Rating of the best pellet boilers for heating for 2022

Pellet boilers appeared on the Russian heating market relatively recently, but have already become quite popular among owners of private houses. They differ from other solid fuel boilers in the type of fuel, efficiency, environmental friendliness and full automation. In addition, they are very reliable - with proper operation, such a boiler operates trouble-free for 20-25 years. A pellet boiler for a home will be a real salvation in cases where gas supply is impossible or impractical for financial reasons. Sometimes they are used by entrepreneurs to heat their facilities.

The boilers got their name due to the use of pellets – pressed wooden pellets from wood processing waste – as fuel. There is no glue in them, only pure wood; no harmful substances are released when burned. The boiler itself is a steel or cast iron structure with a fuel bunker. Pellets are loaded manually and enter the firebox automatically. Since the equipment is completely new and not widely used, it is difficult to make a choice in favor of any model - there are very few reviews about pellet boilers on the Internet. Therefore, we invite you to familiarize yourself with the selection of the best pellet boilers for home presented on the Russian market.

Manufacturers

In the Russian Federation

Among the abundance of domestic manufacturers of such boilers, only a few brands stand out that have won recognition among customers as reliable and high-quality products:

• Svetlobor - the company Teploekos produces automatic pellet boilers made in Russia. They stand out for their good level of automation, which allows them to operate autonomously for up to a month. Equipped with a self-cleaning system, vacuum fuel supply and control of multiple heating circuits.
• Kupper OK - produced by Teplodar. They are distinguished by the design of the hopper, which is mounted on the boiler body.
• Roteks are highly automated pellet boilers for home heating, designed for weekly autonomous operation. They are equipped with a safety system that notifies when fuel is running low.
• Start is a manufacturer of pellet boilers, offering both household equipment and industrial equipment. A distinctive feature is the large capacity hopper and ash box.
• Elephant is a module with a vertical fire tube and two-pass heat exchanger. Elephant products use forced air supply to the combustion zone, which reduces fuel loss to a minimum.
• Yaik - the company's products have won appreciation due to the versatility of the fuel used. Boilers from this company can easily be converted to run on diesel fuel, fuel blocks, wood logs, wood chips or pellets. Heating elements are built into them to heat the coolant; they operate on the principle of an electric boiler.

The products of Russian manufacturers are high-performance, reliable equipment at an affordable price.

In the world

Equipment from many foreign companies is sold on domestic shelves:

• Wirbel and OkoFEN from Austria;
• Biomaster and Ferroli from Italy;
• Rosh Chinese-Korean production;
• Grandeg from Latvia;
• Stropuva from Lithuania;
• Wirbel and Viessmann from Germany;
• Metal fach from Poland;
• Serbian ACVs from Serbia;
• Termax from the Finns;
• Termal and Viadruss from the Czech Republic.

The best single-circuit pellet boilers

Such models are designed to ensure the operation of heating systems. They have smaller dimensions and power compared to their dual-circuit counterparts, and consume a small amount of fuel.

Biomaster CS 60

5

★★★★★

editorial assessment

100%

buyers recommend this product

The reinforced screw fuel supply mechanism allows you to add up to 50% of crushed dry biomass to the pellets. This makes it possible to use sawdust, wood chips and other low-quality wood waste in order to save money.

The unit is made of high-strength steel 4 mm thick. Its power is 69.6 kW, dimensions are 1315x630x1110 mm.

The design includes two technological doors for separate access to the burner and heat exchanger. A mechanical switch stops the boiler operation when one of them is opened, eliminating the risk of sparks entering the room.

The bunker is completely sealed and equipped with an inspection window, providing convenient control of its fullness.

Advantages:

• fuel economy;
• reliable design;
• high power;
• safety of use;
• ease of maintenance.

Flaws:

• high price.

Biomaster CS 60 is designed for heating systems for large areas. The right choice for installation in industrial buildings or low-rise buildings.

