Most Influential Home Products of the Decade, Part IV: Wood-pellet stoves and zero-turn-radius mowers
December 29, 2009 4:36 PM
The Napoleon NPS40 pellet stove.
Our Most Influential Home Products of the Decade posts have covered French-door refrigerators and low-VOC paints; front-loading washers and compact fluorescent lightbulbs; and induction-cooking appliances and bamboo flooring. Here, learn about innovations for home heating and lawn care.
Wood-pellet stoves
Wood-pellet stoves have become a hot product. Shipments of these appliances surged about 800 percent between 1999 and 2008. Appealing to many consumers is the fact that pellets can be a less-expensive form of heating fuel. What’s more, they have some green appeal, as they’re often made from sawdust from lumber mills and flooring manufacturers.
We tested six models for our October 2009 report on pellet stoves. While pellet stoves are not a guaranteed money saver, they can perform well as outsized space heaters. Read our report on alternative energy, which includes ratings of wood pellet stoves (available to subscribers) and buying advice for solar water heaters.
Zero-turn-radius mowers
With their rear engine and rear-wheel steering, zero-turn-radius mowers can mow circles around the competition. That kind of maneuverability, once enjoyed only by pro landscapers, is likely appealing to today’s ruralpolitans.
There are some downsides to zero-turn-radius mowers, which tend to cost more than traditional riding tractors. They can be hard to control on hills, and their lever steering takes some getting used to. While spring is still months away, check out our buyer’s guide to and ratings of zero-turn-radius mowers and lawn tractors and self-propelled and push mowers (available to subscribers).
—Daniel DiClerico
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