^{Plumbing | Drainage | Gasfitting | Roofing | Heating | Pellet Fires}

Pellet fires - good for you and good for the environment

Pellet Fires are the way of the future, according to Combined Plumbers co-director Graham Scott.
The registered plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers recently started stocking, installing and servicing Parkwood pellet fires, which are manufactured by Christchurch-based Firemakers Limited.

Pellet fires are a globally-popular form of wood heating that are revolutionising the way we heat our homes in the 21st century. Fuelled by wood pellets made from untreated waste sawdust which is pulverised and compressed into clean, dry pellets, pellet fires are among the most efficient solid fuel heating appliances in the world. In addition to providing negligible smoke emissions, the fuel has a carbon-neutral effect on the environment.

Graham says Combined Plumbers are continually looking for new and innovative products, and they believe that pellet fires will be the favoured heating option of the future.

“They are sold in huge volumes in Europe and North America,” he says. “Combined Plumbers are aiming to be the leader in terms of sales, installations and servicing of pellet fires in the Wanganui region.”

Combined Plumbers have just installed a demonstration pellet fire at their headquarters at 10 Kitchener St, Wanganui East and are inviting the public to come and check it out. They will also sell the pellet fuel in 20kg bags, which can give up to 30 hours of continuous burning.

Ferg Lister, the managing director of Firemakers Limited, says the genius of the Parkwood pellet fire is that it is incredibly efficient in extracting the heat from the firebox, thanks to the built-in convection fan that forces heat out into the room. “They burn with the natural ambience of wood fires, at environmentally-friendly and near perfect fuel to air ratios. And they’re easy to use - you simply fill the hopper with a bag of wood pellets, push the start button and sit back, and the fire does the rest for you.”

He added that pellet fires were the only type of fire you are allowed to install in a new home in Christchurch, which is notorious for pollution problems during winter. “You can’t put in a new log fire but you can put in a pellet fire. They’re clean, efficient and they don’t pollute the air.”

Graham estimated the total cost of buying and installing a standard Parkwood pellet fire and flue, plus a building permit, would be about $4800. A bag of pellets is likely to cost about $15.90.

He said pellet fires were economical, convenient and energy efficient. “You haven’t got standing line charges like you do for gas, and they burn very efficiently and produce real warmth for minimum cost. They’re clean and you get all the benefits of a wood burner without the hassle.”

For more information, call Graham Scott or Mike Healey at Combined Plumbers. Phone 06 343 9275 email: combinedplumbers@xtra.co.nz.