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  1. berg New Member

    joined: Feb 18, 2012
    23 posts
    utah
    Looking at buying a hoard and wondered if storing pelletts off the floor in a garage.
    Do pelletts break down and create more fines or am I good to go and store about 3-4 tons?

    opinions please.......
    #1

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  2. Mike D Burning Hunk

    joined: Nov 7, 2008
    228 posts
    North Haven, CT
    I think as long as your garage isn't going to have a lot of humidity they will be fine. You're doing the right thing by getting them off the floor. I'm sure you'll here from plenty of guys here that they have used pellets they've stored for 1, 2 or sometimes 3 years. I had about 1/2 ton left from last year that I kept in my basement and it kept and burned just fine in October. Good luck!
  3. glenc0322 Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 30, 2011
    555 posts
    long Island NY
    100% fine they will only break down if you keep moving them around and watch the humidity but you will be fine store away
    save$ likes this.
  4. CT Pellet Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 1, 2012
    645 posts
    Torrington, CT
    Go for it! They will be fine if they are dry. It's that simple. As for "breaking down"? Just dont throw a party and use your pellets as a dance floor. Enjoy!
  5. jtakeman Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 30, 2008
    12,722 posts
    Northwestern CT.
    Just don't let them get direct contact with water. I'd keep them on the original skid to keep em off the floor.
  6. Mr. Spock Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 2, 2013
    460 posts
    SW MA
    If you could use additional stacking height replace the skid with some empty pellet bags to create a moisture barrier.
  7. SmokeyTheBear Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 10, 2008
    11,436 posts
    Standish, ME
    A little birdie told us that pellets have an expiration date and are only good for about one season, so be sure to call your nearest pellet pig for proper disposal.

    Lets see check my signature the LGs were fall of 2009, the Cubex are summer of 2010, the MWP were spring of 2011.

    Oh and don't stack your bags of pellets on top of empty pellet bags laid on the garage floor, the bags leak like a sieve, first layer should be a skid or something high enough to keep any water that gets into the storage area from say a car's wheels away from the pellets.
    gbreda, UMainah and jtakeman like this.
  8. Mr. Spock Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 2, 2013
    460 posts
    SW MA
    Hmm...couple of layers works ok for me ,don't bring wet things into the garage though.
  9. SmokeyTheBear Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 10, 2008
    11,436 posts
    Standish, ME
    Yes but not all storage areas are dry 24/7/365/6 and a number of areas have water lines running through them and things are well known for having oppsy moments sort of like our favorite pastime the pellet stove or the 'tricity supply, ....
  10. moey Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jul 12, 2012
    267 posts
    Southern Maine
    Ive stored some two seasons now in my garage on pallets. No problems. Not sure if I would if my garage was very very humid.
  11. Mr. Spock Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 2, 2013
    460 posts
    SW MA
    Gotcha. Never had or heard of water issues in a garage. Better safe than sorry then. If you got pipe leak/ burst worries I would cover the stack as well. Gotta say pipes in a garage sounds unusual to me. Not usually heated?
  12. save$ Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 22, 2008
    1,682 posts
    Chelsea Maine
    I don't think it is humidity you need to worry about, just if they have water on them like a leaking roof. I have touched my pellet bags many times and found them moist from condensation. Even pellets three years old are just fine. All my pellet stacks are on skids and are not up against the walls etc. I don't subscribe to buying pellets that you know have been kept out in the open for any length of time.
    h2ochild and SmokeyTheBear like this.
  13. glenc0322 Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 30, 2011
    555 posts
    long Island NY
    I would keep them up off if a concrete floor just to be safe the concrete could condensate our a spill or what ever. I store mine in my basement but I have a humidifier down there
    SmokeyTheBear likes this.
  14. SmokeyTheBear Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 10, 2008
    11,436 posts
    Standish, ME
    You just don't have a garage under.


    ETA: Mine has a well pressure tank and pump, a dhw boiler, hot water heater, an oil tank, a Car (with a less than dry underside and wheels), lots of water lines and over 8 ton of pellets on skids stacked 15 layers high.
    glenc0322 and UMainah like this.
  15. Mr. Spock Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 2, 2013
    460 posts
    SW MA
    Thanks for the ETA. Cannot Vulcan mind meld over the Internet.
    SmokeyTheBear likes this.
  16. DexterDay Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 11, 2010
    9,034 posts
    NE Ohio
    If you ask some (we know who)? Then yes. They will go bad.

    But in reality. No... Keep them dry and you'll be fine. I haven't bought tonnage in almost 3 yrs. Bought almost 10 ton a fee yrs back and been burnin ever since.

    Buy them up and stack them up....


    These are still in my garage (Rocky Mountains and Sets)
    IMG_20121124_162215.jpg
    SmokeyTheBear likes this.
  17. Mr. Spock Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 2, 2013
    460 posts
    SW MA
    When I was much younger my garage wall looked similar but instead of pellets it was empties.
  18. kenstogie Member

    joined: Oct 2, 2012
    244 posts
    Albany (ish)
    Dang Dexter, I aspire to be that neat with my pellet stacks.
    DexterDay likes this.
  19. DexterDay Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 11, 2010
    9,034 posts
    NE Ohio
    Im OCD. Look at the link in my Signature (Evolution) my woodstacks are just as straight ;)
  20. SmokeyTheBear Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 10, 2008
    11,436 posts
    Standish, ME
    That little birdie was a sweet young thing (maybe an old hag) at a pellet maker, so it must be correct, right ????

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