Degree Day Pellet Usage.

I estimate one bag per day for each heating day. On those off days when even the stove might operate for 2 out of 24 hrs is still considered a full bag. This estimate has worked for me so far the past 5 years.

Stevekng said:

I don't know if it makes any sense to figure usage this way. I had too much time on my hands the other day and decided to see what happened if I divided the degree days this year (5124 so far) by the total bags of pellets I've used (180 so far). The resulting figure was about 28.5 bags per degree day.

I don't know if this is a way to predict pellet usage. If there is anyone out there that has way more knowledge than me (like a third grader), maybe someone could straighten me out (or not) on this idea.

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28.5 heating degree days per bag. Vs 28.5 bags per heating degree day.

I do the same. The last 6 years all very similar numbers of the btus required per heating degree day. It does vary from month to month but all novembers are close and all January are close etc.

Stevekng said:

I don't know if it makes any sense to figure usage this way. I had too much time on my hands the other day and decided to see what happened if I divided the degree days this year (5124 so far) by the total bags of pellets I've used (180 so far). The resulting figure was about 28.5 bags per degree day.

I don't know if this is a way to predict pellet usage. If there is anyone out there that has way more knowledge than me (like a third grader), maybe someone could straighten me out (or not) on this idea.

Click to expand...

What you've calculated is similar to the K-factor for oil use.

Actually, I think you meant to say 28.5 degree days per bag. My rule of thumb is about 20 degree days per bag, but I flip the number so that it's half a bag per 10 degree days.

A typical winter day here is about 30 to 40 degree days, so I use about 1.5 to 2 bags on a typical winter day. On the coldest days, about 60 degree days, I use almost 3 bags.

How well does it match my old oil use? Very well actually. My K-factor was about 10, meaning I used one gallon of heating oil per 10 degree days. So, I'm roughly using 20% more pellets than I would have used oil, but I'm also heating my house a little warmer than when I used oil, so the math works fairly closely.

I figure a bag a day like John193. But I also just make sure I have pellets downstairs to burn. Doesn't matter how much I burn, it's cheaper and we're warmer with pellets. I haven't burned any oil this season for heat.

Only 68 degree days in Key West, just saying.....

Cooling days are another story

I average 2.1 pounds per degree day. This year I'm averaging 94 pounds of pellets per day.