By Nick Gelling
Product Test Journalist | Kaipūrongo Whakamātautau Hautaonga
There’s nothing like a roaring fire in winter. But wood burners can be inconvenient – from stacking wood to lighting kindling to maintaining an even heat. Pellet fires, which burn compacted sawdust, are a modern alternative that solve several of these problems.
While wood burners are cheaper to buy and less likely to fail over time due to their simplicity, there are several advantages to choosing a pellet burner. Here’s our rundown of the benefits.
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1. They’re easier to use
Some people enjoy the routine of chopping, stacking and seasoning wood before winter. For others, it’s a necessary hassle. Pellet burners cut out all that prep – simply rip open the bag and pour some fuel into the hopper. For extra convenience, look for a model with a large hopper. One burner we looked at has a 50kg capacity – enough to fit two to three bags of pellets at once.
Most pellet burners also light electrically – no need for matches, firelighters or a separate pile of kindling.
2. They can be automated
All the pellet burners we’ve assessed have a built-in thermostat that handles maintenance of the fire. It’ll keep your blaze at a steady temperature, without your having to monitor it for air flow or to add more fuel (as long as you keep the hopper topped up).
Each pellet burner also has a timer, so you can automatically switch it on and off at a particular time of day, as well as WiFi controls, so you can control it remotely. Pellet burners are like a cross between a wood burner and a heat pump.
3. They usually burn cleaner
Pellet burners burn very hot and produce less pollution than most wood burners, so they’re less of a health hazard in the community. Plus, assuming you keep your bags of pellets in a sensible place, you never have to worry about accidentally burning wet wood and annoying your neighbours with dark, stinky smoke.
The lowest-emissions pellet burner in our assessment produces 0.16g of smoke particles per kilogram of pellets burned, while others produce three times as much. The average emissions of a wood burner is 0.66g per kilogram of wood.
4. Pellets are sold at everyday retailers
While firewood tends to only be available from specialist companies, we found pellets for sale at retail stores you might be visiting anyway, such as Mitre 10 and Bunnings. Some supermarkets will even sell you a bag of pellets with your weekly groceries. Keep in mind that pellets can be hard to find out of season, so consider stocking up before the end of winter.
5. Their flues can be easier to install
Pellet burners have a smaller-diameter flue than wood burners, which may make installation simpler. The flue can also be taken out horizontally through an external wall.
The best pellet burners
Ready to learn more? We've rated 18 pellet burners available in New Zealand.
