NDL Hearth Blog

Many homeowners in New Hampshire want to supplement their heating bills with wood pellets this winter. The reason, "Oil just isn't keeping us warm enough".

The state of New Hampshire has a program to make the switch more affordable.

"The intent of this program is to get people off of oil," says Barbara Bernstein of the Public Utilities Commission. "We have a rebate available up to $6,000 for wood pellet boilers or furnaces."

Although Wood Pellet Boilers are available, most homeowners are opting for pellet stoves to replace 70% to 90% of their oil use and gain a little bit of ambiance.

View the following video and contact us if you would like us to direct you to a pellet stove retailer in your area.

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Gone are days of the utilitarian, kind of ugly pellet stoves. Introducing Thelin Pellet stoves. Have you seen them? You need to.

Thelin designs a contemporary and classic series of pellet stoves so you can have heat along with beautiful design no matter your style of décor.

The contemporary pellet stove, the Tiburon, is no ordinary pellet stove. Built with sturdy steel construction, the contemporary design of the Tiburon Pellet Stove, along with an assortment of trim combinations, allows your stove to endure in function and in style. This stove is versatile. With its Panel System you can change the color, style or material of your pellet stove as your tastes and your décor change. In no time at all, with only hand tools, you can change the panels from metal to natural stone or change the vents to art deco. This contemporary pellet stove evolves with your life.

Thelin's Classic Series Pellet Stoves are designed with the traditional home in mind. Three stoves offer timeless heating solutions that are stylish yet durable. These stoves are timeless in their looks and will be the centerpiece of any room.

By-the-way, the Thelin Tiburon Pellet Stove won the 2010 Vesta Award for Pellet Products. This award recognizes and honors companies and products for innovation in design and technology.

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Have you seen the new pellet stoves from Piazzetta? Forget what you thought you knew about pellet stoves, these are beautiful, with a stylish finish, in beautiful, dynamic colors and a gorgeous flame. Made in Italy, the Piazzetta Pellet Stove is strikingly beautiful. Beauty meets function here.

Piazzetta’s history is based on research, innovation, expertise, knowledge and selection of the best materials, and cutting-edge technology all combined with a craftsman’s skill. Piazzetta has been studying advanced solutions since 1960 for heating and comfort, and has a history abounding in care and respect for both customers and the surrounding environment.

The styling of every Piazzetta pellet stove is particularly refined and original. It has been studied to make the most of the materials as well as to offer the maximum possible functionality thus satisfying all tastes and styles. The majolica, the visible flame and the interior of the firebox all enhance the atmosphere created by the fire as well as the performance of each Piazzetta pellet stove.

Piazzetta pellet stoves offer an excellent heat output, low consumption and long burn time. And on top of all that, they also have a reduced rate of emissions into the atmosphere, in line with the most stringent standards. The glass door lets you enjoy the cozy sight of the fire. You can always be sure of having the right atmosphere with Piazzetta products. Whatever the surroundings, the fire becomes pure emotion.

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Burgers, brats and dogs are just as much of a staple of summer as water and sun tan lotion. With that said, many people will be in the market for a new grill in the coming week -- whether they're looking for their first kettle charcoal grill, pellet grill or a deluxe gas grill.

Chris Gardner, owner of Midwest Grills & BBQ Supplies and founder of midwestgrills.com, says there are a few important questions every shopper should ask before they purchase a grill.

"How often am I going to use it? How many people am I going to cook for? How long do I want it to last? The answers to these will help you decide on the price range you should spend," Mr. Gardner says.

Let's take a look at how gas grills, charcoal grills and alternative models stack up against each other.

GAS: Gas grills are considered the luxury cars of the grill market. They're durable, full of features and come in several sizes. However, they also cost more to purchase and maintain.

The big upside to gas grills is convenience. Unlike their counterparts that require coals or wood chips to heat, gas grills have gained popularity because they're ready to cook in less than 10 minutes.

A gas grill also makes it easy to regulate the heat and to cook at several different temperatures at the same time. They offer greater versatility, allowing you to cook burgers and vegetables and heat buns at the same time without burning any of them. According to Kevin Harrison, general manager of the St. Joseph Menards store, the more burners a grill has, the more cooking flexibility you'll enjoy.

Gas grills come in various sizes, too. Grills with small footprints are ideal for a terrace or townhouse. If you have the space (and the money), look for a 30-inch, 42-inch or even bigger stainless-steel model. These usually offer add-on modules or appliances like wet bars, refrigerators, wine coolers, sear stations and more.

CHARCOAL: If you ask the famous "Dr. BBQ", Ray Lampe, whether he would choose a gas or charcoal grill, his pick would be charcoal every time. Although gas grill enthusiasts claim there is no difference, he says his charcoal choice lies in the taste.

