So after this year's crunch on pellets, I have been thinking long and hard about the use of them. Let me start out by saying I burn wood, pellets and oil in that order. My wood insert does 70 percent of the heating and the pellet stove is in the small section of an "L" shaped ranch.
We can all do the BTU conversions and have a pretty good idea when it makes sense to burn oil or pellets. One then has to look deeper into what value you get when you buy oil and pellets. Placing a value on being able to gather and store pellets on your time and dollar is hard to put a number on. Unfortunately, the pellet crunch has taken that positive away from the pellet experience. If producers do not step up and assure the masses that they can maintain a steady supply of pellets through the winter, then pellets have become no better than an oil like commodity.. or even worse, since you cannot get it when you need it. Lets drop the "camel" jockey and "keeping you money at home" routine for a minute. Most of our heating oil comes from Canada.
Fortunately my family is in the position where we can choose from a couple of different heat sources. I buy wood at the beginning of the year and keep two years worth so it will properly season. I put a pellet stove in because it was supposed to be easier to keep and store pellets and I would not have to tend it three times or more a day. I did not want to be a slave to two wood stoves (advantage pellets). The "tending" convienence is great, but the weekly or bi-weekly cleaning is also something to think about. I do not mind doing it, combine that with the dragging 40 lb bags of heat into the family home only helps satiate my "hunter-gather" instincts that has very few outlets in my professional world. Hard to put a price on that. The masses may think of this weekly routine as another reason to kick pellets to the curb. Add the supply issues and one has to think pellets are getting a bad name this year.
So I guess the question is, will pellets be a passing fad for the masses or will it stick. I think we have hit a peak in pellet popularity this year. Just a gut feeling. We all know burning pellets is not for everyone, but the pellet crunch may have soured some of the fringe and some of those looking to get in. Heating oil is not at 2008 price levels, but pellet issues in the north east are extreme. I see pellet suppliers looking to sign up people to a monthly payment program so they can defer the cost of pellets over 12 months. My oil and propane company already does that.... do not take away the freedom to buy our heating supplies as we need them. I understand planning and bought my years worth before the season, but this year was different. If pellet producers cannot provide the product in a way that allows freedom to purchase as needed, they have lost a huge selling point. Just my humble opinion.
We can all do the BTU conversions and have a pretty good idea when it makes sense to burn oil or pellets. One then has to look deeper into what value you get when you buy oil and pellets. Placing a value on being able to gather and store pellets on your time and dollar is hard to put a number on. Unfortunately, the pellet crunch has taken that positive away from the pellet experience. If producers do not step up and assure the masses that they can maintain a steady supply of pellets through the winter, then pellets have become no better than an oil like commodity.. or even worse, since you cannot get it when you need it. Lets drop the "camel" jockey and "keeping you money at home" routine for a minute. Most of our heating oil comes from Canada.
Fortunately my family is in the position where we can choose from a couple of different heat sources. I buy wood at the beginning of the year and keep two years worth so it will properly season. I put a pellet stove in because it was supposed to be easier to keep and store pellets and I would not have to tend it three times or more a day. I did not want to be a slave to two wood stoves (advantage pellets). The "tending" convienence is great, but the weekly or bi-weekly cleaning is also something to think about. I do not mind doing it, combine that with the dragging 40 lb bags of heat into the family home only helps satiate my "hunter-gather" instincts that has very few outlets in my professional world. Hard to put a price on that. The masses may think of this weekly routine as another reason to kick pellets to the curb. Add the supply issues and one has to think pellets are getting a bad name this year.
So I guess the question is, will pellets be a passing fad for the masses or will it stick. I think we have hit a peak in pellet popularity this year. Just a gut feeling. We all know burning pellets is not for everyone, but the pellet crunch may have soured some of the fringe and some of those looking to get in. Heating oil is not at 2008 price levels, but pellet issues in the north east are extreme. I see pellet suppliers looking to sign up people to a monthly payment program so they can defer the cost of pellets over 12 months. My oil and propane company already does that.... do not take away the freedom to buy our heating supplies as we need them. I understand planning and bought my years worth before the season, but this year was different. If pellet producers cannot provide the product in a way that allows freedom to purchase as needed, they have lost a huge selling point. Just my humble opinion.
as i watch the oil truck drive by AGAIN
