Anyone Else Burning CleanFire Pacifics?

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bdaoust

Member
Nov 28, 2012
183
Western, MA
I bought three tons of the CleanFire Pacific. Before the real cold weather, I was shouldering Tractor Supply brand.

As I was burning the Cleanfires during the real cold snap (in the minus with windchill), the P68 was keeping the house nice around 70 in room temp feed of 4. However, the heat didn't seem to be as hot as I would expect from a softwood.

I picked some more TSC brand and honestly, these things seems like they are burning hotter. In fact, it was 73 when I left for work today and i haven't touched the dials.

The ash is also about the same.

I'm thinking I don't need to go with the higher priced pellets in the future.
 
All other factors the same - outside temp, baking anything in the oven, electric heater in another spot in the house, etc? Only way to truly verify would be comparison of temps out of the heat exchangers:)
 
Supplier here said they were a 60/40 blend ... can't find any further info. and it doesn't specifically state on the package. A blend of what? Spruce, pine, fir or blend of soft/hardwoods? The Vanderwell Contractors website "under maintenance".
 
I am having clinker issues and a dirty burn with 2 stoves and the Cleanfire Pacific's. One of the stoves was a brand new install, I ran about 10-15 bags of Somerset's with 0 issues then I switched over to the Cleanfire Pacific's because I wanted to make room in shed (they came on a 1.5 ton skid) and it was getting a little colder. I also noticed the label on the bag say "Predominantly Softwood" not 100% Softwood, needless to say I was very upset paying top dollar and not getting what they advertise. We have been going around since the day after Thanksgiving and I feel the folks at woodpellets.com are giving me the run around. I have documented everything on their site and they have sent me reports that could be anything. I have been patient but that is going to end very quickly. By virtue of their misrepresentation I am ready to allege unfair and deceptive practices and call/file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. A simple mistake is one thing, a mistake on purpose is another, but jerking people around that's just not right.

This is their response on 12/4:
I wanted to let you know that I reached out to the Director of Sales for the mill today but it appears he’s unavailable today. I’m confident that I will hear back from him either end of today or tomorrow regarding your concerns on the feedstock.

As Joy mentioned, I manage all the purchasing for our company, and work closely with the mills that manufacture our products. I can assure you that the product you purchased, Cleanfire Pacific, is indeed 100% softwood. The labeling on the bag is a legacy label which we had as our standard several years ago when we worked with mills that may have had a minor percentage of hardwood in the feedstock. We are actually updating this label to reflect “softwood” on our next bag production run to properly identify the “material” on the label.


As soon as I get any additional information, I will contact you or send it along to you.


Kindest regards,

Then on 12/9:


First, I apologize for the delayed response.


I did speak with our Sales Director from the mill at the end of last week, and he did confirm that our Cleanfire Pacific product is indeed made with 100% softwood material feedstock.


I hope that this information provides you with the assurances that you were seeking regarding our product.


Please let me know if you have any additional questions that I may of assistance.


Thank you and have a nice day.


Kindest regards,


I replied:
I am not happy with this……


They replied:
I’m very sorry to hear that. We do apologize for the misprint on the bag and we will be in touch with a more formal confirmation that the pellets are 100% softwood.


Kindest regards,


That was on 12/9 and I am still waiting, I am not one to trash a company but I am really ticked off, we may end up talking class action here.........

They called shortly after and apologized, offered to swap em out (too late as I have moved them around and WILL NOT carry them back out) and ended up giving me a $200 credit, I am not sure I will do business with them again after the run around.
 
Letters from woodpellet.com or company that produces Cleanfire Pacifics? I would wonder why the credit if they are indeed 100% softies...
 
Letters from woodpellet.com or company that produces Cleanfire Pacifics? I would wonder why the credit if they are indeed 100% softies...
They are one and the same, woodpellet.com trucks out the pellets and bags them under the Cleanfire name. I am very disappointed in both the pellet and the run around the company gave me. I was not looking for anything but looking back if they really had confidence in their product and wanted to make it right they should have offered me a pallet of my choice of pellet delivered. Heck, the fact that they are saying on their website that the Cleanfire Pacific is 100% softwood and the bag says predominately softwood is a material misrepresentation. I patiently asked them to explain the mix up and asked for proof, they just jerked me around and said "oh, we never noticed that". I'm still tempted to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
 
I wonder who's pellets they rebag? Do you have any upc codes from the bags?

Might want to take a screen shot of their description as it does say softwood....
 
I've also had problems with clinkers and the Clean Fire Pacifics this year. And we have a brand new stove, too. I thought it may have been due to a longer outside air kit run and was going to increase the fan PRN a bit but I'm still waiting to hear from the rep, too. Will let you know . . .


