Can I burn Softwood Pellets in an Englander Stove?

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
My stove specs. say that you should only burn Hardwood Pellets. What if any is the harm in burning softwood.
 
No problem burning softwoods. Not sure why they say that in the manual. What pellets are you considering?
 
My local Lowes has Potomacs - It says they are made from southern Pine. Does this lead to excess ash or worse creosote build-up.
 
Typically, good softwood pellets have low amounts of ash. And pellet stoves typically don't have creosote build-up.

Don't know a lot about the Potomacs. If I were you, buy 2-3 bags to test burn first.

What other pellets are in your area, including hardwoods?
 
I bought a ton of Green team and they seem to burn well in my stove. Have burnt them last year also but found last years batch to have some very long pellets that twice caused a bridge clog in my hopper. My favorite so far have been lignetics, saving the one ton of those that I have for the dead of winter and will order more around Feb. ($299.00 delivered) pricey but great for my model stove.
I will take your advice and buy a few bags of the Potomacs and see how they burn. TY
 
MassPelletburner said:
......I will take your advice and buy a few bags of the Potomacs and see how they burn. TY

Keep us updated on how they burn for you. maybe we can get Jay to burn a couple bags for a pellet test.

Personally, even with the couple of issues w/ the LG's, if those burned the best, I'd stick with what works....."if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
 
softwood pellets as long as they are less than 1% ash content , premium grade can be burned in ESW products

as for the potomac pellets however i burned some last season in both my units and didnt like them , they burned great but fed poorly, seemed to hang on the sides of the hopper pretty severely. as for heat output they did great , i just had to mix them with lignetics about 50/50 to get them to slide.
 
imacman said:
MassPelletburner said:
......I will take your advice and buy a few bags of the Potomacs and see how they burn. TY

maybe we can get Jay to burn a couple bags for a pellet test.

Boy pete, With all the free time you have not cleaning the stove. One would think you would read whats going on around here a little more. :) I already burned them and they did OK. Good heat and pretty clean. A bit more fines than I would like though. Also had some issues with them not sliding in the hopper too well. But worth getting a few bags to try in the stove! Should be cleaner than the Ligies, But not quite as hot though!

Potomac testing

You want to see some crazy heat check out the Blazers in the testing thread!!! Now that's a softwood pellet.
 
Greetings,
Burned a ton of Potomac pellets purchased last year at Lowes. My Quad Santa Fe and I really liked them. Little ash and no large clinkers. Couldn't find them this year, but I would recommend them.
 
j-takeman said:
Boy pete, With all the free time you have not cleaning the stove. One would think you would read whats going on around here a little more. :) I already burned them......

OOOOOOPS....sorry Jay....didn't see that....not sure how I missed it. :red:

Hopefully, when you get done with this years tests, Web will add it to the sticky links on the main page like the other 2....they are invaluable to the forum members....I refer to them VERY often.

No doubt.....YOU are the pellet testing MAN!!! :)
 
at almost $300 a ton at lowes i wouldnt touch either one of those pellets.there is a great selection of pellets around here for far less.do you have a truck to transport your own pellets.i'm in Norton and can get lignetics for $224 and stove chow for the same price.oakies for $265 and you would have to look long and hard to find a better softy than those.
 
imacman said:
j-takeman said:
Boy pete, With all the free time you have not cleaning the stove. One would think you would read whats going on around here a little more. :) I already burned them......

OOOOOOPS....sorry Jay....didn't see that....not sure how I missed it. :red:

Hopefully, when you get done with this years tests, Web will add it to the sticky links on the main page like the other 2....they are invaluable to the forum members....I refer to them VERY often.

No doubt.....YOU are the pellet testing MAN!!! :)

I know your so busy helping others out! Yeah that works! hehe. It's pretty tough being an Inferno around here. Besides its for the newbs anyway! You know how to test your own dang pellets. No harm brother, I just like funnin with ya here and there! :) But really I just like cleaning my stove after every 2 bags. Stays more efficient that way! Ha ha! ;-P

Back to work!
 
Thanks Mike... To hear from Englanders number 1- makes me feel much more comfortable trying softwood .... As for CORKMAN ...location location location, I'll jump all over the prices if you'll share where I can go.. Heck my street Starts in Rehoboth and ends in Norton - Unless your driving the other way.
 
imacman said:
OOOOOOPS....sorry Jay....didn't see that....not sure how I missed it. :red:

Hopefully, when you get done with this years tests, Web will add it to the sticky links on the main page like the other 2....they are invaluable to the forum members....I refer to them VERY often.

No doubt.....YOU are the pellet testing MAN!!! :)

It does get hard to find the rest results after a while.

You know what might be a good idea? If quazi95 on woodpelletreviews.com could put links to Jay's test results here on the review page for each of the pellets there are reviews for. That might make things easier to look up.
 
Gweeper64 said:
imacman said:
OOOOOOPS....sorry Jay....didn't see that....not sure how I missed it. :red:

Hopefully, when you get done with this years tests, Web will add it to the sticky links on the main page like the other 2....they are invaluable to the forum members....I refer to them VERY often.

No doubt.....YOU are the pellet testing MAN!!! :)

It does get hard to find the rest results after a while.

You know what might be a good idea? If quazi95 on woodpelletreviews.com could put links to Jay's test results here on the review page for each of the pellets there are reviews for. That might make things easier to look up.

Thats why I added the chart to the first post. I can link the post to the first page with the pellet name. On the bigbox might be tough though, Suppose I can ditch the photo's.

