First winter with my stove, do I need to stock up on pellets?

I have been buying my pellets 10 bags at a time but have been reading stories about stores running out of them mid winter. I have been liking the Fireside Ultras at HD ($209 / ton). Should I be worried about stores running out? I guess the safe bet is to just buy a ton I guess.

Pellets will disappear from the box stores probably before you stop burning. They will start gearing up for spring pretty soon.

Oh boy...on this forum that's like asking " Do I need to plug my stove into a surge protector?"

What do you mean by that?

There are no pellet pigs on here, we all buy our pellets weekly when we go grocery shopping.

I have the Papa John's delivery guy drop off seven bags every Friday night when he delivers dinner!

To the OP -- stock up!

I buy mine daily no need to stock up. If you run out you freeze and have to turn the oil burner on

I always have a year's supply (+/- 3 tons) on hand at all times. I generally buy my pellets in the spring and load up with so I have 6+ tons going into each winter. This way I am covered should supply drop or prices go through the roof.

I always buy 4 tons in April so my stash is ready for the next year. You also get the best pricing at this time.

^ yep. as soon as the snow is gone enough for the delivery to get up the drive in spring, i buy my tons.

Why do I need that ? I dont see any surges of pellets in my stove

I buy one ton at a time, as I have limited basement space and I will not store them outside. There was only one year in the last 13 that I've been burning where things got a little sketchy for me and I had to scramble to get hold of pellets. Never ran out though, and never turned on the furnace either.

or does a bear **** in the woods????

(I apologize Smoky, it was out there and I just could not resist....)

I bought 3 tons (stacked them twice.. another story) and I am already looking for more.. I think it is a sickness.

If you don't have 2014's pellets yet, you're behind many die-hards here

i need 2014 pellets!

I'm stricken with the sickness and as I get room I stuff it full again. I'd say if you got room and there's a deal, Who's to say you'll see it again. So keep on stuffin till ya can't stuffs no more!

Fixed it for ya.

I know people who do just that!

Don't pellets improve with age, like fine wine? All the more reason to stockpile.

Buy..... Buy....... Buy........

For the most part, if you plan on trying to supplement your existing heating system with pellets, most people will burn between 3-4 tons on an average winter. Last year it was less (warm than normal winter), and the year before that more (colder than normal).

Better to have too many than not enough, IF you have the storage space to keep them dry.

BTW, if you have a Lowes nearby, check to see if they have Greene Teams or Somersets......the GT are better than the FU, and the Somersets are WAY better, and you should be able to price match them from the HD price.

I did that last year. Have both a Home Depot and Lowes near by. Around the end of January the prices at both stores went up $1.00 more a bag and by the end of February they didn't have them any more. This year I bought in advance.

My problem is,..(as if I only have one), Somersets around the corner from me for 209,...>twitch, twitch<,.....>right leg starting to shake<... and Im afraid that,... >standing up<.....we may never see them,.... >sitting down<... ..at that price again,.....>drool/cough<.... so I think I need to stock - ......, hold on, I'll be right back.... > > > > > > > >

Not sure how far away the HD is from you, but between the gas you spend picking them up each week and the time you are spending - you will more than recoup the $65 flat delivery fee HD will charge. You might want to get more than 1 ton if you can store them. This is of course assuming you don't have a truck to pick up your own ton. Also, if you are married - don't you want to make the best impression with your better half? The last thing you want to do is run out of pellets and have her giving you the "look" because you spent the money on the stove and installation and are still paying the oil or gas company. As someone else pointed out, you may want to find and try a couple of other brands too to make sure you buy the better one for your stove.

That is what you'll see if you don't use one and get zinged good by your utility or mother nature and your blood pressure will surge as well .

Some of them city folk have been known to do their grocery shopping every day. I can assure everyone that doing it that way at my place would never work. It wastes too much gas, takes too much time, and at times isn't worth the risk of getting out of the yard.