I have the pellet insert for my fireplace. Along with my oil burner. After I got the insert I worked out the numbers and I use 1/3 less oil. And the way they make these pellets and the very little ash that is made. ( much different from the 70's) the cost of the amount of pellets I use vs. The amount of oil I would be using, , I'm saving a significant amount.
Just curious.
How do you distribute the heat from the fireplace insert throughout the house?
If I relied on a fireplace insert I could not figure out how to maintain appropriate temperatures throughout the house. (I thought about it but guess I'm just not smart enough to figure it out - maybe running the central air fan mode only would help distribute the heat, IDK)
Perhaps you can enlighten me as I also would like to be "saving a significant amount"
In my house I have 2 zones with a thermostat controlling each ( set each zone up myself as the house only had one zone when I bought it. I did the plumbing and electrical as doing it myself resulted in me "saving a significant amount".)
One zone controls the bedrooms and associated bathrooms.
The other zone controls the areas used during the day and evenings, i.e., living room (has a fireplace that I use for effect and not for heat) , kitchen, dining room.
The basement has a workshop, finished section with exercise equipment, and laundry room with each not needing baseboard heating or thermostat control as the boiler is down there and throws off sufficient waste heat to keep the area conformable in the winter.
I keep the bedroom temperature rather low during the day (to save energy as it is not occupied then) and the rest of the house warm as it occupied.
During the night the temperature profile scheme is the exact opposite.
With extra insulation and other things I did to conserve energy I use about 600 gals of oil a year. so a 1/3 saving would be 200 gals. That is not all the savings of using pellets as there is a cost to them plus the maintenance and cleanings.