Hydro pellet stoves
Garda 14
Garda 18
Garda 21
Garda 28
Warmth in the room and in the radiators
A hydro pellet stove does two things at once. It heats the water circulating in the system — radiators, fan coils, radiant panels — and at the same time releases heat into the room where it stands, radiated through the glass and the body.
About a fifth of the heat output stays in the room, and the rest goes to the system. The ratio varies with the model and operating mode, but this is the order of magnitude.
In practice, the room where the hydro pellet stove is installed warms up sooner and more than the others, without waiting for the system to reach full operation. That is why these appliances are installed in the living room rather than in a boiler room.
On request, you can add front ventilation: it pushes warm air into the room and heats it more quickly — useful in spring and autumn, when there is no need to run the whole system.
Hydro pellet stove or boiler?
The difference is not the heat output — it is where the appliance sits and what you expect from it.
A boiler sits in a plant room and does just one thing: heat the water in the system. It is sized for the building’s entire heating demand, and nobody sees it.
A hydro pellet stove sits in your living space. It feeds the system, but also heats the room where it is installed and shows the flame. It is both a heating appliance and a piece of interior design.
The question that guides the choice is simple: do you have a plant room to put it in, or would you rather the heat came from your living room? If the house has a boiler room and you only need heat output, a boiler is the more rational choice. If you want the appliance to heat the room where you spend your evenings as well, a hydro pellet stove does both.
For your shower, too
The 21 and 28 kW models produce domestic hot water instantly, via an integrated plate heat exchanger. No storage tank is needed: the water is heated as soon as you turn on the tap.
The 14 and 18 kW models do not provide domestic hot water: the hydro pellet stove supplies the heating, while hot water still comes from your existing source or a separate water heater.
This difference is worth considering before choosing the heat output, because it changes the appliance’s role in the system.
What heat output do you need?
A hydro pellet stove is sized for the demand of the system it has to feed, not for the room it is installed in. The calculation takes into account floor area, insulation, number of heat emitters and climate zone: the installer does it.
The share that stays in the room is a consequence, not a selection criterion. An oversized model overheats the living room and performs poorly across the rest of the house.
If the hydro pellet stove is also to produce domestic hot water, sizing takes this into account too: it is one of the reasons why the function is only available on the most powerful models.
What you need to install it
A flue compliant with UNI 10683. Checking an existing flue is the installer’s job.
A connection to the plumbing system. The hydro pellet stove is integrated into the existing circuit: in most replacements the heat emitters are left untouched.
Space in the living area. Unlike a boiler, a hydro pellet stove is on show: footprint, position and clearances from combustible materials all need to be considered.
A power socket and, where applicable, the connection for front ventilation.
Frequently asked questions
Can a hydro pellet stove heat the whole house?
Yes, if it is correctly sized for the heating system. It feeds the radiators like a boiler, with the added benefit of the heat it releases directly into the room where it is installed.
Do all hydro pellet stoves produce domestic hot water?
No. In our range, instant production via an integrated plate heat exchanger is available on the 21 and 28 kW models. On the others, the hydro pellet stove supplies heating only.
How much heat stays in the room?
About a fifth of the heat output, radiated through the glass and the body. With the optional front ventilation, the share released into the room increases and the room heats up faster.
How does it differ from a pellet stove?
An air pellet stove heats only the room it is in and, if ducted, the connected rooms. A hydro pellet stove heats the water in the heating system and feeds the radiators throughout the house. See our pellet stoves.
Is a buffer tank needed?
It depends on the system, the heat emitters and whether there are other heat sources. This is assessed by the system designer at the sizing stage.
Is it noisy in the living room?
The pellet feed motor and the circulation pump produce only a low level of noise. Front ventilation, where fitted, can be adjusted or switched off.