Pellet choice in Bucks County PA

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fullfatboy

fullfatboy

Member
Sep 20, 2011
41
Washington Crossing, PA
I have a Harman Accentra insert heating my home to avoid the dreaded oil man. Last year I went through almost 5 pallets and plan to buy five again this year. I have tried to test the pellets in my stove and measure the heat output using a digital thermometer. The resulting heat output always seems to be about 220-240'F regardless of the pellet I try. I've tried pellets from Lowes, Home Depot and Tractor Supply. I would like to decide on one brand and have the 5 pallets delivered. As you can understand I am a little worried that I will make the wrong choice and have 5 pallets of crap. If anyone has any thoughts, advice, etc. on my pellet choice I would be appreciative. While I know some pellets cost more I don't want to pay $6 a bag.
Home Depot - Stove Chow
Lowes - Cheat River & Presto Log pellets
Tractor Supply - Greene Supreme and their own brand
 
I have had good results with the Prestologs (Lignetics) from Lowes. The Flemington NJ Lowes has them again this year, and I bought 2 tons. The Wood Heat store (also Flemington) has CC Smith brand pellets, which I have burned in prior years, with the same performance as the Prestologs, but they charge $240 per ton, versus $199 for the Prestologs.
 
Presto-Logs or Stove Chow would be my choice. You might want to also look closer at the Tractor Supply brand, they used to be bagged by Hamer if I remember correctly. Hamer is an excellent pellet.
 
fullfatboy said:
I have a Harman Accentra insert heating my home to avoid the dreaded oil man. Last year I went through almost 5 pallets and plan to buy five again this year. I have tried to test the pellets in my stove and measure the heat output using a digital thermometer. The resulting heat output always seems to be about 220-240'F regardless of the pellet I try. I've tried pellets from Lowes, Home Depot and Tractor Supply. I would like to decide on one brand and have the 5 pallets delivered. As you can understand I am a little worried that I will make the wrong choice and have 5 pallets of crap. If anyone has any thoughts, advice, etc. on my pellet choice I would be appreciative. While I know some pellets cost more I don't want to pay $6 a bag.
Home Depot - Stove Chow
Lowes - Cheat River & Presto Log pellet
Tractor Supply - Greene Su
and their own brand
Click to expand...


I've had both Presto logs and Stove Chow and I would say hands down go with the Presto Logs. IMHO I think they blew away the Stove Chow. I would get Presto logs again, wouldn't buy the Stove Chow again. Some people like em, but not me. Too much ash and not enough heat!
 
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I have been buying pellets from this guy for the last few seasons. Might want to check him out.
http://www.papelletguy.com/

He usually has 3 brands on hand.
 
MtDew said:
I have been buying pellets from this guy for the last few seasons. Might want to check him out.
http://www.papelletguy.com/

He usually has 3 brands on hand.
Click to expand...
Out of his 3 choices of Easy Heat, O'Malley and New England, I would say O'Malley, but I think I would still go with Presto or Chow before any of those three, they are not a good choice in pellets.
 
Cozy Barn started carrying Easy Heat's this year as well as O'Malley's. Will711 picked up some O'Malley's from them and started burning them tonight. He said so far so good but it was still early on.
 
Pelleting In NJ said:
I have had good results with the Prestologs (Lignetics) from Lowes. The Flemington NJ Lowes has them again this year, and I bought 2 tons. The Wood Heat store (also Flemington) has CC Smith brand pellets, which I have burned in prior years, with the same performance as the Prestologs, but they charge $240 per ton, versus $199 for the Prestologs.
Click to expand...

I'm curious what stove you have? I get most of my pellets from wood heat (C & C Smith) $229 a ton in april. Thinking of trying the prestologs as well in my Mt. Vernon.
 
X2 on the PTL's.....burned 3 bags of of Wood Pellets Co. (C&C Smith) last season....great heat but a bit ashey....PTL's last season had great heat and very low ash for me.......
 
tsmith said:
Out of his 3 choices of Easy Heat, O'Malley and New England, I would say O'Malley, but I think I would still go with Presto or Chow before any of those three, they are not a good choice in pellets.
Click to expand...

Stove Chow? I tried a few bags of those last year and I thought they were garbage! Never tried the Presto Logs, might have to see if I can find some. The O'Malley burned so much better in my stove. I burned almost 3.5T on O'Malley last season without issue.
The PAPelletguy stores all pellets inside, Lowes and HD can't all say that. I know they are all wrapped and have the giant pallet bags to keep out moisture but I am just leary about pellets I see sitting outside. Just me I guess.
 
MtDew said:
Stove Chow? I tried a few bags of those last year and I thought they were garbage! Never tried the Presto Logs, might have to see if I can find some. The O'Malley burned so much better in my stove. I burned almost 3.5T on O'Malley last season without issue.
The PAPelletguy stores all pellets inside, Lowes and HD can't all say that. I know they are all wrapped and have the giant pallet bags to keep out moisture but I am just leary about pellets I see sitting outside. Just me I guess.
Click to expand...
You're in my old neck of the woods... Go Indians!
 
Not sure if they still have stock but Ray's Nursery in Telford had Barefoot's.
 