Wirbel ECO-CK Pellet Set 25

5

★★★★★

editorial assessment

97%

buyers recommend this product

A modern automatic ignition and fuel supply system, as well as a spacious hopper with a volume of 370 liters, allow the boiler to operate without control for a week.

The unit does not require complex maintenance. During continuous operation during the heating season, it must be cleaned of ash no more than once a week.

The boiler is made from fireproof steel 5 mm thick. Unit power - 25 kW, dimensions - 1545x1191x1065 mm. The control console makes it possible to regulate the supply of pellets and air. You can also connect the automation of heating system pumps to it to organize a single control center.

Advantages:

• high power;
• economical fuel consumption;
• ease of maintenance;
• convenient control;
• easy installation.

Flaws:

• lengthy automation setup.

Wirbel ECO-CK is worth purchasing to ensure the operation of an extensive heating system in a country cottage.

ACV Tkan 2

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

95%

buyers recommend this product

The combustion process is supported by the boiler using a blower fan. The built-in turbulator increases operating efficiency and provides an efficiency of about 90%.

The owner can adjust the temperature and control the supply of pellets from the digital control panel. Ignition is carried out both manually and automatically.

The modular design allows you to expand the capabilities of the unit by equipping it with an additional fuel tank and an outside air temperature sensor.

The bunker has a twin-screw feeding system that reliably protects it from ignition. The ash removal system operates automatically, which makes servicing the burner easier.

Advantages:

• convenient control;
• ease of maintenance;
• collapsible burner design;
• high efficiency;
• forced air supply.

Flaws:

• complex installation.

ACV Tkan 2 can use various types of fuel. The use of granules ensures automatic operation of the boiler for up to 7 days. An excellent choice for installation in a residential building or in a country house, where the owners come only on weekends.

Moderator Unica Vento BIO 15

4.8

★★★★★

editorial assessment

91%

buyers recommend this product

The model can operate in automatic or manual modes. This allows the owner to burn not only fuel pellets, but also lump wood waste. The boiler body is made of certified steel 6 mm thick. The burner is equipped with an ash removal system, which makes maintenance easier.

Boiler power - 15 kW. With device dimensions of 1470x490x1080 mm, the loading hopper can be installed on both the right and left sides. This guarantees ease of installation and space saving in the room.

The kit includes the necessary equipment for cleaning the boiler yourself. Its operation is controlled remotely thanks to the presence of a GSM module.

Advantages:

• high efficiency;
• ease of maintenance;
• convenient installation;
• remote control of work;
• combustion of various types of fuel.

Flaws:

• low working pressure.

Moderator Unica Vento BIO is suitable for installation in a country house. The boiler can use various fuel combinations, including pellets and coal.

Teplodar Cooper OVK 10

4.8

★★★★★

editorial assessment

90%

buyers recommend this product

The owner of this boiler has the opportunity to set a comfortable temperature setting on the control panel. It is supported automatically by the system and does not require manual fuel supply. The boiler is small in size and does not take up much space in the room.

Operating power is 10 kW, weight is 90 kilograms. The burner is equipped with a sensitive photosensor that monitors the presence of fire in the firebox. If it is absent, the automatic ignition device is activated.

This guarantees ease of maintenance and stable operation of the unit when there are fuel pellets in the bunker.

Advantages:

• small dimensions;
• ease of installation;
• regulation and maintenance of the set temperature;
• simple controls;
• almost fully automatic operation;
• high efficiency.

Flaws:

• small bunker volume.

Teplodar Kupper should be installed in a private house or country house. An excellent choice for connecting to a short heating system.

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Installation Requirements

The correct functionality of the device depends on the chimney.

The following requirements apply to him:

• the presence of aerodynamic resistance;
• correspondence of the dimensions of the chimney pipe and the outlet pipe;
• quick heating in a short period of time;
• the presence of a condensate drain;
• protection from precipitation;
• lack of ledges on vertical structures.

As for the premises, it is better to organize a boiler room. The unit is heavy, so the area where it will be installed should be reinforced. Additional foundation is often required. The boiler is mounted on a tile or concrete base.

