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Get Your Pellet Fire Serviced

Book in an annual service for your pellet fire by a qualified technician or service agent.

Pellet Fires

What are the pellets made of?
Is the fuel supply guaranteed?
Are pellet fires clean air approved?
Are pellet fires noisy?
Are there different flue options?
How efficient are pellet fires?
What happens if the electricity goes off?
What is to stop the price of wood pellets doubling once I have committed to a pellet fire?
What happens if I lose my owner’s manual?
How often do I need to have my fire cleaned and/or serviced?
Why has the back of my firebox changed colour?
How heavy is a bag of pellets?
How long will a bag of pellets last?
Can I buy pellets in bulk?
How much space does one tonne of pellets take up?
Where can I store my bags of pellets?
How much ash do wood pellets leave?
If my fire won’t start, what are the most likely causes?
How does a pellet fire work?

What are the pellets made of?

The pellets are made from New Zealand pine woodwaste. The source material is sawdust and shavings, a by-product of timber milling, which historically would be disposed of in landfills. Pellets are 100% wood and contain no glues or chemicals. The natural resin in the wood binds the pellets together and gives them their glossy appearance.

Is the fuel supply guaranteed?

New Zealand has a remarkably large timber industry with a plentiful forestry resource. This resource is being managed for sustainability to ensure the supply is continuously renewed for future use. Because wood pellets are made out of woodwaste from the timber industry, this means that the pellets by nature are a renewable and sustainable fuel source. Pellets are one of the only fuels New Zealand has in a large and reliable supply. Nature’s Flame is owned by Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd – a company that is committed to producing renewable and clean burning fuel for residential use. Nature’s Flame has made significant investments in both upgrading the Rolleston pellet plant and building a new plant in Rotorua, with another plant planned to come online in Taupo in late 2009, in order to facilitate this commitment.

Are pellet fires clean air approved?

All Switch pellet fires are “clean heat approved” in line with all local Council and Government standards in New Zealand.

Are pellet fires noisy?

Pellet fires contain two fans and an electric auger. Continued improvements over the past few years have seen fans mounted in a way that minimise noise. However, when the appliance is running there will be a small amount of noise associated with the fans and the air movement they produce. Many customers have likened it to the background noise of a fridge or dishwasher and while it may be noticeable at first, will become part of the normal household noise over time.

Are there different flue options?

Yes. The flue on pellet fires is small and can readily be installed internally or externally. A range of bends is available to allow for corner installations or to divert around any problem objects that may be encountered.

How efficient are pellet fires?

The efficiency of pellet fires is very high and ranges between 75% and 88%. Fan forced combustion allows the fires to burn very cleanly and without smoke.

What happens if the electricity goes off?

The Switch range of pellet fireplaces need electricity to run. If the electricity goes off while the fire is operating it will simply shut down. When the electricity comes on again the fire can be restarted.

Pellet fireplaces use very little electricity, and during electrical outages they can be run using a simple 12 volt battery and current inverter. Switch has information on some suitable petrol generators and 12 volt batteries which can also be used to run other household appliances during a power crisis. Please contact us for details on future proofing your home against power outages.

What is to stop the price of wood pellets doubling once I have committed to a pellet fire?

Nature’s Flame, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the State Owned Enterprise Solid Energy New Zealand Limited, is committed to supplying low cost fuel to the New Zealand market. Woodwaste is abundant, renewable, accessible and readily available, all at a low cost. Wood pellets will continue to be available at a price which will remain very competitive with other fuel options, well into the future.

What happens if I lose my owner’s manual?

There are two options available if you lose your manual. The first is you can visit our website www.switchenergy.co.nz and follow the links to the owner’s manuals, or you can visit your local Switch Dealer who can supply you with a copy.

How often do I need to have my fire cleaned and/or serviced?

Pellet fireplaces use very little electricitywhen running, and during electrical outages they can be run using a suitable generator or inverter and 12 volt battery.Switch has information on some suitable petrol generators and 12 volt Inverter / batteries, which can also potentially be used to run other small household appliances during a power outage.

Why has the back of my firebox changed colour?

After a period of usage the paint on the back of the firebox will discolour. This is normal and does not indicate any problem with the fire.

How heavy is a bag of pellets?

Wood pellets are sold in 15kg bags. For people who find 15kg bags difficult to handle a scuttle can be used to fill the fire hopper.

How long will a bag of pellets last?

A 15kg bag of pellets will burn for approximately 15 hours of normal operation dependent on fire model. On high 15kg will last between 6 to 8 hours, and on low it will last between 16 to 20 hours. All fires will hold a complete 15kg bag of pellets, with some holding over two bags in the hopper.

Can I buy pellets in bulk?

Pellet fuel is available from Nature’s Flame in one tonne, or half tonne delivered loads. Smaller amounts can be purchased from retail outlets.

How much space does one tonne of pellets take up?

One tonne of pellets measures 1.3 cubic metres. This is about 1/3 of the space the same amount of wood would require for storage.

Where can I store my bags of pellets?

Pellets should be stored in a dry, covered area.

How much ash do wood pellets leave?

Less than 1% ash is left when pellets are burned. 5kg of ash for every tonne of pellets.

If my fire won’t start, what are the most likely causes?

If the fire will not light check that both the burn pot and burn pot liner (if applicable) are installed correctly. The installer will demonstrate how to position the burn pot liner in the fire and this must be clean with all holes visible prior to starting the fire every day. When inserted the low side of the burn pot liner must face the back of the firebox. This will ensure that the hole aligns correctly with the electric igniter (where installed) and that the fire will start.

Re-start the fire once these have been correctly placed.

How does a pellet fire work?

Wood pellets are placed into a hopper (1)

An electric auger (3) feeds the pellets into a burn grate (7) at a rate determined by the temperature control.

An automatic igniter (5) starts the fire (optional on some units)

Fire heats the air in heat exchange tubes (6) and a convection fan (2) blows this heated, uncontaminated air into the room where a stove is situated

There is an ash pan (4) below the burn grate into which the residue falls. Typically, a stove only needs to be filled once a day and the ash pan needs to be emptied only once or twice a year.