"I'll give someone a piece of something cooked over charcoal, and they're just amazed because the gas grills we're so used to just have no flavor," says Mr. Lampe, a barbecue expert who has appeared on Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate." Not only do charcoal grills provide great flavor, but they're generally easier on the wallet, too.

"A charcoal grill lasts forever. There's no maintenance, you just get some new charcoal and put it in there," Mr. Lampe says. Cleaning involves little more than scrubbing the grate and dumping the ashes, he adds.

Mr. Lampe recommends lump charcoal, which lights much faster than traditional charcoal briquettes.

Indirect cooking is also far more difficult on a charcoal grill. While several burners can cook various foods at different temperatures on a gas grill, a charcoal model requires grillers to build a fire on just one side of the grill.

ALTERNATIVES: As the price of gas has risen in recent years, many people have turned to pellet grills.

Pellet grills use small wood pellets -- in a variety of "flavors" such as hickory, mesquite and oak -- to provide the energy source and infuse the food with flavor from the resultant smoke. Pellet grills are especially attractive because they require no fuel and are energy efficient.

Original article by TMCnet.com -Shea Conner

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As we attempt to reduce our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels, Biomass is one of our renewable energy options. People usually think of wood first, even though wood is a small part of biomass fuel potential.
 
Different biomass fuels burn differently, but generally each biomass in a compressed form, such as pellets, has a similar heat value, meaning they generate the same heat. The variation comes from the various biomass burners, such as pellet stove, fireplaces and inserts which have variables that affect the way bio fuels burn, such as changes in ash content, air intake, and corrosive effects.
 
Anything that can burn and decompose can be used as a biofuel. Biofuel is not new, but we have started thinking more about it as we watch our energy bills rise and hear more about carbon footprints.
 
So how can we use biomass? Burning wood logs saves in energy costs and is a form of renewable energy. Another answer, which many believe is the best answer, is a compressed form of wood; wood pellets. In a compressed form bio fuel, burns much more efficiently, are much more practical to transport, and dispensing or feeding the fuel into the pellet stove is easy and efficient.  With a compressed and uniform fuel source, such as pellets, the fuel makes pellet stoves efficient, economical and renewable.

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Food cooked on a Traeger grill simply tastes better… It is just that simple! If you have already tasted the Traeger difference at a backyard BBQ you know that food cooked on a Traeger pellet grill tastes better. Traeger provides rich flavors and taste to all dishes, turning even inexpensive cuts of meat into special occasions. Traeger grills cook with wood, wood pellets, so they make everything taste better. The pellets come in different flavors, hickory, cherry and mesquite.

No more hovering over the grill, with the Traeger, just turn the grill on, set your temperature and let your Traeger do the work. Walk away, take a nap, or spend quality time with friends and family. No hassles, just great results. You will be amazed at how simple award winning outdoor cooking can be.  Even better, with a Traeger grill, there is no need to worry about ruining the main course due to a flare-up.

This grill is healthier for the family too. It utilizes an indirect cooking system, which reduces fat and reduces the burning or charring of meats which creates carcinogens.  With flavorful wood as a fuel there is no need to worry about gas or the nasty effects of charcoal.

Traeger grills are the ultimate in cooking versatility. Use it as a grill, BBQ, smoker, or a wood-fired convection oven. Steak, brisket, prime rib, hamburgers, pork loin, veggie kabobs, pizza, even cookies and biscuits are so simple! With Traeger, your imagination is your only limitation. A Traeger does it all!

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Pellet stoves are probably the easiest stove to operate. Add this to the fact that pellet stoves are efficient, economical and use renewable energy and they are a win win for any home. Pellet stoves today are very convenient for the homeowner with a busy lifestyle, or those who just do not want to fuss over their stove. Typically, you only need to load a pellet stove with wood pellets 1-2 times per day, depending on the size of stove and the hopper. Because their burn efficiency is so high, pellet stoves do not produce any smoke, little ash and as a result require low maintenance cleaning.

They are also perfect for a home setting because as they burn, the exterior of the stove remains merely warm to the touch. There is virtually no external heat on the outside of the stove. Because of this, you can place the stove very close to a wall, and they remain safe for homes with young children and pets.

The pellet burning process is very efficient making less pollutants and particles that are released into the air. Additionally, wood pellets are actually made from the byproduct of wood; they are not the primary product. They are mainly produced from recycled wood at sawmills, usually sawdust, wood shavings and some forms of nuts. This makes the big advantage of pellet stoves the costs of fuel. Using a pellet stove could create significant cost savings in your heating bill. So, not only will you have a beautiful, easy to use stove in your home, you will be paying less to heat your home, while using renewable energy to do it! Consider a pellet stove to help heat your home this winter.

