Noticeable Reduction in Pellet Usage

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TimfromMA

Minister of Fire
Mar 6, 2014
2,306
Central MA
I’m trying to figure out if it’s a result of outside temperature or improvements I made such as OAK and higher grade pellets.

Anyone else notice this too?
 
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Tim...you need to find another hobby....this one is starting to consume you!
 
I’m trying to figure out if it’s a result of outside temperature or improvements I made such as OAK and higher grade pellets.
All of the above probably ? I have noticed decreased drafts in the house with OAK. I cleaned the ESP on my Harman and have noticed decreased pellet use but its also not particularly cold out. Soooo ! And I know only a little bit about St Croix stoves. But I did suspect that you would notice a decrease in pellet use and also ash quantity with those DF's.
 
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I’m trying to figure out if it’s a result of outside temperature or improvements I made such as OAK and higher grade pellets.

Anyone else notice this too?

At $6.90 a bag for those Okanagans you should be thrilled...
 
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Seems like its been warmer this year in NE. Although when I checked HDD (Heating Degree Days) for this year compared to last year around me they were different by 1 HDD. My electric usage was about 20% lower for Nov for our heating system compared to last year.
 
Tim...you need to find another hobby....this one is starting to consume you!

Yes I also need another hobby(!).....but here's my unscientific and unofficial data anyway........;hm

With the same brand of pellets and same stove configuration:

2012 Dec 1 - 47 bags burned
2013 Dec 1 - 41 bags burned
2014 Dec 1 - 33 bags burned

So it appears it's been warmer, but I wouldn't extrapolate out too far........For example, winter 2013-14 turned out to be much colder than 2012-13 even though 6 fewer bags had been burned by Dec 1st.
 
It's not all that consuming. Every morning when I top the stove off, I make a note of how many pellets I've used in the last 24 hours. It takes less than a minute.
 
Had two very cold snaps and now it's warming up. Stove is in the process of shutting down. 33 out. Pellet use is about the same as last year. Meh. It is what it is. As long as it keeps me safely warm I can't complain.
 
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Had two very cold snaps and now it's warming up. Stove is in the process of shutting down. 33 out. Pellet use is about the same as last year. Meh. It is what it is. As long as it keeps me safely warm I can't complain.
Sound like he has to much time on his hands .. What I do is fill the hopper when it's getting low I just put another bag in
 
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Likely it was the OAK....

Probably has been said before, but some quick math at my home indicated that my 90cmf combustion blower was changing over the air in the house about 13 times a day....

Since the replacement air has to come in from somewhere, and that pulls in cold air. Best to pull in the cold air at the stove and use it to combust.

The comfort in the rooms furthest from the stove seem to improve markedly.
 
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