Pellet Consumption this week..

Just put in bag 100 for the season. I'm running about 42 bags less than last season for this time. On cold days (under 25 degrees) I put on 2 bags a day. Most of the time it's a little over a bag a day .

2 bags a day in my Lopi AGP insert heats 1600 sqft to 70-73 .. tight modern house with good insulation, eastern side has a lot of windows so the sun helps when it is out

AndrewChurchill said:

My pellet "K" factor is 2 pounds of pellets per degree day. This past week I've been averaging 85 pounds per day.

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I think that's the equivalent of an oil K-factor of 8.3, which means you burn a gallon of oil for every 8.3 degree days. And if we do like above, where the K-factor is based upon 1 bag of pellets, then your 2 lbs/DD is the same as 1 bag equals 20 DDs.

I'm roughly in the same boat, if it's 25 degrees out on average, which is 40 DegreeDays, then I use about 2 bags in 24 hrs, or 1 bag equals 20DDs.

Since I just checked my DegreeDays around here in Central Maine, it appears that we are on average about 2 degrees above what we were last year. Warmer, but not by much.

NONE! As of last night. Getting a cold snap and decided to fire the Woodmaster to exercise the pig. It's a nice break and I have really noticed how much quieter it is watching the idiot box (TV) without the P68 running. I still like my pellet stove. I just went out in the sleet turning to snow to load the pig up. I hate that about it but it is usually a load in the AM before work and another when I return home so I am outside anyway. It does really suck when it needs fed and I have to leave the warmth, gear up, brave the cold after being cozy and half asleep to do it at times. What a drag!

I did this OWB fire up also to do my mid season squeaky clean and prep the stove for the wife since I am leaving for an out of town job. House is nice and warm as usual so I can leisurely take my time and piddle with it in the interior tropical temps here. LOL!

BTW, I have been averaging somewhere between 1.5 to 2 bags in 24 hrs during the colder temps. I am somewhere into my 4th ton now. Still have 4 tons left and over untouched stored and at least a ton and a half inside the garage we are picking from now. I am still at 5 tons plus left in stock. About three tons are now ash. I just fill it and enjoy the heat. I don't really care about counting bags and documenting outside temps. My goal is to get an average usage per month and tons per season. KISS!

I started Oct. 18th so I am now over three months in and burnt a bit over three tons as I am into the 4th now. It's the only heat source thus far and kept hot in here. Granted now I am heating with wood for a few days just because.

I burn 158 bags since October 9

lagger said:

2 bags a day in my Lopi AGP insert heats 1600 sqft to 70-73 .. tight modern house with good insulation, eastern side has a lot of windows so the sun helps when it is out

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Same here. I thought I was the only one. I found a bin that holds 2 bags of pellets in TSC and a 4 quart scoop that makes it easier to fill the hopper.

mmj said:

Same here. I thought I was the only one. I found a bin that holds 2 bags of pellets in TSC and a 4 quart scoop that makes it easier to fill the hopper.

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Do you have a link for those?

Getting ready for a test burn of TSC horse bedding pellets.

="Tonyray, post: 1882414, member: 30937"]why don't you just scoop out of the bag?

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I pour mine from the bag into a "decorative" coal scuttle that we keep on the hearth. And no, I don't sift or do anything else.

Tonyray said:

why don't you just scoop out of the bag?

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We have an insert placed into a very small zc space in my living room. The hopper was not able to be fully extended to fit 80 lbs, we are not even able to put a 40 lb bag in at one time. We have to fill up twice a day from the same bag. My husband brings the bags up from the garage, and since I am home I scoop out the pellets as needed. I don't like having the bags laying around. I had been looking for something that can hold at least two bags just in case I needed to use more than one bag. Most coal hods barely hold 40 lbs. Come April/May the bin goes down in storage room until November.

mmj said:

We have an insert placed into a very small zc space in my living room. The hopper was not able to be fully extended to fit 80 lbs, we are not even able to put a 40 lb bag in at one time. We have to fill up twice a day from the same bag. My husband brings the bags up from the garage, and since I am home I scoop out the pellets as needed. I don't like having the bags laying around. I had been looking for something that can hold at least two bags just in case I needed to use more than one bag. Most coal hods barely hold 40 lbs. Come April/May the bin goes down in storage room until November.