A distance of 1 m is maintained from the wall to the front of the device. Stable conditions are provided in the room: the air temperature is approximately +12°C, the humidity level is about 40%.

Before starting, the tightness of all connections, the unit body and the hopper is checked. If there are power outages, a voltage stabilizer is installed near the equipment.

Price

Cost of pellet boilers with automatic fuel supply:

Conclusion

Pellet boilers are modern, environmentally friendly and cost-effective heating equipment. At the moment, they are less in demand than conventional solid fuel units, but in the future they may well conquer the market due to the high quality of heating and decent performance.

On our portal, in the forum section about boiler equipment, an entire thread is devoted to pellet boilers. No less useful and interesting is the article on how to prepare for the heating season. Another option for autonomous heating is heat pumps. In the video, a portal participant shares his experience of installing a pellet burner with his own hands.

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Types and classification

By fuel

1. Pellet - only compressed granules are used.

2. Combined - the use of other raw materials as backup fuel (wood, coal).

By burner type

1. Retort - feeding pellets into a bowl “from the bottom up”, where air is pumped and where combustion occurs.

2. Flare - dosed supply into a horizontal tray, where the fire is inflated by injected air to form a powerful torch.

According to heat exchanger material

1. Cast iron - with a long service life and resistance to overheating, but heavy weight and poor impact resistance.

2. Steel - with a shorter service life, but more durable.

By download

1. Automatic – pellet loading is regulated by programming by specialists;
2. Semi-automatic – with manual adjustment;
3. Mechanical – manual filling of the bunker.

By number of circuits

1. Single-circuit – only for operation in heating mode.

2. Double-circuit – the possibility of additional production of hot water.

Design Features

Main components:

1. Combustion chamber - a combustion chamber with an installed burner, as well as two doors (inspection, cleaning).
2. Convective - a built-in heat exchanger in the form of pipes or plates with a vertical, horizontal or combined arrangement for heating water (coolant) with hot air released during combustion.
3. Ash pan is a container for collecting ash.
4. Bunker – a container for storing pellets before feeding them into the firebox.
5. Auger – for portion feeding into the firebox;
6. Fan - to pump air in the absence of natural draft and maintain the combustion process.
7. Control unit - for setting operating modes, combustion parameters, maintaining temperature.

Calculation of the minimum required power

The simplest way to calculate the required boiler power ( N ) is using the formula:

N =S×W beats /10

• , where S is the heated area of ​​the house, taking into account all residential and domestic premises;
• W beat – power required to heat 10 m2 (according to the climate).

In central Russia, a moderately insulated room with a ceiling height of 2.5–2.7 m and an area of ​​10 m2 can be fully heated with a power of 1.1 kW.

Thus, the minimum required power of a pellet boiler for heating a house of 10x15 m will be calculated using the formula 150 m2x1.1 kW/10=16.5 kW.

Where to buy a pellet boiler with automatic feed?

In Moscow

• Hermes , st. Bulatnikovskaya 20, off. 17 from 9:00 to 18:00, tel. +7(495)384–19–66;
• Stoves -Fireplaces , st. Yubileinaya 4-A from 9:00 to 18:00, tel. +7(495)215–56–94.

In St. Petersburg

• TechnoDom , Stachek Ave. 57 from 10:00 to 19:00, tel. +7(812)671–00–88;
• TeploTorg , st. Yakornaya 10 from 9:30 to 18:00, tel. +7(812)612–40–02.

And in conclusion: an automatic pellet boiler, despite the fact that it is, of course, easier to maintain than many other options (for example, coal, wood, pyrolysis), still requires attention - both in terms of cleaning and in terms of purchased fuel. These factors should be considered before purchasing.

Pellet boilersAutomatic feedSolid fuel boilers

Equipment design

Pellet boilers are designed to consist of 3 main parts. This:

1. The device itself, the body of which is standardly made of high-temperature resistant steel. It is equipped with a special burner for igniting fuel.
2. A bunker where raw materials are stored.
3. Mechanism for feeding pellets into the combustion chamber. Most models use a screw device. However, there are also those where the fuel enters the chamber under the influence of gravity.