Tell me how you want them setup? And I' try to do something to make them easier.
 
Gweeper64 said:
imacman said:
OOOOOOPS....sorry Jay....didn't see that....not sure how I missed it. :red:

Hopefully, when you get done with this years tests, Web will add it to the sticky links on the main page like the other 2....they are invaluable to the forum members....I refer to them VERY often.

No doubt.....YOU are the pellet testing MAN!!! :)

It does get hard to find the rest results after a while.

You know what might be a good idea? If quazi95 on woodpelletreviews.com could put links to Jay's test results here on the review page for each of the pellets there are reviews for. That might make things easier to look up.

Gweeper64 Check out the 1st post in the 2010 test thread. I can do this to the other 2 if it helps. I have each result linked on the 1st post by there brand name.

2010 pellet testing thread

Is this any better?
 
BTU said:
j-takeman said:
Gweeper64 said:
imacman said:
OOOOOOPS....sorry Jay....didn't see that....not sure how I missed it. :red:

Hopefully, when you get done with this years tests, Web will add it to the sticky links on the main page like the other 2....they are invaluable to the forum members....I refer to them VERY often.

No doubt.....YOU are the pellet testing MAN!!! :)

It does get hard to find the rest results after a while.

You know what might be a good idea? If quazi95 on woodpelletreviews.com could put links to Jay's test results here on the review page for each of the pellets there are reviews for. That might make things easier to look up.

Gweeper64 Check out the 1st post in the 2010 test thread. I can do this to the other 2 if it helps. I have each result linked on the 1st post by there brand name.

2010 pellet testing thread

Is this any better?

How about a thread with JUST your results....figures/facts and pictures, but no comments from anybody else......just the facts ......

I tried that with the Ultimate test and only could post half of the brands. Had to ask peeps to post so I could continue. I rather like the comments as I feel peeps are interested and I don't feel like I am doing it for nada! I work for free but some praise is excepted. :)
 
BTU said:
j-takeman said:
Gweeper64 said:
imacman said:
OOOOOOPS....sorry Jay....didn't see that....not sure how I missed it. :red:

Hopefully, when you get done with this years tests, Web will add it to the sticky links on the main page like the other 2....they are invaluable to the forum members....I refer to them VERY often.

No doubt.....YOU are the pellet testing MAN!!! :)

It does get hard to find the rest results after a while.

You know what might be a good idea? If quazi95 on woodpelletreviews.com could put links to Jay's test results here on the review page for each of the pellets there are reviews for. That might make things easier to look up.

Gweeper64 Check out the 1st post in the 2010 test thread. I can do this to the other 2 if it helps. I have each result linked on the 1st post by there brand name.

2010 pellet testing thread


Is this any better?

How about a thread with JUST your results....figures/facts and pictures, but no comments from anybody else......just the facts ......

Just the facts, ma'am......err.....man.......lol
 
MassPelletburner said:
My stove specs. say that you should only burn Hardwood Pellets. What if any is the harm in burning softwood.








I have a Englander fo five year. They run better on hard pellets. You get more heat and less mess.
 
thunderwolfmom said:
MassPelletburner said:
My stove specs. say that you should only burn Hardwood Pellets. What if any is the harm in burning softwood.








I have a Englander fo five year. They run better on hard pellets. You get more heat and less mess.

We have already busted this myth. Softwoods burn great in an englander stove. What brand of softwood did you try?
 
We try a lot . We not had do anything but clean the stove in the five we had it . Say what want but hardwood the way I go. We have to clean the stove once a week with hard and everyday with the soft .(pine suck) I used PA pellet and Themen I pay 225.00 a ton. The house is warm.
 
thunderwolfmom said:
We try a lot . We not had do anything but clean the stove in the five we had it . Say what want but hardwood the way I go. We have to clean the stove once a week with hard and everyday with the soft .(pine suck) I used PA pellet and Themen I pay 225.00 a ton. The house is warm.

You have the right to you opinion, But I have the right to disagree. I love the Douglas Fir and Other SPF softwoods. But I also really like the Cubex brand and Turman 100% Oak!

PA well I kinda though they sucked along with a few other brands! Check some of my links



Ultimate test

Bigbox brands

2010 pellet tests

Pellet testing is one of my hobby's! :)
 
Gweeper64 said:
imacman said:
OOOOOOPS....sorry Jay....didn't see that....not sure how I missed it. :red:

Hopefully, when you get done with this years tests, Web will add it to the sticky links on the main page like the other 2....they are invaluable to the forum members....I refer to them VERY often.

No doubt.....YOU are the pellet testing MAN!!! :)

It does get hard to find the rest results after a while.

You know what might be a good idea? If quazi95 on woodpelletreviews.com could put links to Jay's test results here on the review page for each of the pellets there are reviews for. That might make things easier to look up.

Coming soon!
 
Only real world experience we have had with Potomac's is this, My Englander Summers heat ...big stove (120lb. hopper) with the single auger burned the Potomac's great! low ash and great heat...but way to pricey at Lowe's, my bud and my step son that have the smaller units with the dual augers both had major problems with auger jams right where the 2 augers intersect when they tried the Potomac soft wood pellets purchased at Lowe's.
Both switched back to hard wood pellets and WALLAH no jams at all and have happy stoves.
 
Interesting. I've run about 15-20 bags through my double auger Englander with no issue. I agree with minimal ash in the pot and good heat. I've found them to be a good pellet for our stove.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.