I spent the weekend testing various pellets and found that the Tractor Supply Brand that is out this here gives off the most heat. They also seemed good in terms of low dust. How they will run over long periods is yet to be seen but in terms of heat, they were superior to the Cheat River, Presto Log and the Stove Chow. I ran the test three times over the course of three days and had similar results every time. I used a digital thermometer and left the setting the same for all tests. The Tractor product was always in the 230'F and up range on my Harman Accentra while the other products were always at least 10 degrees colder. So with that I'm going to put my money down on Tractor Supply pellets this year and see how it goes. You can test till your blue in the face but eventually you need to buy something. Tractor supply also carried Apalachian and one other pellet but neither or those were as good as the Tractor brand.
 
fullfatboy said:
I have a Harman Accentra insert heating my home to avoid the dreaded oil man. Last year I went through almost 5 pallets and plan to buy five again this year. I have tried to test the pellets in my stove and measure the heat output using a digital thermometer. The resulting heat output always seems to be about 220-240'F regardless of the pellet I try. I've tried pellets from Lowes, Home Depot and Tractor Supply. I would like to decide on one brand and have the 5 pallets delivered. As you can understand I am a little worried that I will make the wrong choice and have 5 pallets of crap. If anyone has any thoughts, advice, etc. on my pellet choice I would be appreciative. While I know some pellets cost more I don't want to pay $6 a bag.
Home Depot - Stove Chow
Lowes - Cheat River & Presto Log pellets
Tractor Supply - Greene Supreme and their own brand
Click to expand...
hi, kinda late here but bucks County also.. lower bucks[ tullytown/bristol area]
bought my Harman P61A at E & E chimney..
I get my pellets from them... Energex Premium Hardwood... burn great.
 
I recommend Reading Anthracite! ;lol
 
Well, I'm convinced you Bucks and eastern Montgomery folks have a much wider selection than those of us in Chester County. It's either box store (Chow, Cheat, Green Supreme, Presto) or Hamer's (thankfully). I bought 3 tons of Hamer's from Gasworks (Frazer) but my guesstimate was off with the second stove coming on line this year, so I'm experimenting with box store brands just to see what I find. Nothing compares to Hamer's, so far, but I did get a decent batch of Cheat River last week. Green Supremes were not great. Most of what you have over your way is not available here.
 
Up here in Portland,Maine the supply of wood pellets is very low. I called around the area and the only wood pellets available was garbage pellets. I called the South Portland Home Depot. The only wood pellets they had was the Presto Log pellets. I bought 20 bags of them. I was surprised at how dark they were. I've burned 4 bags so far and I must say I was very pleased with them. The fines were nonexistent,the ash are very low and no clinkers. The heat has been very good too. The Presto Log is made by Lignetics. They used to make great pellets. So far they are back doing that.
 
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tsmith said:
Out of his 3 choices of Easy Heat, O'Malley and New England, I would say O'Malley, but I think I would still go with Presto or Chow before any of those three, they are not a good choice in pellets.
Click to expand...
I know this is an old post but after burning 2 tons of Stove Chows,[great heat] the ash is almost double what I get from O'Malley's..
 
Tonyray said:
I know this is an old post but after burning 2 tons of Stove Chows,[great heat] the ash is almost double what I get from O'Malley's..
Click to expand...
The ash from Chows is silly, IMO ! At least 4 times what I get from AWF Pure White Pine bought from the same HD at the same price. And the AWF burned hotter. Chows produced more ash in my stove than Energex Hardwood, which debunks the opinion that Chows and Energex are the same pellet. Just sayin, that's my experience as burned in my P61a..
 
alternativeheat said:
The ash from Chows is silly, IMO ! At least 4 times what I get from AWF Pure White Pine bought from the same HD at the same price. And the AWF burned hotter. Chows produced more ash in my stove than Energex Hardwood, which debunks the opinion that Chows and Energex are the same pellet. Just sayin, that's my experience as burned in my P61a..
Click to expand...
definitly big difference in Ash content since I just finished up last years Chows and burning Energex now which are Ashy but not like Chows.
 
fullfatboy said:
I spent the weekend testing various pellets and found that the Tractor Supply Brand that is out this here gives off the most heat. They also seemed good in terms of low dust. How they will run over long periods is yet to be seen but in terms of heat, they were superior to the Cheat River, Presto Log and the Stove Chow. I ran the test three times over the course of three days and had similar results every time. I used a digital thermometer and left the setting the same for all tests. The Tractor product was always in the 230'F and up range on my Harman Accentra while the other products were always at least 10 degrees colder. So with that I'm going to put my money down on Tractor Supply pellets this year and see how it goes. You can test till your blue in the face but eventually you need to buy something. Tractor supply also carried Apalachian and one other pellet but neither or those were as good as the Tractor brand.
Click to expand...
You may have Lignetics.
 
fullfatboy said:
I have a Harman Accentra insert heating my home to avoid the dreaded oil man. Last year I went through almost 5 pallets and plan to buy five again this year. I have tried to test the pellets in my stove and measure the heat output using a digital thermometer. The resulting heat output always seems to be about 220-240'F regardless of the pellet I try. I've tried pellets from Lowes, Home Depot and Tractor Supply. I would like to decide on one brand and have the 5 pallets delivered. As you can understand I am a little worried that I will make the wrong choice and have 5 pallets of crap. If anyone has any thoughts, advice, etc. on my pellet choice I would be appreciative. While I know some pellets cost more I don't want to pay $6 a bag.
Home Depot - Stove Chow
Lowes - Cheat River & Presto Log pellets
Tractor Supply - Greene Supreme and their own brand
Click to expand...
I have a harman p35 insert. Even though they say that they can burn anything Stove Chows are horrible. So much ash and fines . Not worth it. If you can find FSU at Home Depot get them . They are a good pellet for me
 
Harman newbie said:
I have a harman p35 insert. Even though they say that they can burn anything Stove Chows are horrible. So much ash and fines . Not worth it. If you can find FSU at Home Depot get them . They are a good pellet for me
Click to expand...
I have not burned FSU this year but did last year and based on my experience last year I'd put the ash in FSU as just as bad as Chows with less heat. But hey, it may be a whole different thing this year. Non of them are as bad as last years Natures Own yet though, those I actually returned (TSC took them back). They made such a mess I was going to leave them there whether I got my money back or not, I didn't want them !
 
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