Thinking about trying a new pellet this year....

chanlon1974 · Mar 9, 2012

Purchasing a new stove tomorrow. (Enviro M55 cast FS). I usually get my pellets from CTpellet and I have been using Hammer's for the past few years. I love this pellet. Burns hot and clean, but when I started using them they were around $210 a ton. Just got my early buy special email and they are $289 a ton. Now its getting a little ridiculous. I started using pellets to save money!! Anyway, the choices ctpellet offers are Geneva $249, Thurman $259, Barefoot $279, Ohanagan $299, Energex $239, Hammers. $289. I know every stove burns different, but of that list I have burned Hammers, Thurman and Barefoot. Thurman's burned clean, but not very hot. Barefoot was so so. Seemed average to me and of course I love the hammers just not the price anymore. So if anyone has any experience with the M55 and if any particular pellet burns the best in that stove I would appreciate any feedback on any of the pellets off that list. Thanks
Chris

thedude110 · Mar 10, 2012

I'm giving the Turmans a good, hard think at $259.

1Dtml · Mar 10, 2012

The M55 can be tuned to burn most any pellet cleanly, so in imho it becomes a heat vs $$ vs amount of cleaning issue.
With this winter's weather I run my stove on automatic because it produces too much heat on High/Low settings, and I have to clean it way more often because it is very hard to get a clean burn while running at idle (low) all the time.

Having said this I would stay away from high ash content pellets if I ran it on High/low, but when running on automatic the stove burns so cleanly that the ash isn't a big deal to keep clean even with an insert.

At the end of the following thread you can find my temperature, ash level, etc with various pellets, but unfortunately I don't think there are many that match up with your list:

https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/91783/

I hope this helps,

1D

jtakeman · Mar 10, 2012

I have a similar stove to the M55. I have burned them all without issue. I love the Hamers, Barefoots and Okies. But they are getting to rich for my blood. I am looking at the PowerHouse for a fall/spring(I just can't call them shoulders) pellet at $199/ton. Decent pellet with above average heat and less than average ash content. I also burned the Geneva's. Also a good all around pellet. My only complaint with either was they didn't produce the blasting heat like the other 3 brands. Turmans are right up there with the 3. Nice heat and very low ash content. Probably the most consistent pellet out there! Year after year they continue to be hot and clean with very few complaints if any!

Your M55 will burn any of the listed brands(very easily IMHO), So you can be the picky one. Depending on how many tons you need? I'd mix a couple a tons of the PowerHouse with the balance being Turmans. You'll cruise threw the season and put a couple of extra bucks in the bank for some summer fun. Or help pay off the stove purchase! I'm calling the powerhouse a shoulder pellet, But it really isn't so. There is plenty of heat to get you right up to the super cold days without issues. But bunkering some Turmans will cover even the coldest days of the year. Save the Turmans for the cold and ride along frugally with the PowerHouse.

1Dtml · Mar 10, 2012

jtakeman said:
I have a similar stove to the M55. I have burned them all without issue. I love the Hamers, Barefoots and Okies. But they are getting to rich for my blood. I am looking at the PowerHouse for a fall/spring(I just can't call them shoulders) pellet at $199/ton. Decent pellet with above average heat and less than average ash content. I also burned the Geneva's. Also a good all around pellet. My only complaint with either was they didn't produce the blasting heat like the other 3 brands. Turmans are right up there with the 3. Nice heat and very low ash content. Probably the most consistent pellet out there! Year after year they continue to be hot and clean with very few complaints if any!

Your M55 will burn any of the listed brands(very easily IMHO), So you can be the picky one. Depending on how many tons you need? I'd mix a couple a tons of the PowerHouse with the balance being Turmans. You'll cruise threw the season and put a couple of extra bucks in the bank for some summer fun. Or help pay off the stove purchase! I'm calling the powerhouse a shoulder pellet, But it really isn't so. There is plenty of heat to get you right up to the super cold days without issues. But bunkering some Turmans will cover even the coldest days of the year. Save the Turmans for the cold and ride along frugally with the PowerHouse.

Jay, how do Powerhouse compare to GT, or do they compare to something else on my signature list more closely?
As always thanks for your efforts. ;-)

1D

jtakeman · Mar 10, 2012

1Dtml said:
Jay, how do Powerhouse compare to GT, or do they compare to something else on my signature list more closely?
As always thanks for your efforts. ;-)

1D

A little less heat, But a lot less ash. Good bang for the buck at $199/ton. I would try them first if your going to burn in your maxx. There shouldn't be an issue, But I'd perfer a trial to be sure there isn't a problem(I also say this JIC). The Omega, Maxx M, CG60 and M55 should be fine. My only issue was a bit of carbon build up. But also much less than the GT's.

1Dtml · Mar 10, 2012

jtakeman said:
1Dtml said:

Jay, how do Powerhouse compare to GT, or do they compare to something else on my signature list more closely?
As always thanks for your efforts. ;-)

1D

Click to expand...

A little less heat, But a lot less ash. Good bang for the buck at $199/ton. I would try them first if your going to burn in your maxx. There shouldn't be an issue, But I'd perfer a trial to be sure there isn't a problem(I also say this JIC). The Omega, Maxx M, CG60 and M55 should be fine. My only issue was a bit of carbon build up. But also much less than the GT's.

Where are you getting Powerhouse for $199/ton?

chanlon1974 · Mar 11, 2012

Thanks for all the replies. I have just about a ton left of the hammers, so I think I will try a ton of the powerhouse and a ton of the Thurmans. You guys are very helpful...thanks again

smilejamaica · Mar 11, 2012

1Dtml said:
jtakeman said:

1Dtml said:

Jay, how do Powerhouse compare to GT, or do they compare to something else on my signature list more closely?
As always thanks for your efforts. ;-)

1D

Click to expand...

A little less heat, But a lot less ash. Good bang for the buck at $199/ton. I would try them first if your going to burn in your maxx. There shouldn't be an issue, But I'd perfer a trial to be sure there isn't a problem(I also say this JIC). The Omega, Maxx M, CG60 and M55 should be fine. My only issue was a bit of carbon build up. But also much less than the GT's.

Click to expand...

Where are you getting Powerhouse for $199/ton?

http://ctpellet.com/products_pricing.asp

chanlon1974 · Mar 12, 2012

ordered 2 tons of powerhouse today @ $199 a ton. Have 3/4 ton of hammers left. Should be all set for next winter! Hopefully these Powerhouse are pretty good.

1Dtml · Mar 12, 2012

Nice price on the Powerhouse.
Thank you for the Info.

1D

chanlon1974 · Mar 14, 2012

So I get this email today from my pellet distributor....

I just want to make sure that you understand that these pellets are sold on price and we make no promises about them. Iâ€™m not saying that they are bad, but I want to be clear that it would not be fair to compare them to the Hamer pellets that you have been getting from us. They are priced great and considerably less than the Hamer Pellets and because of that, they are a good alternative for some people this year. Should you be dissatisfied with the Power House, you will need to contact the manufacturer directly to resolve any problems as I will not entertain any calls regarding product quality. I only offer this to you because you have been a great customer and I do not want you to be disappointed.

I told him I have done some research on these pellets and was willing to try them for the price and that I understand they are not on the level of the hammers. At $299 a ton for Hammers, its getting a little ridiculous and I can't keep paying more every year for them. Now he has me nervous I made a bad choice. I'm hoping these Powerhouse Pellets are pretty good. Now that I have this M55, I feel better it can be tuned to eat any pellet.

jtakeman · Mar 15, 2012

chanlon1974 said:
So I get this email today from my pellet distributor....

I just want to make sure that you understand that these pellets are sold on price and we make no promises about them. Iâ€™m not saying that they are bad, but I want to be clear that it would not be fair to compare them to the Hamer pellets that you have been getting from us. They are priced great and considerably less than the Hamer Pellets and because of that, they are a good alternative for some people this year. Should you be dissatisfied with the Power House, you will need to contact the manufacturer directly to resolve any problems as I will not entertain any calls regarding product quality. I only offer this to you because you have been a great customer and I do not want you to be disappointed.

I told him I have done some research on these pellets and was willing to try them for the price and that I understand they are not on the level of the hammers. At $299 a ton for Hammers, its getting a little ridiculous and I can't keep paying more every year for them. Now he has me nervous I made a bad choice. I'm hoping these Powerhouse Pellets are pretty good. Now that I have this M55, I feel better it can be tuned to eat any pellet.

Jeff Nichols from GAP/PowerHouse is the person to contact. He's woking hard to make poeple happy. And will stand by his product. He is also a member here, But stays on the sidelines as so people don't think he's peddling his product on hearth. If you have an issue? I'm sure he will work with you. I'll stick my neck out for Jeff! Good poeple IMHO and a good business man.

chanlon1974 · Mar 15, 2012

I'm sure Jeff is great. I guess I was just surprised by the email. "I will not entertain any calls regarding product quality". Little shocking. Maybe they shouldn't sell something they have little faith in. Either that, or they just want me to spend the $299 on the hamers.

jtakeman · Mar 16, 2012

The warning wasn't from PowerHouse/GAP. The warning is from CTPellet and they have had this warning for a few seasons on the lower priced pellets. It started with the Michigans they were selling. Trust me the PowerHouse is a far cry from the Michigans. Scotts just covering his bottom and doesn't want peeps to be returning fuel if there stove has issues burning them.

I wish I had more room, I would be stuffing the bunker full at $199/ton. They will not be this price come fall. More like $259 bare minimum!

chanlon1974 · Mar 16, 2012

I know the warning was from CT Pellet. Its nice they have a pellet at that price point. When I started buying hamers they were a little more than that. Now, I don't see how these pellet companies think people are going to pay these prices.

jtakeman · Mar 16, 2012

Can you imagine if the only pellets your stove liked was Hamers or barefoots?

Glad I got my multifueler and can burn whatever is affordable

chanlon1974 · Mar 16, 2012

I'm glad I got one now!! My old stove was very picky that why I started with the hamers. I cant wait to try these powerhouse! Don't want to wish away the summer, but I can't wait to hunt and burn my stove again!

Freddels · Mar 18, 2012

I burned a little over 3.5 tons of Geneva this winter. I found the heat output to be ok. It was a mild winter so really didn't need to crank the heat. But, the ash content was very high. It was a grainy ash and it built up quickly. I will be looking for something different for next year.

Thinking about trying a new pellet this year....

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