I have been burning pellets for about 6 years now and have probably burned most type pellets available in my area (southern NH). I had just finished burning through some Greene Teams and wanted to try Cubex so I went into Stove Keepers in Brookline, NH (they sell Ambiance, NEWP and Northern) and started talking to the salesman. I started asking about the prices, quality of pellet and heat output expecting to hear that they get progressively better as the price goes up.
I was told that basically, a pellet is a pellet. You may have more ash from one or a difference in pellet appearance and length but the heat output is pretty much the same. He said that a very poor pellet is about 8000btu while a high end pellet is about 8600btu. I explained that I had read several reviews about Cubex being great with his explanation being that the Cubex are a consistent pellet resulting in the good reviews but they are pretty much all the same pellets. He said that they sell 3 brands so that they can have one for everybody.
I understand that there are several factors regarding burning pellets with stove cleanliness being number 1. Stove Keepers is also a shop that has a pretty good reputation for knowing what they are talking about so here is my question to you guys. How is it that an expert can say that all pellets are basically the same with only a 600btu difference yet so many people on here can say that one pellet basically doesn't create any heat yet another will burn so hot that they can't burn them in their stove? It's confusing to go into a shop expecting to pay more for what I expect to be a better pellet but then have the salesman basically talk me out of it by saying that the cheaper one is just as good.
I was told that basically, a pellet is a pellet. You may have more ash from one or a difference in pellet appearance and length but the heat output is pretty much the same. He said that a very poor pellet is about 8000btu while a high end pellet is about 8600btu. I explained that I had read several reviews about Cubex being great with his explanation being that the Cubex are a consistent pellet resulting in the good reviews but they are pretty much all the same pellets. He said that they sell 3 brands so that they can have one for everybody.
I understand that there are several factors regarding burning pellets with stove cleanliness being number 1. Stove Keepers is also a shop that has a pretty good reputation for knowing what they are talking about so here is my question to you guys. How is it that an expert can say that all pellets are basically the same with only a 600btu difference yet so many people on here can say that one pellet basically doesn't create any heat yet another will burn so hot that they can't burn them in their stove? It's confusing to go into a shop expecting to pay more for what I expect to be a better pellet but then have the salesman basically talk me out of it by saying that the cheaper one is just as good.