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Can't get 40 lbs into your hopper. Have a very small space in the LR yet a coal hod at 40 lbs is too small and you want something bigger for your small space?

I don't think I've had enough coffee this morning. . . . . . . .

F4jock said:

Can't get 40 lbs into your hopper. Have a very small space in the LR yet a coal hod at 40 lbs is too small and you want something bigger for your small space?

I don't think I've had enough coffee this morning. . . . . . . .

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I did not say I had a small living room, I said I did not want the bags hanging around in the living room. The bin is not obstrusive, and it suits my purpose.

mmj said:

I did not say I had a small living room, I said I did not want the bags hanging around in the living room. The bin is not obstrusive, and it suits my purpose.

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+1, still looking for something decorative, preferably, eh, 2-bag capacity. I have a spot in the corner of the room picked out, near the stove but semi-concealed.

tiger said:

+1, still looking for something decorative, preferably, eh, 2-bag capacity. I have a spot in the corner of the room picked out, near the stove but semi-concealed.

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Exactly! I have more than enough room on either side of my hearth to put anything there. My contractor that did my stone surround told me he found a decorative chest that he said holds 2 1/2 bags in Home Goods. A friend of mine built a pellet container that holds 8 bags. For me I can't see having those bags sitting around in the very room we entertain in. I like neatness. I think that during the summer I will look for something decorative that can be both functional and fits my décor.

mmj said:

Exactly! I have more than enough room on either side of my hearth to put anything there. My contractor that did my stone surround told me he found a decorative chest that he said holds 2 1/2 bags in Home Goods. A friend of mine built a pellet container that holds 8 bags. For me I can't see having those bags sitting around in the very room we entertain in. I like neatness. I think that during the summer I will look for something decorative that can be both functional and fits my décor.

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Don't know about it matching your decor but maybe you can find an old wooden chest or trunk at a flea market or second hand shop. Lined with aluminum tray material it should work.

F4jock said:

Don't know about it matching your decor but maybe you can find an old wooden chest or trunk at a flea market or second hand shop. Lined with aluminum tray material it should work.

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Yes that was also suggested. I remember reading on this forum back in Sept. before I actually purchased my insert someone saying they found a lined metal chest with the worn leather strapping in the salvation army for $15.00. The visual in my head is definitely something I would love to have. I love vintage items. I have all summer to look. My friend said pier 1 is getting a lot of inquiries for pellet storages.
Home Goods is a hit or miss. There are some pellet stoves/inserts that are intricately beautiful. I had mine painted brown/bronze and that makes it stand out. So I a looking for something to compliment it.

mmj said:

E My contractor that did my stone surround told me he found a decorative chest that he said holds 2 1/2 bags in Home Goods.

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Thanks, never been to a Home Goods, there must be one around here somewhere.

Alternatively, "used" as F4 suggests, maybe Craigslist.

tiger said:

Thanks, never been to a Home Goods, there must be one around here somewhere.

Alternatively, "used" as F4 suggests, maybe Craigslist.

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Google Home Goods. I thought they were everywhere lol

Tonyray said:

we are not even able to put a 40 lb bag in at one time.
is it that the Hopper doesn't hold 40 pounds or because a limited opening angle hampers you from dumping whole bag at once/? [never had an Insert]

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When the guy came out to take the measurements he told us being that the space was so tight he would not be able to extend the hopper all the way out, and that we would not be able to get a full 40lb bag in at one time. I could get a good 25-30 lbs in. On a day over 39 degrees on medium low setting it will give me a good 18-20 hours before refilling. When the temps go below, and I have to crank it up to medium high it goes around 12 -15 hours. When the temp is in the single digits I get maybe 5-7 hours before using the rest of the bag and some of the second. We could have opted for the stand alone stove, but we wanted something in place of the fireplace. I often wonder why a builder would put such a small fireplace in a spacious area (1700 sq. ft.).

Tonyray said:

ok.. Understand..
btw: how are the O'Malley;s doin for you?

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They were good. We check TSC on a weekly basis to see if they have any more. The heat was good. Right now we are burning GT plats.