Pellet Brands by BTU and Ash Content

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pibe75

New Member
Mar 24, 2008
21
East Hartford, CT
Hello Everyone:

I am new to the forum but have been looking around for awhile. I just recently bought a Breckwell Insert P23 and I am very happy with the stove and how is heating my first floor. I got the stove last week and just got 14 bags of Barefoot pellets to use for now.

I am not sure if there is already a post out there but I will like to know the BTU and ash content of different pellet brands. I am trying to buy in april 3 tons for next winter but with so many brands is hard to pick a specific one. I like the barefoot brand and will aways buy premium brand but I will like to try different brands to see which one gives the most heat and least ash content. Here is what I found on a website, maybe we can make this a sticky and keep adding brands as people find information on other brands. Let me know what you guys think.

*Update*** Chart has been updated.
 

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I had written in another post about my experience with various brands of pellets. I'm not sure if the ratings are truly meaningful or not. What burns good for one person/stove, may not burn good for another. It all comes down to trial and error for all of us, but it would be nice to have some sort guide to go by.
 
Thx for the reply. I just wanted to have a place to look and have all of the brands per BTU and ash content. everyone can try and see what works best for them.
 
I agree; it would if nothing else give folks a place to start. BTW, I have locked in on the Barefoot brand for my use.
 
pibe75, where did you get your pellets? and how much per bag?
I live in Naugatuck and no stores around have any at all, also thinking of buying a couple tons in April or May and want to make sure I get a brand that "seems" to work for everyone.

..
 
I'm not surprised to see the Energex have one of the higher ash contents. I am, however, surprised to see the BTU rating on the Hamer's Hot Ones to be lower than the Energex. I have burned them both and considered the Hamer's to burn hotter for me. Of course, this was my observation without an actual thermomemter.
 
geek said:
pibe75, where did you get your pellets? and how much per bag?
I live in Naugatuck and no stores around have any at all, also thinking of buying a couple tons in April or May and want to make sure I get a brand that "seems" to work for everyone.

..
Click to expand...

There's a place in Oxford MA , RI-CT border, called PelletsDirect that sells several brands of pellets. I'm not sure how far you are from there so it may or may not be worth it. They have a website as well.
 
geek said:
pibe75, where did you get your pellets? and how much per bag?
I live in Naugatuck and no stores around have any at all, also thinking of buying a couple tons in April or May and want to make sure I get a brand that "seems" to work for everyone.

..
Click to expand...

Just a suggestion....
IMO it is not a good idea to buy pellets in bulk you have never tried them out yourself first.
Every stove is different so even though some say they love a certain brand, others
may hate them. You don't want to be stuck with tons of pellets you hate.

Some of the box stores around here are no longer carrying pellets as they are making
room for their spring inventory, but most stove dealers have them year round so you
should be able to get a few bags of a certain brand to try out first.
 
tinkabranc said:
geek said:
pibe75, where did you get your pellets? and how much per bag?
I live in Naugatuck and no stores around have any at all, also thinking of buying a couple tons in April or May and want to make sure I get a brand that "seems" to work for everyone.

..
Click to expand...

Just a suggestion....
IMO it is not a good idea to buy pellets in bulk you have never tried them out yourself first.
Every stove is different so even though some say they love a certain brand, others
may hate them. You don't want to be stuck with tons of pellets you hate.

Some of the box stores around here are no longer carrying pellets as they are making
room for their spring inventory, but most stove dealers have them year round so you
should be able to get a few bags of a certain brand to try out first.
Click to expand...

you're right, I guess I should be asking people with the same stove I have and ask them their experiences.....point taken.
 
Hey geek:

I got the 14 bags from the dealer that installed the stove in Newington, Cedar Mountain Stove. They were $6 dollars per bag for the barefoot brand. That is why I started looking elsewhere to buy.

I have found the following sites and I called to ask about early spring buying and this is what they told me

Pelletsdirect - Barefoot brand
3 tons for 229 per ton plus 100 for delivery. Total: $787

Eastern Connecticut Pellet Sales LLC - Barefoot brand (spoke to the owner and he is still trying to get his prices for the season) This was the price I got when I called him last week.
3 tons for 250 per ton plus 20 delivery since he is 30 miles from where I live. Total: $770

ctpellet.com - Barefoot brand (Talked to owner, new clients beginning April 1 might be able to buy if they have any stock left)
3 tons for 224 per ton plus 75 delivery charge - $747

cjspellets.com - I called yesterday and they have bags for 5 dollar. I am planning to pick up some bags tomorrow morning. The Hamer Hot one's to test them out. They are also 5 miles from where I live.

newenglandpelletllc.com there is also this site 205 per ton but the only have new england pellets.

I like the barefoots but I am going to try the hamer hot one's before I decided what to order for next season.

Geek, let me know if you have any questions.
 
Pellets Direct is Robbins Garden in Oxford MA. The problem with these pellets is its truly "a box of chocolates". Unless they start bagging these things with clear bags, what inside will always be a surprise. I have been burning Comfort exclusively. They're generally clean with minimal dust, and consistent in size and color. However, once in a while, I would hit a bad batch from a bad crate of ton. This is the main reason why I would not buy pellets by the ton. Any one of these crates can be filled with 50 bags of crappy pellets. Usually, Comfort pellets are one consistent color/sise. Last time I got 10 bags, every single one of them had a mix of brown and really dark brown (almost black) pellets mixed in together. Some of the indivual pellets would be up to 3" long. Also, why in the world would these pellets bafs have holes in them? If they must have holes in them, then why do they leave these things outdoors exposed to the elements - semi protected by the big bag that wrapped the pallet. Thank you for letting me rant.
 
ProPellets Premium Hardwood Pellets 8,300 BTU’S * 0.5% Ash * 4.50% Moisture * Density: 45-46 Lbs per Cu. ft.

I hope this helps.

Eric
 
Tristan said:
Pellets Direct is Robbins Garden in Oxford MA. The problem with these pellets is its truly "a box of chocolates". Unless they start bagging these things with clear bags, what inside will always be a surprise. I have been burning Comfort exclusively. They're generally clean with minimal dust, and consistent in size and color. However, once in a while, I would hit a bad batch from a bad crate of ton. This is the main reason why I would not buy pellets by the ton. Any one of these crates can be filled with 50 bags of crappy pellets. Usually, Comfort pellets are one consistent color/sise. Last time I got 10 bags, every single one of them had a mix of brown and really dark brown (almost black) pellets mixed in together. Some of the indivual pellets would be up to 3" long. Also, why in the world would these pellets bafs have holes in them? If they must have holes in them, then why do they leave these things outdoors exposed to the elements - semi protected by the big bag that wrapped the pallet. Thank you for letting me rant.
Click to expand...

the bags are perforated they cannot be effectively stacked without them from what i understand , personally i'd like to see them vacu-packed, but im not sure its feasible as the packing process may not be suitable or its too expensive. the "trash bag" cover seems to do pretty well as long as its intact and to be honest ive burned pellets as old as 3 years old without issues but ive burned literally "hot off the presses" pellets literally a couple weeks old and had issues as well, its wierd but true
 
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