For more information about Crelogix, please visit http://www.crelogix.com/

Kuma is a family owned business that has been manufacturing wood stoves in Hayden Idaho since 1981. Mark Freeman and his son Jason are the main drivers behind the business. We are very pleased to be taking on this line because it gives us a traditional looking wood stove that is certified for the Canadian market. It will fit very nicely with the Bosca line which is a very european look.  For more information about Kuma Stoves, visit http://kumastoves.com/index.php

Dave Fraser and I attended our first HPBA event a couple of weeks ago.  Even though the Pacific Dealer Round Up  does not attract many folks from Western Canada, we thought it would be useful to spend some time on the BOSCA stand so we could participate in conversations with dealers along with the factory folks from BOSCA.  Gerardo Besoain, Todd Falco and Shelley Decar are all very knowledgeable folks and we knew we could learn a lot by just being there.  I also wanted to have the opportunity to meet other manufacturers and distributors just to compare notes and find out what is going on in the Hearth Industry from their perspective.  The second part of the mission was a great success but unfortunately the first part was a total bust.

In my 35 years of attending or participating in trade shows of various types, I have never experienced a show where so few customers actually showed up.  In speaking with other vendors, a couple of folks were quite happy with their results but in most cases people were really wondering why they were there.  It’s a real shame when this happens because the manufacturers and service providers who spend the money and time to be at the event will seriously question if they want to do this again.  

While I am brand new to the Hearth Industry, I am a fan of regional type shows in helping to build community in any industry.  

My only hope is the lack of attendance at this particular event doesn’t kill it for future years.  With respect to the second part of my mission, meeting other manufacturers and distributors, I had success.  What a great bunch of people.  I found them really willing to share thoughts about the market place and their products which they were obviously very proud of.  One thing I have learned in my short time around this industry is if you ask someone about their product you had better have some time on your hands because it will not be a short conversation.  As a Western Canadian distributor of hearth products I came away with several opportunities to explore that could really help build our business.  On the pellet stove market side of things my sense is dealers are still sitting on inventory from last season and there is a real reluctance to take on any more inventory until the current stuff moves out.  This is no surprise given last seasons’ sales performance.  With wood appliances there seems to be mixed results depending on who you talked to and where there market focus was.  Ditto for the BBQ grill business.

All in all, I am glad I attended the event.  While I didn’t get everything I was looking for I got enough to  justify the trip cost and time spent.

Ben Hume, President
Alco Ventures Inc.

Ben Hume, President, Alco Ventures Inc.

For many years, we had been looking for a business opportunity that would counterbalance our heavily summer-oriented sales patterns.  Everyone I talked to who was knowledgeable about the hearth industry mentioned BOSCA as makers of great value wood and pellet stove products from both an end-user perspective and a dealer perspective.  BOSCA stoves not only have the Euro-style detailing that connotes high-quality but they are in the top-tier in terms of heat output and efficiency at very competitive prices.

From a dealer perspective, we think the serviceability and practical use of the same components in all product models– all made here in North America– is also a big plus.  Consumers’ groundswell of interest in pellet stoves as carbon neutral heat sources and growing interest in stoves in general as a way to cut home heating bills make this a wise business expansion, both for Alco and all the dealers we enlist to join the Western Canadian Sales team for BOSCA. 

Alco’s philosophy has always been that our dealers are both our customers and our partners and we gear every aspect of how we do business with this in mind.  BOSCA is exactly the kind of company we want to represent, because they too have a focus on quality manufacturing,  engineering excellence, and a culture focused on providing top service to their dealers.

Ben Hume, President
Alco Ventures Inc.
turning good houses Into Great Homes
http://www.alcoventures.com

Dealership inquiries can be directed to Mr. Hume at: bhume@alcoventures.com, +1-604-888-7655.

The pellet stove has changed in appearance over the years from a simple, boxy workhorse design, to a decorative heating appliance. Pellet stoves can be either free-standing units or fireplace inserts vented into an existing chimney. Most pellet stoves are constructed using large, conductive, steel or cast-iron pieces, with stainless steel to encase circuitry and exhaust areas.

The heating industry has considerably shifted toward biomass stoves and heating devices based on efficient combustible and renewable resources. This was a trend that began during the 1973 oil crisis causing the creation of the first pellet stoves. Even so, pellet stoves have become a viable, economical, and popular option for home heating systems only in the last ten years. Many pellet stove manufacturers recommend the use of a corn and pellet mixture, though some are UL listed for fuels other than pellets, such as wheat, corn, sunflower seeds, and cherry pits.

Pellet stoves are relatively versatile appliances. Most pellet stoves are self-igniting and cycle themselves on and off controlled by a thermostat. Stoves with automatic ignition can be equipped with remote controls. Recent innovations have created computer systems within pellet stoves which run diagnostic tests if an imminent problem arises.

A properly cleaned and maintained pellet stove should not create creosote, the sticky, flammable substance that causes chimney fires. Pellets burn very cleanly and create only a layer of fine fly-ash as a byproduct of combustion. The grade of pellet fuel affects the performance and ash output. Premium grade pellets produce less than one percent ash content, while standard or low grade pellets produce a range from two to four percent ash. Pellet stove users should be aware of the extra maintenance required with a lower grade pellet, and that inconsistent wood quality can cause serious effects to the electronic machinery over a short period of time.

A pellet stove is normally associated with pelletized wood. However, many pellet stoves will also burn fuels such as grain, corn, seeds, or woodchips. In some pellet stoves, these fuels may need to be mixed with wood pellets. Pelletized trash (containing mostly waste paper) is also a fuel for pellet stoves.