Some units are equipped with automation that controls operation. The devices are characterized by reliability, but correspondingly high prices. Devices can be programmed for the desired turn-on time, support specified temperature parameters, etc.

Criterias of choice

Before purchasing, experts advise paying attention to:

• power - the simplest calculation is the ratio per 1 sq. meter 100 W, for example, for a room of 150 sq. meters, a floor-standing solid fuel pellet boiler with a power of 15 kW (100 W x 150 sq. m = 15,000 W) is suitable;
• Efficiency - as a rule, values ​​​​are in the range of 85-95% with a direct dependence on the quality of the pellets;
• heat exchanger type – steel or cast iron;
• number of circuits - single-circuit or double-circuit if hot water supply is required;
• the volume of the bunker - depending on the needs of the user, as well as the characteristics of use;
• fuel supply - using a screw or vacuum with low noise level, but more expensive;
• additional functions: auto-ignition, self-cleaning, temperature sensors, GSM module.

How to install

You can try to install a pellet boiler at home with your own hands if you have special knowledge or by using the Internet, where step-by-step instructions are provided. However, it is better to entrust the solution to this issue to professionals from a specialized organization that has a construction license, who will reliably install the unit during repair or construction.

Design must be completed before installation can begin.

Main stages

1. Preparatory:

• preparation of the premises;
• strengthening and leveling a fireproof base capable of supporting the unit;
• electrical wiring;
• installation of ventilation and chimney.

2. Installation and piping:

• installation on a hill, connection to the chimney of the gas-air duct;
• bunker installation, auger connection;
• control panel assembly;
• circulation pump piping;
• installation of an expansion tank;
• installation of automation for return control;
• wiring of backup power supply, installation of stabilizer;
• connecting the coolant and return circuits.

3. Commissioning activities:

• control of compliance with the project;
• leak testing;
• automation check;
• crimping;
• control start-up and parameter measurement;
• adjustment work.

4. First launch:

• filling the container with pellets;
• checking water pressure, replenishing it to the standard if necessary;
• opening the smoke damper;
• ignition - by control panel or manually;
• checking the compliance of the parameters with the project;
• stopping after burnout;
• control of coolant temperature to prevent condensation formation.

Common mistakes

1. Lack of return temperature control.
2. Unsatisfactory tightness of the gas circuit, decreased efficiency due to leakage of pyrolysis gas;
3. Poor thermal insulation of the base, causing condensation and the release of harmful substances.
4. The size of the boiler room does not comply with fire safety requirements, which does not allow servicing the bunker or auger.

Pellet boilers are characterized by efficiency, ease of operation, and long battery life. But optimal parameters can only be achieved if the equipment is correctly selected, installed and configured.

Enjoy the shopping! Take care of yourself and your loved ones!

How much fuel will you need for the heating season?

Pellet consumption ( Mx of time is calculated using the formula:

M x =X/ fuel heat capacity

, where X is heat loss during the heating season, determined by the formula:

X = S×D×24×0.9×70

• , where S is the heated area of ​​the house, taking into account all residential and domestic premises;
• D – duration of the heating season;
• 24 – number of boiler operating hours per day;
• 0.7 – boiler operating coefficient;
• 70 – average heat loss per hour (for a typical residential building).

For the calculation, you can take a house of 150 m2 from the previous example. If you heat it for about 6 months (175 days) a year, then the heat loss will be X = 150 × 175 × 24 × 0.7 × 70 = 30870 kW for the entire season or 177 kW per day. Accordingly, the consumption of pellets for the same period will be equal to M1=30870/5=6174 kg (season) and M2=177/5=36 kg (day).

Heating costs per month are calculated by multiplying the average daily consumption of pellets by the number of days and the price of pellets per 1 kg, i.e. 36×30×8.5=9180 rubles.