Right on schedule consumption wise...

We burned less than projected for Oct and Nov with two stoves both years, but Dec is over projections, which were based on last year. We burned 14 bags in Oct and 38 in Nov, and project 51 for Dec but have burned 19 as of last night (11th) so are likely to exceed that. Cloudy days have biggest effect as they reduce our passive solar gain, a big factor in this house.

Pres-To-Logs are definitely ashier than last year, and heat output seems a bit lower. Pellet appearance is definitely lighter in color by a marked amount. Monthly deep clean for each stove may need to happen every 3 weeks based on higher ash output, which detracts from value of lower price for Prestos.

Started year with just over 6 tons on hand, about 10% more than projected and near our max storage limit. Plan to switch to Hamers in Jan but may do so a few days early if cold snap hits. Also hope to find Energex and burn about 10 bags as a test for next year, but no luck on that so far. Unwilling to pay $7 per bag to test anything else (the going rate for pellets at Agway, one of the only local places that has anything in inventory I haven't tried before). Box stores perpetually out of inventory in our area.

I'm down to my last 11,240lbs

Haven't even burned half a ton here in Maine yet!

I have 70 bags to burn since October
I'm from Val d'Or in Quebec it is cold here

Golfeur said:

I'm from Val d'Or in Quebec it is cold here

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I almost made it to Val d'Or on snowmobile in 2002. Made it to Maniwaki and as far as Lac Joncas, had to many breakdowns on that trip

how did you enjoy the trails and I hope you enjoy your trip.
in Maniwaki you it was missing 300 km by road to get you to Val d'Or.

I have to make it 5 more days on 9 more bags! When I burn these last 9 bags it will be 2 tons since Oct 18th with a P68 and it has been below average temps here all season for the most part. I am stoked! Pun intended too. I have also ran my stove to extremes playing around with it cranking the house temps to 82* at one point and it has been keeping the house at 75* on average which I would normally be at about 70*.

I have snuck it down to 70* here and there but then she catches me. I made her complain it was too hot in here during an extreme (record setting) cold snap. No fluff here at all. I hate high hopes and disappointment big time. Nothing but the facts. If I dip into another ton for a few bags to make it til the 18th at 75* temps I will update. Fingers crossed and it is warming slightly this week. NICE!

I made a mistake and the wife was spoiled with the excessive heat of the Woodmaster OWB. I figured why not keep the house at boxers and flip flop temps all winter then because it was a use it or lose it deal with all the heat it produces. Now she and the 3 rug rats have grown accustom to being overly warm which I was doing with the P68 too. This bit me in the ass! I will start to gradually throttle it down to hit my 70* goal.

I am still pumped up about it's performance and the way it is heating our home. I am now happier after I just did a count and realize where I am in pellet usage. I was not keeping track but just kept dumping bags as needed. I started with 2 tons I stacked into the garages. Seeing this I went out for a count and have 9 left for 5 days which tells me I am so far averaging a ton per month. SWEET! I estimate I will be every bit of 5 tons all said and done. I can live with that even if I am into ton # 6. That's still great for what I am doing here.

Seems like alot. Im up here in MA and ive only burned 3/4 ton.

TimfromMA said:

Seems like alot. Im up here in MA and ive only burned 3/4 ton.

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But are you keeping your house at 75? THAT seems like a lot.

Tim,
It has been well below average temps here so far and I have not been doing anything to conserve pellets really. My friend in MD has had warmer weather up there. Not sure about NH. I want to see what a max consumption scenario might be. It's also a 68K BTU stove so it's going to use more pellets. I will likely burn an estimated 5 tons this season. Still beats 10- 12 cords of wood.

I normally burned 3.5 to 4 cord augmented with oil. I am hoping to use three to four tons of pellets and not use oil at all. Gone through just over 1 ton thus far.

Peterfield said:

I normally burned 3.5 to 4 cord augmented with oil. I am hoping to use three to four tons of pellets and not use oil at all. Gone through just over 1 ton thus far.

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I burned a lot of wood. OWB I think your goals are realistic. I wanted to use pellets primarily for the shoulder seasons. Now I am going to heat all season with pellets only without a doubt.

We've had a nice spike in warmer temps here too. It's 44* outside right now at 10:49 PM. Not sure if we hit 50 but likely. Forecast was saying upper 40's and I didn't check the outside thermometer. Looked in the hopper about an hour ago and hardly used any pellets idling all day as it's doing now. I'll take it!

In a winter storm warning for tomorrow. First freezing rain and fog then maybe some snow as it all went with the past 48 hours was well above freezing. Shut the stoves down for awhile today.

Wilbur Feral said:

But are you keeping your house at 75? THAT seems like a lot.

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I sweat at anything over 69.

TimfromMA said:

I sweat at anything over 69.

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I'm with you but the wife has a blanket while lounging when it's 95* and humidity is high in July if the AC is too cool. I am already in the process of hitting my 70* mark. Been creeping it down. I was really experimenting and running the stove thru some paces. Trust me. It won't be 75 in here all winter. Way to hot for me and she can put on warmer clothes. This all started years ago with the OWB.

I have some leverage. I'll ask her if she'd rather dress a little warmer and keep it at 70* with the pellet stove or prefer to start chucking wood and keep it at 75*. DONE! She despises the cold. She hates chucking wood in the cold more. That was a major reason for getting a pellet stove.

My pellet stove could make the house 90 if I let it.