If you have asthma and/or allergies, you may be wondering if heating with a pellet stove is an option for your home. People not familiar with how a pellet stove works might conjure up images of an old style wood burning fireplace, a smokey smell, and discolored brick around the fireplace, etc.
Pellet Stove and Asthma or Allergies
However, a pellet stove is much different than a wood burning fireplace or stove, and here’s how. The typical pellet stove and flex fuel burning Magnum appliances designed today feature closed combustion. This is a negative draft system (which means that it pulls the fire and smoke through the appliance), a sealed venting system and a direct connect to outside fresh combustion air. These design features separate the smell and corresponding allergy dusts from the interior of the home. Pellet stoves like the Countryside are used to produce heat (and radiant heat) without affecting the air inside your home. Of course proper selection of appliance, installation, correct placement within your home, venting, and proper balancing of the home air pressure for fresh air. Also important is providing fresh air for combustion to the appliance, quality wood pellets (or corn), and regular maintenance of the stove.
If you suffer from asthma or allergies, take care when handling of the fuel. Use clean, dry fuel, and store it properly. Perform proper maintenance features of the appliance. Consult your pellet stove manual for help with proper usage and maintenance. If you see or smell smoke, when using your pellet stove power down and resolve the issues. The air in your home should be clean and warm.
Here is an article addressing this season’s fall allergies, and another great tip is to have your air ducts professionally cleaned. You will circulate less dust, debris, and other matter with clean air ducts.
You may also want to read, “Pellet Stove Maintenance Means Having A Dust Free Pellet Stove” and read what one family has to say about having asthma and owning a pellet stove, “Another Heart Warming Story: Healthy and Happy in Our Home.”
I see your answer regarding allergies and pellet stoves, but we are thinking of getting a wood furnace added on to our new heat pump/furnace (electric). We have quite a bit of wood available on our property and wood is cheaper in our area so it seems like a good idea. However I am allergic to trees and grass and was wondering if this type of heating would bother me. I know i am sometimes bothered by our fireplace and wake up with a raw throat the next day after having a fire. Therefore we don’t have them very often. It doesn’t happen every time or we wouldn’t burn at all. Can you provide me with information on indoor add-on wood furnaces and allergies.
Thanks!
M
We do not carry any add-on wood furnaces or pellet furnaces. You would need to check with the manufacturer of one on how they filter their air. Most furnaces are air tight and will not leak smoke into the home unless you open the fuel door, then you could get smoke into the residence. You might want to look into an outdoor unit if you have problems with air quality.