Hum, above on buying pellets: “..not sure where the next supply is coming from.” This is consistent with a thread earlier lamenting (or warning) that China is buying up all sorts of wood products, including pellets. I don’t have any data on this, but it is an input I have taken along with the economy of burning pellets verses hardwood (and mixed softwoods) as I shop for a new fireplace insert. At $219 a ton, what 18 Million BTUs?, the price is higher than delivered hardwood here in NJ, now about $175 and about 24 Million BTUs. Add to this the fact that I, and many others, can get a few nights worth of firewood off the property, and wood and pellet stoves today give about the same efficiency of about 75%, wood seems to be the safest and most cost effective choice for me.
Sorry, off topic a bit, but the reason I read this is I am (was) considering the trade-offs of different fuels in my search for the best new insert for my application.
Just saw an advertisement in the Morning Sent. Springbrook in Waterville are selling locally made pellets for 219.00 a ton or 199.00 in a bulk bag. They will deliever, wasn’t able to verify anything as they are closed today. It looks as if we have many options for pellets in the Waterville area. Cost very as much as $30.00 plus a ton.
Hi Moe,
They are in bags. When i talked with them on Thursday I was told that they didn’t have many left. I was told they “cleaned out” Corinth pellet. Not sure if i believe that or not but anyways I called on Thursday and they were in my driveway 2 hours later. Today was fun putting 3 tons in my basement by means of the cellar stairs just in time before it rained. I thought it was supposed to be 65 and sunny today. Oh well..
Question: Three tons of wood pellets stored inside, is there any problem with that much material attracting rodents or other pests? I’m sure (hope) it comes in clean, no bugs or critters, but it does seem there could be a down side to storage inside. I’m not saying there is, I don’t know....but I can “feel” your warmth from thinkng about all that fuel in the basement, you’re all ready for next winter.
Thanks for the response. I called them after reading your message. They said the $25.00 delivery charge was for up to 10 tons. That’s a really good price, I think. I thought it was going to be nice here yesterday, too. I usually say I’m from Bangor because people from away have heard of Bangor oftentimes, but I really live in Brewer, too. So we’re neighbors. I’ve ordered in the past from Blue Seal Feeds and Needs, Dysart’s, Bean Enterprises. I really like the fellows at Bean Enterprises. They helped stack the bags in our garage and were really nice guys. Dysart’s has the nice little three-wheeled forklift and will set a pallet right down in your garage. But I will get my pellets from whomever has the best price. I go through five tons in the house and three in the office.
What kind of stove do you have? Nice to know there’s someone else from Brewer here on the list.
Jerry,
For me the best place to store my pellets is in my basement, main reason is that it is out of the conditions and its close to the stove. I do have a shed but its at the bottom if my hill and by now means will the old thing hold 6,000 lbs of anything, i’m just glad it keeps my mower dry! If i had a garage without a doubt the pellets would be in there, my back would be much happier today if that was the case.
Moe,
I just purchased an American Harvest 6039 mulit-fuel stove online thanks to the President and stimulus money (putting mine to good use). I am so new to the pellet scene that my stove was delivered on Tuesday and so did the pellets. I just didnt want to run the risk of pellets going through the roof like oil. My stove is still in the crate in my mud room awaiting me to install it. I got a great deal on the stove, i understand that its not the best quality stove but it is sure going to beat paying $400 every 20-30 days for oil.
Congratulations and best wishes for a warmer and less expensive heating season with your new stove. I love mine. Both of ours are keeping us warm on these damp May days. When for one reason or another they’re not working or run out of pellets, it’s as if someone has died here. My entire family feels the same way. If I am standing in front of the stove, my four-year-old grandson calls me a “stove hog.” I think you’ll be happy you made the purchase.
Here, Here! on making good use of the government “stimulation package”....I will consider our $1,200 (I assume) as part of our upgrade to our 20 year old insert...albeit I’ll most likely stay with wood for fuel. In any case, the insert I’m focused on is a Washington State company, Quadrafire, and of course the labor, I’m to old and scared of height and steep roofs to install myself, will all be US, and if I buy from my long time chimney service company and Quadrafire dealer, all the labor will be legal US citizens. Now that’s putting the stimulation package to good use: most going directly into the US economy, not China’s (the pipe and insulation source is unknown to me at this time) and it will reduce my need for central heating, albeit most is from Coal and Nuclear as Jersey Central Power and Light is less than half oil, as I recall. My central heat is a geothermal heat pump - electric. With the high efficiency of this geothermal unit it was competitive with oil at $1.50 a gallon, and while oil has gone from that to over $4, electricity has gone up only (only I say, it is all relative) 50%, far less than has oil. I assume this is due to electric rates be regulated and JCP&L;can’t show their costs have gone up as much as oil has, i.e., they use a lot of coal and Nuclear.
just had a co-worker call me from east corinth...he stopped and asked for me if they would sell to the general public,and they told him they only sell in bulks of 25,000 lbs. or more. they have distributors at aubuchon and blue seal( agway). i dont know about the rest of you but i surely dont need 25,000 lbs...lol. the blue seal deal at 219 a ton sounds great though.
That’s only 12.5 tons MJ.. I bet that is one heating season in Maine worth of pellets for someone with a large home. Seeing as the heating season runs from July 31 until June 31. And that is when the days in July hit atleast a high of 60. haha
That Waterville guy i talked to said he usually gets $35 for delivery but because i live in Embden he would have to bump it up a bit . Great fella, company owned biz for 90 years . Said if i wasn’t in a hurry , he would “pool” me up with other people in my area . Told him i was fine with that & give me 5 tons . You fellas in the Waterville area are very lucky . Maine pellets by the way. He said it was the first thing made locally he was selling since ice . He said his phone was ringing off the wall. $219 is a great deal , Muss
I’ve been talking to teh guy at Kittery Ace hardware and they are going to be starting pellet pre-buy soon for Southern Maine.
He was saying he was expecting to be able to offer premium pellets (probably Naragansett) for 250 per ton with no delivery charge.
Home and Hearth in Hampton NH is selling NE Hardwoods for 229 with a $105 (flat) delivery charge to Southern Maine.
Do you know whether whether those 25,000 lbs were bagged or in totes or how they are contained and what the price would be? I used eight or nine tons/per season with two stoves (one in the house and one in the five-room office), and if the price was right and they could be stored appropriately, it might be worth it.
moe,
i believe they are totes. the guy who checked for methinks they are bagged off sight for the distributors who sell them. no idea on the price though.
There is a plan now to install silos in Eastport, ME to hold bulk pellets that will then be shipped to China. I don’t know why we’re shipping them to China when more people should be burning them here, but maybe it’ll help to reduce oil consumption in China too (they are driving oil prices up because of their increased consumption).
There is a plan now to install silos in Eastport, ME to hold bulk pellets that will then be shipped to China. I don’t know why we’re shipping them to China when more people should be burning them here, but maybe it’ll help to reduce oil consumption in China too (they are driving oil prices up because of their increased consumption).
Seriously?
That does not make any sense to me. I could see export to Europe, but I can’t imagine them getting a very good price in China. Particularly after you factor in the transportation costs.
I wonder if your source is accurate on that.
They will need something other than all of our trash and scrap metal to fill all those ships returning to China for another load of carp back here. Beats deadheading. I would charge em double or triple if I was the pellet supplier.
Will
