LaCrete($309/ton) vs Vermont($328) vs Somerset($285)

[RhodyPelletRook]

I'm in need of thorough opinions. Looking to determine right pellet for peak winter heat. Thanks in advance.

 

[TimfromMA]

Buy some of each. When heating season starts, try each one and see which burns better in your stove.

 

[alternativeheat]

I'm in need of thorough opinions. Looking to determine right pellet for peak winter heat. Thanks in advance.

La Crete often comes on 1-1/2 ton pallets, check that out. If that price is for the larger quantity I'd buy those, in fact might buy those anyway. Vermonts are supposed to be very good too though but have no complaints with La Crete.

 

[Brew]

Got no burning experience to share (yet!), but that sounds like a good price for La Crete. I checked five dealers around Worcester before pulling the trigger this Wednesday. Ordered 4.8 tons (4x1.2-ton pallets) at $299.50/ton or $359.40/pallet, then $57 delivery, so $311.38/ton in the end. That was in Barre, 30 minutes NW of Worcester. Where are you in RI?

 

[Pete Zahria]

Personally, I don't think you will be disappointed with the La Cretes......
Very good, clean burning pellet. My choice, even if I had to pay a little more..
I tried a bunch last year..

Dan

 

[TedL]

I burned 3 1/2 tons of vermont last season. an excellent pellet. they burned clean and hot. i also burned spruce pointe and okie df. IMO, i would go with the lacretes solely on price

 

[RhodyPelletRook]

Thank you everyone Great feedback. Going with La create! Have a great summer. Any additional opinions out there -- I'm here!

 

[Pellet-King]

Expensive, Expensive and more Expensive, honestly for those prices I would burn Oil or NG/Propane... your a Pellet Greenhorn with $$$ to burn...

 

[RhodyPelletRook]

Expensive, Expensive and more Expensive, honestly for those prices I would burn Oil or NG/Propane... your a Pellet Greenhorn with $$$ to burn...

I've already picked up 2 tons via tsc at 224/ton, I just want a higher btu pellet for cold season. I'll worry about my $, thanks pellet Yoda.

 

[johneh]

xpensive, Expensive and more Expensive, honestly for those prices I would burn Oil or NG/Propane... your a Pellet Greenhorn with $$$ to burn..

With oil at better than 5$ a gal.here it would cost me 1000$ to fill my tank
The last time I used oil exclusively we used 5 tanks for that winter
We now heat with wood and pellets I pay nothing for wood except
the cost to cut and split (Bar oil and Fuel ) Pellets 4.5 ton @ 285 per
and the OP should burn a few different brands till he find one he likes
and is cost effective

 

[TimfromMA]

Pellets have cut our winter heating costs by 50%.

 

[Pellet-King]

Personally I would not spend $300 for any pellet, would rather burn cheap chit and burn more than less with expensive pellet's, years ago when for many years i was spending $130ish for a ton, saw some for $1

 

[Pete Zahria]

Expensive, Expensive and more Expensive, honestly for those prices I would burn Oil or NG/Propane... your a Pellet Greenhorn with $$$ to burn...

Propane here is almost double the cost over pellets..
Oil is about 50% more.

Dan

 

[Pellet-King]

Sorry $300 a ton or more is too much for me, sure I can more than afford it, but it's your hard earned money to buy what you want, I'm entitled to my opinion.

 

[TimfromMA]

I bought 6 tons of douglas fir pellets at $345 each.

 

[moey]

Pretty pricey at that price Id be considering the comfort of my central heating system for the extra cost.

 

[RhodyPelletRook]

A few subjective points: oil is my only other option and as noted above, it's pricey. NG would be a terrific option, but it's not available. Wood is a poor substitute if I can use pellets. They're a better stored, safer, cleaner option and produce a great heat for my home and family and I'm thrilled to see such immediate savings vs oil.

 

[TimfromMA]

There is no NG on my street so pellets was my best option. Based on the price of my last oil fill, pellets would have to cost $556 per ton before oil becomes more economical. My savings this year alone will be over $700 despite the higher pellet prices. Since douglas fir pellets burn so much hotter I anticipate my pellet consumption to decrease this year increasing my saving vs oil.

 

[Pellet-King]

I live on main st, there is NG but I have not got a estimate to convert, I figure the cost most likely over $4000, that could buy me alot of pellet's, I do not really use my forced air oil furnace, it is very noisy as my bedroom is right above the furnace in the basement and the ducts are very loud, house was built in 1952, never knew they had ducts back then, wish i had hot water pipes like most houses here, alot quieter and more even heat, anyone know how to silence ductwork please let me know.

 

[Phoenix Hatchling]

Burned Vermonts for the last two seasons, and used 70 bags of Lacretes as well last year. The Lacretes had more fines than the Vermonts, and I actually screen the last bit of each bag before going into the hopper. The Lacretes I find burn hotter, and at least with last years batch cleaner than the Vermonts. The Vermonts were much more sooty than the 2012-3013 batch was, and found I needed to clean more often.

This year I am going with the Lacretes, and you should check your prices on these as they usually sell them in 60 bag skids. The main thing I will miss with the Vermonts is the awesome smell they give off while burning. Intoxicating. Also that price you have is MUCH higher than what I paid last year, but the Lacrete pricing seems to have stayed the same. That is more a function of word not fully out about the Lacretes, while Vermont has gotten much airtime with reviews and has acted accordingly.

 

[Phoenix Hatchling]

Expensive, Expensive and more Expensive, honestly for those prices I would burn Oil or NG/Propane... your a Pellet Greenhorn with $$$ to burn...

Greenhorn?? A bit insulting don't you think? Maybe he's just a bit more discerning than you. Burn more of the cheap crap if that's what floats your boat. Everyone's vice and quality of life necessities are prioritized differently. If you would rather burn oil or propane rather than heating with pellets at those prices, your a fool.

 

[Pete Zahria]

.... I'm entitled to my opinion.

I don't think anyone disagrees....

Dan

 

[Pete Zahria]

...NG would be a terrific option, but it's not available. ...

NG is good, for sure. But don't think that the "cheap" price you see quoted now,
is the same during the winter... it isn't. At least not here in my parts..
the price goes up quite a bit in the winter. Some places last year went up crazy,
because so much was being used for electricity. It was nuts what some increases were.

Dan

 

[Brew]

Well while you're advising greenhorns, tell me this: my dealer had La Cretes and Okanagan Golds at the same price. I went for La Crete simply because everyone has advised softwood over hardwood. Yet everybody seems enamored with Okies. Is there ever a time when you would choose hardwood over soft at the same price?

 

[Phoenix Hatchling]

Well while you're advising greenhorns, tell me this: my dealer had La Cretes and Okanagan Golds at the same price. I went for La Crete simply because everyone has advised softwood over hardwood. Yet everybody seems enamored with Okies. Is there ever a time when you would choose hardwood over soft at the same price?

I believe Okies are softwood as well Hardwood seems to produce high BTUs but also burns much quicker. At least in my experience.