The Heritage pellet stove distinguishes itself from its plain black box counterparts in more than just looks. With an efficiency rating of up to 86 percent, it produces up to 51,000 BTUs per hour, enough to heat 2,000 square feet of space. The stove can also burn at a very low rate, useful for the shoulders of the heating season. A special setting allows it to act as an emergency backup to a primary heating system.
To be sure the stove, with its sandstone or granite soapstone panels and enamel detailing, is a good looking appliance. But the soapstone is more than just cosmetic. The panels absorb heat from the cast iron stove body, radiating it back into the room even after the stove is extinguished.
The hopper holds 50 pounds of pellets, and automatic purging cycles deposit ashes into a separate ash pan keeping clean up easy and minimal. The stove can be direct vented and an optional outside air kit adds to the efficiency.
Fully automatic, the stove can operate with a programmable thermostat for different burn rates at different times of the day.