How to heat your home's radiators more efficiently and sustainably
Are you spending too much on heating and looking for a more affordable alternative to keep your home’s radiators warm? A pellet boiler stove might be the right solution for you. In this article, I’ll help you understand which model among the available options best suits your needs.
The ideal pellet stove for radiators must efficiently and quickly heat the water circulating in the system. Below are the key questions you should ask yourself to choose the right one.
HOW POWERFUL SHOULD IT BE?
The power of the pellet stove for radiators depends mainly on two factors:
- the total volume to be heated, which includes not only the space in your home but also the volume of water circulating in the system;
- the insulation level of the building, which greatly affects the heat requirement needed to maintain comfort.
To get a rough estimate of how many kilowatts your hydro stove should have, you can follow the instructions listed in our article. However, sizing is a complex calculation that should ideally be done precisely by a qualified technician to avoid surprises.
WHAT ARE THE BEST HYDRO STOVES?
There are various models of pellet boiler stoves on the market, with widely differing price ranges. I recommend considering the following aspects to choose the best one:
- Energy efficiency class A+ or higher and at least 4 environmental quality stars: these are essential aspects and, in some areas of Italy (e.g., Emilia Romagna, Piedmont, Veneto, and Lombardy), even mandatory for new constructions or purchases;
- Automatic combustion control: the most advanced models offer automatic and adaptive combustion management based on the installation and pellet type, ensuring optimal efficiency;
- Self-cleaning brazier: this extends the time between cleanings and makes using the stove even more similar to a traditional gas boiler;
CAN I ALSO HEAT DOMESTIC HOT WATER IN ADDITION TO RADIATORS?
If you also need to heat the water you use for washing and bathing, you should seriously consider purchasing a storage tank (puffer). While the most powerful hydro stoves (from 22–24 kW upwards) can produce instant domestic hot water if equipped with a DHW (Domestic Hot Water) kit, there's a catch: the water comes out hot only if the stove is on and operating at full capacity. If it's off or running at minimum, it may take several minutes to get hot water. Additionally, these stoves do not provide a very high water flow rate, which is why pairing them with a puffer or boiler is always recommended.