Unlike wood stoves which operate exclusively on a principle of chimney draft, a pellet stove must use specially sealed exhaust pipe to prevent exhaust gases escaping into the living space due to the air pressure produced by a combustion blower. Pellet stoves require certified double walled venting, normally three or four inches in diameter with a stainless steel interior and galvanized exterior. Because pellet stoves have a forced exhaust system, they have the advantage of not always requiring a vertical rise to vent, although a three to five foot vertical run to induce some draft is recommended to prevent leakage in the case of a power outage. Like a modern gas appliance, pellet stoves can be vented horizontally through an outside wall and terminated below the roof line, making it an excellent choice for structures without an existing chimney. If an existing chimney is available, manufacturers urge use of a correctly sized stainless steel liner the length of the chimney for proper drafting.

In many states pellet fuel is exempt from sales tax.

A pellet stove normally consists of these components, whether basic or complex:

• A hopper
• An auger system
• Two blower fans (combustion and convection)
• A firebox (burn-pot and ash collection system), sometimes lined with ceramic fiber panels
• Various safety features (vacuum switch, heat sensors)
• A main control box/board

To properly function, a pellet stove uses electricity and can be plugged into a normal wall outlet. A pellet stove, like an automatic coal stoker, is a consistent heater consuming fuel that is fed evenly from a refillable hopper into the burn-pot (a perforated cast-iron or steel basin), through a motorized system. The most commonly used distributor is an auger system that consists of a spiral length of metal encased in a tube. This mechanism is either located above the burn-pot or slightly beneath and guides a portion of pellet fuel from the hopper upwards until it falls into the burn-pot and begins to combust.

Fan systems are necessary for clean, economical performance. The flame produced is concentrated and intense in the small area of the burn pot as a combustion blower introduces air into the bottom of the burn-pot, while also forcing exhaust gases up and out the chimney. While some pellet stoves will be hot to the touch (especially on the viewing window), most manufacturers utilize a series of cast-iron or steel heat exchangers that run along the back and top areas of the visible firebox. With a convection blower, room air is circulated through the heat exchangers and directed into the living space. This method allows for a much higher efficiency than the radiant heat of a hand-fed wood or coal stove, and will in most cases cause the top, sides and back of the stove to be not more than warm to the touch. Along with convection air, an exhaust fan forces air from the firebox through special venting specifically made for pellet fuel. This cycle of circulation is an integral part of the combustion system as well, for the concentrated high-temperature flame will quickly overheat the firebox. The possible problems associated with overheating are electrical component failure and flames traveling into the auger tube causing a hopper fire. As safeguards, all pellet stoves are equipped with heat sensors, and sometimes vacuum sensors, enabling the controller to shut down if an unsafe condition is detected.

Pellet stoves can either be lit manually or through an automatic igniter. The igniter piece resembles a car’s electric cigarette lighter heating coil. Most models have automatic ignition and can be readily equipped with thermostats or remote controls.

Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pellet_stove

Soul 700 Insert Pellet Stove

Limited Lifetime Warranty InformationBOSCA
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Soul 700 Free Standing Pellet Stove

Spirit 500 Black Pellet Stove

• BTU: 40,000
• Heating Capacity: 1,500 – 1,800 sq. ft.
• Emission Rate EPA Certified: 1,2 gr/hr
• Overall Efficiency: 85%
• Hopper Capacity: Up to 66 lbs.* (varies depending on pellet size, length and diameter)
• Burn Time: 66 hours
• Burn Rate: 0,75 lb to 4,5 lbs. per hour
• Color: Charcoal (Optional: Stainless Steel Panels)
• Durable Welded Steel Construction
• Self Ignition
• Four Heat Settings
• Two Speed Convection Blower
• Thermostat Ready
• Vacuum Safety Switch
• High and Low Switches Protected
• Hopper Switch Protected
• High Temperature Ceramic Glass
• Ash Removal System
• Air Wash System
  

  Spirit 500 Pellet Stove with Optional Stainless Steel Panels

• Extra Large Easy Access Ash Pan
• Mobile Home Approved (U.S. and Canada)
• Refractive Brick (Optional
• Product Specifications ~ Spirit 500 Pellet Stove
• Owner Manual ~ Spirit 500 Pellet Stove
• BOSCA Limited Lifetime Warranty Information 
• Tax Certificate

Classic 500 Black Pellet Stove

• BTU: 40,000
• Heating Capacity: 1,500 – 1,800 sq. ft.
• Emission Rate EPA Certified: 1,2 gr/hr
• Overall Efficiency: 85%
• Hopper Capacity: Up to 66 lbs.* (varies depending on pellet size, length and diameter)
• Burn Time: 66 hours
• Burn Rate: 0,75 lb to 4,5 lbs. per hour
• Color: Charcoal
• Durable Welded Steel Construction
• Self Ignition
• Four Heat Settings
• Two Speed Convection Blower
• Thermostat Ready
• Vacuum Safety Switch
• High and Low Switches Protected
• Hopper Switch Protected
• High Temperature Ceramic Glass
• Ash Removal System
• Air Wash System
• Extra Large Easy Access Ash Pan
• Mobile Home Approved (U.S. and Canada)
• Refractive Brick (Optional
• Product Specifications ~ Classic 500 Pellet Stove
• Owner Manual ~ Classic 500 Pellet Stove
• BOSCA Limited Lifetime Warranty Information 
• Tax Certificate