Can You Burn Wood Pellets in a Fireplace?

Wood pellets are designed to be used in pellet stoves. But can you burn wood pellets in a fireplace? The answer is yes, but you’ll need some items to get started.

You’ll find there are many products on the market today that have been created to let you use wood pellets in traditional wood stoves and fireplaces with mixed degrees of success. Energy Pellets of America does not endorse any particular versions of these products. However, we encourage you to explore these products to see what might work best for you. Learn more about using wood pellets in your wood stove or fireplace.

Can You Burn Wood Pellets in a Fireplace?

You’ll find that burning wood pellets in a fireplace requires a special fireplace device. A pellet tray or pellet basket will hold the pellets in your fireplace so you may use pellet fuel to heat your home or enjoy an outdoor fireplace without a special pellet stove.

Using wood pellets in your fireplace can lessen dependence on fossil fuels and offer an energy efficient heating solution. Additionally, pellets burn clean and offer very little ash.

What is a Fireplace Pellet Tray?

A fireplace pellet tray, or pellet basket, is an accessory for your fireplace. It is a metal tray that you can use inside your fireplace. Using a fireplace pellet tray is simple. To use a fireplace tray, you place the metal tray inside your fireplace. Pour your wood pellets into the tray or basket and light the pellets. You’re now heating your home with pellet fuel instead of cut wood or fireplace logs. A pellet tray or basket can be used in most fireplaces. An electric blower is not required. It is a metal tray that you can use inside your fireplace or wood stove. Using a fireplace insert is simple. To use a fireplace insert, you place the metal tray inside your fireplace. The tray lets you heat your home with pellet fuel instead of cut wood or fireplace logs. A pellet tray or insert can be used in most fireplaces or wood stoves. An electric blower is not required.

Can I Use Pellets in a Fireplace Insert?

Yes, you can use pellets in a fireplace insert. You will need the same pellet tray or pellet basket to hold your wood pellet fuel. When using a fireplace insert, it’s important that you have your fireplace insert set to maximum airflow settings. From there follow the same method as using a pellet tray or pellet basket in a standard fireplace. From there:

1. Place your pellet tray or pellet basket in the center of your fireplace insert.
2. Load the tray with wood energy pellets. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the amount of pellets your insert can hold.
3. Start the fire as you normally would. You might need to use kindling like paper and firelighters.
4. You will likely find that pellets burn longer and cleaner than other fuel sources.

After you burn your wood energy pellets, you’ll need to clean out your fireplace or fireplace insert. Clear the ash from the inside of your tray. Remove the ash from your fireplace or fireplace insert according to your fireplace manufacturers recommendations. Keeping a clean fireplace and fireplace insert will help keep them burning efficiently.

Why Use Wood Pellets in Your Fireplace?

Wood pellets are a smart energy option. Wood pellets are clean burning and create very little ash. This allows you to get the most heat out of your burn. Burning wood pellets in your fireplace or stove can:

• Help reduce your heating cost expenses.
• Help you reduce your carbon footprint and impact on the environment.
• Help you find a cleaner alternative to burning cord wood.

Energy Pellets of America makes our wood pellets from 100 percent recycled wood. Our hardwood blend pellets are responsibly made from retired shipping pallets. We source pallets that are no longer useful in the shipping industry and use them to create wood pellet fuel. This helps reduce the amount of waste going into landfills and reduces the demands of new wood fiber from existing forests. Our wood pellets are 100 percent natural, too. This means we don’t use chemically treated pallets and no chemical binders are used in the pellet making process.

Additionally, our premium wood pellets meet all United States and European standards. This means our pellets are tested by a third party laboratory to make sure they are safe and efficient to burn. These tests also prove that our wood pellets contain less than 1 percent ash, less than 8 percent moisture, and have a high heating value.

You also might find that wood pellets are less expensive than cord wood or wood chips. Because wood pellets are densely compressed food fibers, shipping and handling costs might be lower for wood pellets. Many consumers have found that is costs less to use wood pellets than wood chips. Additionally, wood pellets are easy to store because they are so compact. One ton of wood pellets takes up as much space as approximately 1.5 cords of wood. This means you can store your pellets easily in your garage or basement.

Are Wood Pellets Safe to Use in my Fireplace?

Energy Pellets of America does not recycle chemically treated pallets to make our pellets. This means our pellets burn clean without releasing any chemical additives. This makes them safe to use in your fireplace or wood stove.

Pellets are also safe for the environment. According to information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pellet stoves have very low emissions because of the high density of the fuel and the high burn efficiency.

Energy Pellets of America makes pellets that are:

• Sustainable. Wood is a renewable resource. Burning wood pellets is friendly for the environment. Recycling wood shipping pallets keeps waste from going to landfills. This creates an environmentally friendly way to heat your home, business, or commercial location.
• Clean combusting. Burning wood pellets in your stove or fireplace is cleaner than burning cord wood. Additionally, the clean burn process creates less carbon than the organic decomposition of pallets, wood products, and trees.
• All natural.  Our pellets are made without any chemical additives. This eliminates the need for binders and additional unnatural chemicals.

What Can I do with Pellet Ash?

You might find that pellet ash produced in your fireplace or stove is useful in the garden. The University of Missouri has found that ash can be used to fertilize plants. Ash contains two essential minerals: Calcium and lime. Ashes can help your garden grow.

Are You Ready to Burn Wood Pellets in Your Fireplace?

Can you burn wood pellets in a fireplace? The answer is yes! Wood pellets are versatile and clean burning. They can be used in a fireplace or wood stove with a special insert. Energy Pellets of America responsibly makes recycled premium wood pellets that can be used to fuel a pellet stove, fireplace and more. Call us at (937) 265-0676 to get started with our wood pellets.