Sticking It To The Oil Man

[blwells45]

Tonight, I pulled the trigger on a refurb 55-TRP22 from AMFM Energy. Thanks for everyone's input on helping me make the decision. A special shout out to Mike from Englander and Andy from AMFM Energy as well as forum members who directly answered some of my questions, or contributed to the decision making process through past postings. Excited (and nervous) about this. I'll be posting pics of the install as well as asking additional questions along the way, I'm sure.

Now, gotta start the build of a hearth. (If you've got dimensions for a hearth for a corner install for this stove, I'd appreciate them.) And, start deciding on pellets. From what I've gathered so far here on the forums, people seem to recommend buying several different varieties of pellet to see what your stove likes best. And, it seems that there are several brands out there that people recommend avoiding. So, have to take that into consideration. If you do have a 55-TRP22 (or equivalent), are in the Northeast (I'm in upstate NY) and would like to chime in on what pellets you've had success with, I'm all ears.

Anyhow, with fuel oil approaching $4/gallon, something had to give. Gonna top off the fuel oil tank one more time and then join the ranks of those sticking it to the oil man

 

[fire_man]

I hear ya on saving $$ by not burning oil - that's our only choice around here. But after talking with my oil delivery guy I actually feel bad for those guys - they are not the ones making a killing, in fact they are getting killed. Everybody who has the option of switching to gas has been driven off oil, so the oil customer base is shrinking fast, and that means less competition between the remaining oil dealers and service shops. Less competition is never good.

You are right about researching pellets - some stoves are much fussier than others so it pays to figure out what others have learned before buying them.

 

[jtakeman]

Congrats and welcome to the world of pellet heat! Don't be nervous, advice and tips are the house specialty. We'd be glad to assist when we can.

On the pellets, Post a list of whats available around you. Otherwise we could get you all excited about a pellet you might not be able to gather. Some pellets aren't available in all area's. We usually rate them best to worst and we generally are pretty close give or take.

 

[imacman]

Congrats on the new stove. Nice to have another Englander owner on the forum.

As for pellet selection, the more important question right now is, what pellet brands do you have available in your area?? We can recommend pellet brands all day long, but if you can't find them..............you get my point.

Let us know what's available to you locally, and list the ton prices too. Then we can give some opinions on what to try.

 

[pastera]

Just installed the same stove, also from AMFM
Very basic looking compared to my Lennox Traditions II (T300-P) but after a quick test run it looks like it is a very good performer.

Time will tell but I believe I will be able to get through the winter with no oil usage other than water heating.

 

[jtakeman]

Congrats on the new stove. Nice to have another Englander owner on the forum.

As for pellet selection, the more important question right now is, what pellet brands do you have available in your area?? We can recommend pellet brands all day long, but if you can't find them..............you get my point.

Let us know what's available to you locally, and list the ton prices too. Then we can give some opinions on what to try.

Posted at the same time, But you worded it much better!

 

[DexterDay]

My Corner Hearth is 42" from wall corner to the end (dog eared on a 45° angle) with an 18" flat front. But for the sake of measurement, if I was building it (bought mine from Hearth Shop ) I would go 48" out and leave more room for Maintenance.

Congrats on the purchase. Looking forward to pics.

 

[save$]

About 100 gallons a year. Most of that for the oil fired hot water heater. Only two retired folks using hot water. Heating a raised ranch (2200 sq ft) living areas about 74 to 76 f. Cooler in the back bedrooms. I close the doors to three unused bedrooms during the winter. You will do ok with pellet heat. It is a different heat. You work a little more, but you save a whole lot more.
Alway try a few bag of any new brand of pellets before you commit to a large purchase. We have some here who have burned some well liked brands but for them, they can't say enough bad. No need to buy the expensive line of pellets.

 

[Don2222]

Hello

Congrats and good luck with your Englander!

I had one used I bought not working and got it working like brand new! Those stoves a built like a tiger tank! If you take care of it, then it will last Forever!
Here is a video the kids and I made of it if you want a laugh! LOL

 

[blwells45]

Congrats on the new stove. Nice to have another Englander owner on the forum.

As for pellet selection, the more important question right now is, what pellet brands do you have available in your area?? We can recommend pellet brands all day long, but if you can't find them..............you get my point.

Let us know what's available to you locally, and list the ton prices too. Then we can give some opinions on what to try.

So far, survey says:

Currans @ $5.99 a bag, $249 a ton, or $373 per pallet (75 bags). Delivery could be as much as $110.
Green Supremes @ $229 a ton. No delivery fee.
McFeeters @ $249 a ton. No delivery fee.
Infernos @ $229 a tone. No delivery fee. (Pretty sure everyone will say to stay away from these.)
Dry Creek @ $250 a ton. Delivery fee is $20 per ton.
Lignetics @ $250 a ton. Delivery fee is $20 per ton.
Warm Front @ $250 a ton. Delivery fee is $20 per ton.
North American @ $209 a ton. Delivery fee is $75.
Green Team Platinum @ $260 a ton. Delivery fee is $75.

I do have access to a Ford Ranger so I could pick them up and bring them home. But, I'm kind of liking the "No delivery fee" on the Green Supremes. I know I'm coming to the ball game a bit late. So, the <$200 /ton is a bit of a pipe dream. I've got one other vendor to check after work tonight. They have a "Premium Hardwood/Softwood Pellet" for $225 per ton with $75 delivery. However, the woman on the phone wasn't sure of brand. So, I'll stop by.

So, thoughts? Thinking about getting a couple of bags each from the "no delivery fee" vendor (Aubuchon's) and seeing how they burn. Then going from there. Also, thinking I'll start with 3 or 4 tons. (1200 sq. ft. ranch) Advice in that area? I'll make application to the pellet pig society when/if the prices are a bit better in the summer next year.