I am having clinker issues and a dirty burn with 2 stoves and the Cleanfire Pacific's. One of the stoves was a brand new install, I ran about 10-15 bags of Somerset's with 0 issues then I switched over to the Cleanfire Pacific's because I wanted to make room in shed (they came on a 1.5 ton skid) and it was getting a little colder. I also noticed the label on the bag say "Predominantly Softwood" not 100% Softwood, needless to say I was very upset paying top dollar and not getting what they advertise. We have been going around since the day after Thanksgiving and I feel the folks at woodpellets.com are giving me the run around. I have documented everything on their site and they have sent me reports that could be anything. I have been patient but that is going to end very quickly. By virtue of their misrepresentation I am ready to allege unfair and deceptive practices and call/file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. A simple mistake is one thing, a mistake on purpose is another, but jerking people around that's just not right.

This is their response on 12/4:
I wanted to let you know that I reached out to the Director of Sales for the mill today but it appears he’s unavailable today. I’m confident that I will hear back from him either end of today or tomorrow regarding your concerns on the feedstock.

As Joy mentioned, I manage all the purchasing for our company, and work closely with the mills that manufacture our products. I can assure you that the product you purchased, Cleanfire Pacific, is indeed 100% softwood. The labeling on the bag is a legacy label which we had as our standard several years ago when we worked with mills that may have had a minor percentage of hardwood in the feedstock. We are actually updating this label to reflect “softwood” on our next bag production run to properly identify the “material” on the label.

As soon as I get any additional information, I will contact you or send it along to you.

Kindest regards,

Then on 12/9:


First, I apologize for the delayed response.

I did speak with our Sales Director from the mill at the end of last week, and he did confirm that our Cleanfire Pacific product is indeed made with 100% softwood material feedstock.

I hope that this information provides you with the assurances that you were seeking regarding our product.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions that I may of assistance.

Thank you and have a nice day.

Kindest regards,


I replied:
I am not happy with this……


They replied:
I’m very sorry to hear that. We do apologize for the misprint on the bag and we will be in touch with a more formal confirmation that the pellets are 100% softwood.

Kindest regards,


That was on 12/9 and I am still waiting, I am not one to trash a company but I am really ticked off, we may end up talking class action here.........

They called shortly after and apologized, offered to swap em out (too late as I have moved them around and WILL NOT carry them back out) and ended up giving me a $200 credit, I am not sure I will do business with them again after the run around.
 
I have burned about 40 bags of Cleanfire Pacifics this season. They are the second hottest pellet I have ever burned. Average output temp is 305 degrees. The pellet like most softies requires a lot of combustion air to burn hot and ash is very low. Clinkers are non existent, the feed rate on my stove had be reduced...which is a good thing. People ADJUST YOUR STOVES FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE for all pellet brands and please stop bashing a good product. GOOGLE what causes clinkers and read for yourselves.;)
 
I have found the staff at wood pellets.com to be friendly and professional over the years AND have never misrepresented there product. Somersets in my stove burn well. They produce 7 oz of ash per bag and the Cleanfires 5 oz. If they offered you a $200. credit it's most likely because they are tired of listening to you, I know I am......


They've been friendly as well. I simply called them to ask what causes clinkers and they responded with concern and offered to check the lot numbers and verify analysis. I think adjusting the stove could be a perfectly reasonable explanation. My stove fan runs about 2000 RPM at low power. What do you think would be a reasonable, initial increase to provide better combustion air volume? I'm assuming these clinkers are forming only at the lower power settings.
 
Many of us are using the Cleanfire Pacifics on this forum with no issues. Pacific blend means blend of softwoods. All you have to do is compare a mixed hardwood blend pellet to them. WP.COM offered to swap out the pellets and when you didn't agree they offered you A $200.00 credit. I don't understand??
 
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I'll remind folks to keep their responses to others friendly and helpful.

Name calling is not tolerated. Walk away if necessary.

pen
 
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They've been friendly as well. I simply called them to ask what causes clinkers and they responded with concern and offered to check the lot numbers and verify analysis. I think adjusting the stove could be a perfectly reasonable explanation. My stove fan runs about 2000 RPM at low power. What do you think would be a reasonable, initial increase to provide better combustion air volume? I'm assuming these clinkers are forming only at the lower power settings.
I find clinkers develop at higher feed rates. If you don't match the combustion air to the higher setting clinkers will form. If you are getting clinkers at low heat setting, I would check to see if the venting is the correct length and configuration. Last season my venting was 18" to long and, I got clinkers with a lot of pellet brands. If the venting is correct and you are using OAK, turn up the combustion blower in 100 rpm increments until the issue clears up. ;)
 
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