Compare And Contrast Woodstove Vs Pellet

Introduction

During the winter season, most homes in the United States use different methods to heat their homes. Among the common means used for heating today are the woodstoves and the pellets stoves, which are simple domestic heating devices. In woodstoves, small pieces of wood logs are burned to generate heat, while the pellet stoves use wood pellets as the raw material for the same purpose. Wood pellets are specially made compacted logs, used similar to wood logs, and made from sawdust, other wood waste materials and biomass waste (Environmental Protection Agency 10). Over the years, concerns have been raised about the pollution by the smoke emitted to the air by these stoves during the winter period both indoors and outdoors. In winter, the air is often stagnated, and thus, emissions during this period saturate in the surrounding air, causing direct air pollution and adverse health effects (Environmental Protection Agency 12). With this paper, I will try to compare and contrast the impact of the older wood stoves versus pellet stoves on indoor and outdoor air quality and the possible health effects in the United States.

Comparison between woodstoves versus pellet stoves

It means that both devices have similar by-product waste, which is smoke (Environmental Protection Agency 13). The smoke is mostly released into the open air by the use of a chimney and piped vents. The emission of the smoke into the open air negatively affects the outdoor air quality. However, the indoor air quality is also affected by the smoke. Ineffective stoves, broken pipes or a damaged chimney may cause smoke pollution of the inside air. Additionally, the smoke emitted out remains suspended in the immediate environment due to the stagnant winter air. Consequently, these small smoke particles concentrate in the surrounding air and return into buildings as cold air replaces the warm