Can pellets be used in a standard wood burning fireplace with an insert? If not what do I need to purchase, instead of a pellet burner, to burn pellets in the fireplace.
Pellets in open fireplaces?
- Thread starter venis725
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GVA
Minister of Fire
wrong forum try the hearth room unless you want a sarcastic answer from us :cheese:venis725 said:
Energex makes a pellet basket made for this purpose. I've never used one but here is the link:
http://www.energex.com/common/product_prometheus.php
http://www.energex.com/common/product_prometheus.php
webbie
Seasoned Moderator
I've had folks tell me that basket can't work well (engineers)....
You'd be better off with biobricks or certain brands of pressed logs - or even expensive firewood (pellets are equiv of 300+ a cord of hardwood)
You'd be better off with biobricks or certain brands of pressed logs - or even expensive firewood (pellets are equiv of 300+ a cord of hardwood)
In an open fireplace, which isn't going to provide the main heat source for a home (even if you want it to), and in which you can't/don't want to burn regular cordwood, I think some type of compressed log is the answer. Looks more like a "real" fire, lasts longer, and is much more readily available. I just bought a fireplace log at the local grocery store to cut up and use as starter. They had cases and cases of them on sale. Why mess with pellets at that point?
Of course, if you happen to have a ton of pellets in your garage and no pellet stove you could either (a) sell them, (b) make your own burner basket, (c) buy a pellet insert for the fireplace. I can't see how that basket would do anything other than smolder a bit.
Of course, if you happen to have a ton of pellets in your garage and no pellet stove you could either (a) sell them, (b) make your own burner basket, (c) buy a pellet insert for the fireplace. I can't see how that basket would do anything other than smolder a bit.
The OP was talking about a fireplace with an insert - so that has the potential to throw off a good amount of heat. I doubt you would have success burning straight pellets without serious modification...burn pot, hopper, auger, change air inlets, add draft blower, etc. You could probably get away with throwing a couple handfulls in an established wood fire every now and then. Or if you were to buy or make something like the energex basket, you could probably burn a slightly larger amount.
If you are looking at this as a long term heating solution, it may be easier and cheaper in the long run to just swap out the wood burner for a pellet fired insert.
Corey
If you are looking at this as a long term heating solution, it may be easier and cheaper in the long run to just swap out the wood burner for a pellet fired insert.
Corey
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