways in which wood stoves can contribute to creosote formation in chimneys and stovepipes. However, I’m not very familiar with pellet stoves.

A friend recently wondered about creosote formation in a chimney connected to a pellet stove. So I’d like to hear from owners of pellet stoves: Does your stove lead to more or less creosote formation than a typical wood stove?

— Martin Holladay

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

  1. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay||#1

    I'm bumping this question to the top of the queue, in hopes that a GBA reader may want to comment.

    -- Martin Holladay

  2. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay||#2

    Nate,
    Thanks. I appreciate the information.

  3. Nate G||#3

    Some relatives of mine have a pellet stove and say that it generates much less creosote compared to a wood stove. Watching it in operation, the smoke is clearer and less smoky, too. The flame looks reasonably nice as well. My only complaints are that it's noisy and seems like it uses a lot of electricity (two loud blowers a large glow bar to ignite the pellets, which seems to take ages).

  4. diynorth||#4

    Nate:

    I don't use a pellet stove but know they produce very little creosote. They have a controlled moisture content, and moisture that burns off is the cause of most creosote. I've burned wood for over 40 years, and now have an EPA approved stove with secondary burn capability. Since in recent years I stay enough ahead to have very dry wood I am getting very little creosote. Dry wood is the biggest factor.

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |