NEWP start up problem?

jjones139 · Dec 15, 2013

Has anyone experienced any issues with NEWP failing to light up properly. 3 days ago I cleaned my ash and had a horrendous time getting them to light. Same thing today, but I was prepared and used some gel starter once I realized it wasn't going to start with the igniter. When I'm burning my Greene Team Platinums I have no issues. Other than the start up and heavy ash I don't have any other concerns with NEWP because they burn hot for me. I'm happy that I only have 5 bags left of NEWP then it's onto my GTP

After reading many of the posts on this site, I see there are many of you who do not care for NEWP.

P38X2 · Dec 15, 2013

Did they get damp? Is your igniter clean? Try a propane torch next time. It's a great pellet starter...and works pretty good on stuck bolts and ants too.

Maybe the NEWP's are trying to tell you something....like "don't bother"

jjones139 · Dec 15, 2013

LOL, but you're right. I just cleaned the stove this afternoon and usually I use the ash vac to clean out the igniter hole. Maybe I should clean it with a soft wire brush next time. Other than the ignition and ash they do burn HOT! 5 bags to go and I'm thru with NEWP !!!

GeHmTS · Dec 15, 2013

I think the concerns with NEWP are mainly unfounded. You have attested that they burn hot as do I, but the zealous will not believe it and always present some counter argument without facts or data. I did have this same issue as you with my ignitor not working but I did not point the finger at NEWP. What I found is that I wasn't getting a good suction on my hopper lid when a vacuum was being pulled. Check to make sure you are getting a good seal and that your gaskets are making a tight seal.

It's not always the pellets.

jjones139 · Dec 15, 2013

GeHmTS said:
I think the concerns with NEWP are mainly unfounded. You have attested that they burn hot as do I, but the zealous will not believe it and always present some counter argument without facts or data. I did have this same issue as you with my ignitor not working but I did not point the finger at NEWP. What I found is that I wasn't getting a good suction on my hopper lid when a vacuum was being pulled. Check to make sure you are getting a good seal and that your gaskets are making a tight seal.

It's not always the pellets.

jjones139 · Dec 15, 2013

Thanks for the info. I must admit that I do need to tighten the latches to secure the hopper better. I totally agree that NEWP do burn HOT!! I guess it was a little premature to think it could be the pellets.

hooter04 · Dec 15, 2013

I've been burning newp for 5 yrs without any problems,only time they didn't start was because the ignitor was shot.

jjones139 · Dec 15, 2013

Thanks again! The igniter does glow and will start the pellets, but after a few error start ups I was a little concerned. I will clean the igniter housing area real good next cleaning and will also tighten the latches to seal the hopper better !!!

P38X2 · Dec 15, 2013

GeHmTS said:
I think the concerns with NEWP are mainly unfounded. You have attested that they burn hot as do I, but the zealous will not believe it and always present some counter argument without facts or data.

Lol. Good one.

...but if it works for you, that's cool. Burn what makes you happy and warm.

fmsm · Dec 15, 2013

GeHmTS said:
I think the concerns with NEWP are mainly unfounded. You have attested that they burn hot as do I, but the zealous will not believe it and always present some counter argument without facts or data. I did have this same issue as you with my ignitor not working but I did not point the finger at NEWP. What I found is that I wasn't getting a good suction on my hopper lid when a vacuum was being pulled. Check to make sure you are getting a good seal and that your gaskets are making a tight seal.

It's not always the pellets.

I had the exact same argument with my buddy who has been burning since 2000, myself I have been burning since 1997. He kept saying how I was crazy and the NEWP were great. Well, I sent him up 2 bags of Barefoots (what I was burning at the time) and he asked me and I quote " What the *#&^ did you send me rocket fuel?" he could not believe a pellet could burn that hot and with little to no ash. He's one of the cheapest people to roam this earth yet he spent $300 a ton last year on Vermont pellets, and is waiting to spend a bit more than that this year. He now realizes the value of a good clean pellet that burns hot, and he now knows what hot is! I just tossed in some Douglas Firs for the 10 degree nights and am very pleased with them. I am burning 20-30% less pellets than with Cleanfire Pacific Softies that burn hot but may be a little dirty. I paid $30 more per ton for the Douglas Firs and wish I had bought all Douglas Firs and no Pacific Softies. The cost difference really isn't that great. I did also score 3 tons of Somersets for short money, they burn very hot and clean, as hot as my Pacific Softies and cleaner!

Lousyweather · Dec 16, 2013

GeHmTS said:
I think the concerns with NEWP are mainly unfounded. You have attested that they burn hot as do I, but the zealous will not believe it and always present some counter argument without facts or data. I did have this same issue as you with my ignitor not working but I did not point the finger at NEWP. What I found is that I wasn't getting a good suction on my hopper lid when a vacuum was being pulled. Check to make sure you are getting a good seal and that your gaskets are making a tight seal.

It's not always the pellets.

its usually the pellets when one cant figure what else it might be, but I concur, and will add, failure to start is almost NEVER the fault of the pellet......

CT Pellet · Dec 16, 2013

P38X2 said:
Lol. Good one.

...but if it works for you, that's cool. Burn what makes you happy and warm.

if the vast ocean of "concerns" on this forum against NEWP are "unfounded" then the members here must have secretly held a meeting and arbitrarily chose NEWP as the "target" mill to go after in a malicious manner.

Lousyweather · Dec 16, 2013

CT Pellet said:
if the vast ocean of "concerns" on this forum against NEWP are "unfounded" then the members here must have secretly held a meeting and arbitrarily chose NEWP as the "target" mill to go after in a malicious manner.

well, I think you have to factor in that the folks who post here are a VERY small percentage of pellet burners, and the vast majority of burners don't simply post here at all. Also, when we look at a quantitative analysis of Twin Ports testing, we see that the NEWPs simply aren't the garbage pellet that some here seem to profess. I do believe they are easily the largest selling pellet in the Northeast. Now, if they were THAT BAD, do you think they would be as successful as they are? Are they the best pellet available in the NE? Many folks here use different criterion to determine the BEST. To some, its heat output. To others, its the amount of ash. To still more, its the price. Hey, to each his own. Ive burned my P61 for 14 years now...on the 15th year currently. I have burned a myriad of pellets, some good, some great, and some bad. In looking back, I have to conclude NEWPs aren't the garbage some here say. I have 8 brands available to me currently....softwoods, hardwoods, doug fir, hardwood blends. I have 5 tons of NEWP's sitting in my basement and I don't feel like I am gonna be colder than any of the pellet elitists here.......but, well, maybe Im not as picky either.

jjones139 · Dec 16, 2013

Nice said! I agree with the hot burn and the extra ash is no big deal to me. I care about the heat and that's what really matters

P38X2 · Dec 16, 2013

Not to deviate too much from the topic at hand, I will say the derogatory remarks I've made towards NEWP in the past couple years were always, IIRC, in reference to the ash content. I don't recall ever having said anything bad about the BTUs. I'm talking Jaffrey plant stuff. Seems, quite often, the NY offerings get the complaints regarding heat.

I think the fact people join this forum says a lot about their interest in pellet stoves, but does the number of "pellet heads" here come remotely close to the number of pellet burners out there? Of course not. IMO, the "reviews" on a given pellet, while subjective, are probably quite accurate, and are written by people who are likely more particular than the average Joe. I don't think the fact NEWP is the largest producer of pellets in the NE because they make the best pellet. Steve Walker is clearly a very smart fellow and has the capital to continue to expand his business and offer a product that is both affordable and very easily accessible to a LOT of people, most of them "average Joe" pellet burners, who are happy to have a product that keeps their home warm without being overly concerned with how they burn.

On a side note, I'm frozen to the core right now. Guess I should've picked a less windy and cold day to snowblow my yard and change the oil in my truck. I was just rudely reminded that I can control precisely the direction the wind is blowing with the discharge lever on my machine

jjones139 · Dec 16, 2013

P38X2 said:
Not to deviate too much from the topic at hand, I will say the derogatory remarks I've made towards NEWP in the past couple years were always, IIRC, in reference to the ash content. I don't recall ever having said anything bad about the BTUs. I'm talking Jaffrey plant stuff. Seems, quite often, the NY offerings get the complaints regarding heat.

I think the fact people join this forum says a lot about their interest in pellet stoves, but does the number of "pellet heads" here come remotely close to the number of pellet burners out there? Of course not. IMO, the "reviews" on a given pellet, while subjective, are probably quite accurate, and are written by people who are likely more particular than the average Joe. I don't think the fact NEWP is the largest producer of pellets in the NE because they make the best pellet. Steve Walker is clearly a very smart fellow and has the capital to continue to expand his business and offer a product that is both affordable and very easily accessible to a LOT of people, most of them "average Joe" pellet burners, who are happy to have a product that keeps their home warm without being overly concerned with how they burn.

On a side note, I'm frozen to the core right now. Guess I should've picked a less windy and cold day to snowblow my yard and change the oil in my truck. I was just rudely reminded that I can control precisely the direction the wind is blowing with the discharge lever on my machine

Go warm up! Well said response

Big E · Dec 16, 2013

I would like to add my 2 cents...I burned NEWP until I tried something else. The last year of burning NE's, I was tired of the huge amounts of ash, so...I called NEWP and sent a sample of ash, pellets and an empty bag for analysis. All were within spec. So, off to do some testing. I set up a tripod with an infrared heat gun, pointed down the heat exchangers and a notebook. I started with NE's burning on #2 setting for a few hours. Then #3 and finally #4. After thorough cleaning, I refilled the stove with Barefoot pellets, and Checked on #2, then #3, and finally #4. I was getting average 80 degrees hotter at the hottest point on every setting with Barefoot pellets.

Now the ash; I did not measure scientifically the ash output, but after a week of burning, I would have to shut down because my Big E was plugged full of ash burning NEWP. Now, I shut down once a week to clean/scrape the burnpot, and because I want to, not because I have to, burning Barefoot.

I want NEWP to do well, as they bought a facility 25 miles from my house and most people like me want jobs to stay local. But I cannot and will not switch back until I see some changes.

jjones139 · Dec 16, 2013

Now that's some attention to detail! I've read a ton on here and so many say Barefoot are a very good pellet. I went on their website and they do not have any retailers within 100 miles according to their locator. I did follow up with an email asking the same. Holy Ash is all I can complain about with NEWP! 3 bags of NEWP remaining and then its onto the 25 bags of Greene Team Platinum! Thanks for the info

I'm learning more and more each day thanks to all of the posts and comments on this site.

SXIPro · Dec 18, 2013

I think a lot of people that are happy with NEWP have only burned NEWP. Sure they burn 'hot'...fire usually is 'hot'. But are they the hottest? Not a chance. The cleanest burning? Hell no. I've also heard stories of certian dealers (there is one right up the road from me) that have told their customers, that they should only burn NEWP because they are the best. Of course NEWP just happens to be the only brand pellet these dealers usually carry. When I bought my stove over 13 years ago, NEWP was about the only pellet around here and I thought they were wonderful. Now that there is plenty of competition, and I've got to try many different brands of pellets, there is no way I'd burn NEWP. I can get FSUs for $80 a ton less than NEWP and they burn hotter, far cleaner, and produce about 1/4 the ash the NEWPs produced. But, to each his own.

jjones139 · Dec 18, 2013

Now I'm totally disgusted with NEWP !!!

I had to clean the stove this morning AGAIN only after 2 days and removed 2 coffee cups full of ash!! Why are they so dam ASHY or do I really care because I'm all finished burning them. I now have a ton of Greene Team that I scored on a 10% coupon and then they gave my Dad another 10% for military discount. I've burned 2 bags of GTP prior to NEWP and they were nice and 100% better. It's all trial and error for me since I'm a newbie to pellet stove ownership

Lousyweather · Dec 19, 2013

like I said before, different folks value different things in a pellet, but I lay odds that the majority of folks value the price over all others.....especially these days.......I find folks tend to balk at a great pellet (say, Doug fir), when its $60=$70 higher per ton, even though it burns with a lot less ash and mo' heat.

jjones139 · Dec 19, 2013

My only complaint with NEWP is the heavy amount of ash & clinkers. They do burn hot and I am not concerned about spending money as long as it gives me a good result. As I said, I'm new to pellet stoves and value all of the posts and comments made on this site.

jjones139 · Dec 19, 2013

NEWP is gone! I did a heavy cleaning and filled the hopper with Greene Team Platinum

Now to shed some light....I originally posted regarding issues with NEWP failing to ignite properly and heavy ash concerns. Well, I fired up the stove and it ignited without incident using GTP. Coincidence, I don't know, but what I do know is that following the last 3 cleanings it would not ignite using NEWP!! At this point I'm done with NEWP, but it's bittersweet because my buddy sells it to me at a good price. I had also emailed my dissatisfaction to New England Pellet and they did write back asking for some information, which I gladly provided and they also will be sending a packet in the mail so that I can send them an ash and NEWP pellet sample. I will carry onward now.......

fmsm · Dec 19, 2013

Lousyweather said:
like I said before, different folks value different things in a pellet, but I lay odds that the majority of folks value the price over all others.....especially these days.......I find folks tend to balk at a great pellet (say, Doug fir), when its $60=$70 higher per ton, even though it burns with a lot less ash and mo' heat.

It hurts to spend on the Firs but I gotta say I'm loving them......

Big E · Dec 19, 2013

Costs are always a concern, however so is my time to clean the stove. $210.00 per ton of NEWP Versus $235.00 per ton for Barefoot. My time is just as valuable as $25 per ton difference. Plus more heat as I have documented.

NEWP start up problem?

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