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Whenever I make it to a Kansas City Chiefs home game at Arrowhead Stadium the one thing I enjoy the most, aside from seeing the Chiefs win, is being able to tailgate for hours before the game starts. Going to Kansas City and having a tailgate party means barbecue - plain and simple.

Football and tailgating are a time-honored tradition in the United States. If you make it to a Chiefs game here are five essential barbecue foods you should consider for your tailgating feast repertoire.

Ribs

Pork ribs are delicious when they are done right. Grilling ribs means two essential processess to cook them. First is to marinate them for 24 hours before you cook them in your favorite sauce. For my wife and I the sauce comes from another great Kansas City tradition - KC Masterpiece has several marinades for fantastic ribs.

The second key ingredient to cooking ribs is to grill them slow enough to make them juicy and the meat is tender while still sticking to the bone. Preheat your grill for medium and brush the rack with oil so the meat won't stick. Remove ribs from the marinade sauce and place on rack - feel free to slather some left over sauce over the ribs as they cook. Grill the ribs for 30 minutes on one side and flip. Grill another 10 minutes or so until the meat is done.

Hamburgers

The key to grilled burgers is much the same with ribs. Preparation beforehand is the key when you shape the hamburger patties. Take two pounds of your favorite type of ground beef and add an egg to it. Pile on a cup of chopped onions, one slice of bread made into small crumbs, and a cup of your favorite barbecue sauce. Mix everything together and make your meat into about six to eight patties. My suggestion is to freeze the patties overnight because they will hold together better when you grill them.

Put your grill on medium heat and initially cook the burgers for 10 to 15 minutes before turning over. Cook another five to 10 minutes or however long you want them to be done inside. Well done burgers will have to be cooked longer than medium well or medium rare. Again, save some of the sauce for basting the burgers while they grill. Add cheese on top of the patties just before you take them out of the grill for cheeseburgers.

Steaks

Don't be afraid to go all out and cook some fantastic steaks on game day. My opinion on cooking steaks will be to basically let the flavor of the meat come out and pretty much leave the meat as-is until afterwards. Lightly season the meat before hand with a rub or your favorite seasoning but I would leave the marinade to the ribs.

My two favorite cuts of meat to grill are chuck eye steaks and ribeyes. The reason for this is because there is just enough fat on them to make them tender and juicy even after being made well done on the grill. Turn your grill up high and sear both sides of the meat for just a minute each. Then turn the grill down to medium and cook the steak about 15 minutes per side until your steak is done.

Bratwurst

Bratwurst is probably the easiest meat to cook on your grill aside from hot dogs. Bratwurst can be done in as little as 15 minutes and tastes wonderful even without barbecue sauce. Set your grill to medium and flip bratwurst over constantly until they are plump and juicy. You'll know the bratwurst is done just like any other meat - when juices come out of the meat clear without any hue the bratwurst is done.

Afterwards you can serve bratwurst with cheese and on a roll and with sauce. You can even chop up bratwurst and serve it as a meat on the side of other meat dishes.

Grilled Onions and Mushrooms

A great side with these cuts of meat is to make grilled onions and mushrooms. Take a cup each of chopped mushrooms and onions and wrap them in foil so they are completely covered during the cooking process. Add one cup of your favorite soy sauce and wrap the foil around the mixture and grill on the rack for about 10 to 15 minutes.

What you'll have are a bunch of tender onions and mushrooms which go with any meat you choose to cook. Grilled onions and mushrooms go great as a topping for burgers, steaks and even bratwurst.

No matter what you choose to cook at a tailgate party, do it well. Meats are just one suggestion to cook on your grill but they are fast and easy to make when you prep them before they reach the grill in your stadium's parking lot.

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This winter, if you are having trouble keeping the cold at bay, consider adding a fireplace or fireplace insert to your home. Not only will you add comfort and atmosphere, you will add value to your home as well. A working hearth is considered a plus to home buyers, thus increasing the value of your home. Fireplaces and inserts can be fueled by natural gas, electricity, pellets, or wood and all these fuel sources have their advantages. Pellets and wood are considered renewable energy sources and are economical. But that is not all. Many fireplace inserts have a tax credit as well!

Gas and electric fireplaces and fireplace inserts are generally easier to use with less mess and effort. They are also very efficient and can be hooked up to a thermostat and remote. This way, you have constant heat which you can enjoy with the touch of a button. Whichever fuel source you choose to run your fireplace or insert, one thing is certain; working fireplaces add atmosphere and ambiance to any home. New home buyers love the idea of a working hearth and they make your home more enticing. If you are remodeling for your own enjoyment, a room with a burning fire adds a whole new dimension to entertaining.

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