 

[mithesaint]

My stove did not like the green Supremes. I've heard bad things about the Currans, Infernos, and North Americans, but haven't actually burnt any of those. Not very helpful, but it's a start, right?

 

[jtakeman]

Green Supremes might be fine for the shoulders. By the way Warm Front is the same pellet as Green Supremes. North American are the same as Currans blend. Green Team Platinum is a good pellet, But bouycott the Lowes over pricing. Should be the same cost as the other brands they sell IMHO!

The list has a couple of stand outs.

Lignetics at $250 is a decent deal for a good pellet. As long as they are the Green labeled bags(blue label isn't as good IMHO).

McFeeters do throw nice heat at ya too! But a bit ashy for a softwood, Others though they did well for them. I am spoiled by the BC softwoods that produce itsy bitsy amounts of ash!

Green Supremes for the shoulders(to save a couple a bucks) and Liggies for the cold should do the trick!

 

[blwells45]

The other pellets at the lumber yard for $225 a ton are PA Pellets. $75 delivery.

 

[blwells45]

Green Supremes might be fine for the shoulders. By the way Warm Front is the same pellet as Green Supremes. North American are the same as Currans blend. Green Team Platinum is a good pellet, But bouycott the Lowes over pricing. Should be the same cost as the other brands they sell IMHO!

The list has a couple of stand outs.

Lignetics at $250 is a decent deal for a good pellet. As long as they are the Green labeled bags(blue label isn't as good IMHO).

McFeeters do throw nice heat at ya too! But a bit ashy for a softwood, Others though they did well for them. I am spoiled by the BC softwoods that produce itsy bitsy amounts of ash!

Green Supremes for the shoulders(to save a couple a bucks) and Liggies for the cold should do the trick!

So, JTakeman, if I'm looking to do 3 or 4 ton, maybe do 2 Green Supremes and 2 Lignetics? Or should I maybe throw in a McFeeter as well?

 

[Dtunes]

I've had good luck with both Lignetics and McFeeter's. My experience was McFeeter's were a little hotter than the Lignetics but a little ashier(by volume at least). I clean my stove often enough regardless so the ash doesn't bother me much. Honestly you should be happy with either. For the same price I'd get some McFeeters though.

You might want to try a few bags of infernos for comparison, they're almost universally panned as the worst. To be fair I haven't tried them this year, but last year they were utter crap. I had odd colored large clinkers and had to increase the feed rate to just about max for them to burn well.

 

[rb62]

My Corner Hearth is 42" from wall corner to the end (dog eared on a 45° angle) with an 18" flat front. But for the sake of measurement, if I was building it (bought mine from Hearth Shop ) I would go 48" out and leave more room for Maintenance.

Congrats on the purchase. Looking forward to pics.

View attachment 74969

Hey Dex, Do you need any Somersets? I found some at TSC for $204.50 a ton.

 

[DexterDay]

Hey Dex, Do you need any Somersets? I found some at TSC for $204.50 a ton.

Where abouts? They were on sale at Menards for $174.50 ($3.49 a bag) up until last week.

I am near Wellington Ohio...

 

[hockeypuck]

I will not cry for my local oil company... Stuffed a 8 dollar can of "tank guard" in my tank with out consent and charged me $40 bucks and then "did me a favor" to schedule a cleaning last March. I did not call them last fall because I had only burned 375 gallons of oil that year. The told me that they were looking out for me because I missed a cleaning.. I called them up and told them that I will call them this fall when I fits my schedule. They were trying to drum up business due to the warm winter... I get it.. business is business, but do not send me a letter saying they are looking out for me and schedule a cleaning. Gave me the effing date and time when they were going to show up...! The math makes sense to install a high efficiency electric HTW heater.. Do about 20 gallons of oil for HTW.. Just installed a pellet stove to do the remote section of my home, so my oil usage should go to 250 from 450 a year. Payback on both the pellet stove will be a few years.... but I would rather put money in a pellet guys pocket than create oil demand that puts money in someone who hates me and my family. I know most of our heating oil comes from Canada.. but they can convert it to gas for my car.. I like Canadians..

 

[jtakeman]

So, JTakeman, if I'm looking to do 3 or 4 ton, maybe do 2 Green Supremes and 2 Lignetics? Or should I maybe throw in a McFeeter as well?

Because you haven't tried any of the brands in this stove, I'm not sure(I'd hate myself if you have issues with a brand I suggested!). I am one of the try before you buy fella's. But its the better stuff you have listed. So? This year will be the learning curve. Box store prices are usually steady until spring. So if you are hauling your own(not delivered) just get some to try and start the season with them.

Delivery pellets from pellet dealers prices start to climb once the season kicks in. Might want to score those now just in case. Then get some more GS's once you have burned some. I'd try the McFeeters first as well. Hate to see you get stuck with stuff that doesn't burn well. But if you do just jump in, You can always get some good stuff to mix in with the stuff that your stove isn't happy with.

One thing I always preach is to try just about every brand you can get you paws on. Better to know a head of time just in case they become the deal pellet in the future! I'm a nut about pellets, But I know how just about every brand(except the newest stuff) out there burns in my toy. 1st hand knowledge is money to me.

 

[blwells45]

One thing I always preach is to try just about every brand you can get you paws on. Better to know a head of time just in case they become the deal pellet in the future! I'm a nut about pellets, But I know how just about every brand(except the newest stuff) out there burns in my toy. 1st hand knowledge is money to me.

Sounds like a plan. I'll grab a few bags of each from the various vendors and run them through the stove before getting too crazy.