Basement storage question

[meisen]

I am thinking about storage next year and wondering what people's experience storing pellets in basements is. My basement ( think root cellar) is old fieldstone and its damp with not a lot of options for improvement. Dehumidifiers keep it 45-60 percent humidity but after a heavy rain they struggle for a day or so. Anyone successfully keep pellets in similar conditions? I can put plastic down beneath the pallets, heck I could even shrink wrap them back up. Or just not a good idea to chance it?

I've got some barn space, enough for 6 tons but based on this year I want to have 7 tons (6 to use, one as a spare). Also completely filling the barn in June or July is a major pain....makes projects and getting things in and out (bikes, mower, ladder etc) nearly impossible.

Of course another option is to get 3 tons in early summer then top off with another 4 in October or November.

 

[Tonyray]

I am thinking about storage next year and wondering what people's experience storing pellets in basements is. My basement ( think root cellar) is old fieldstone and its damp with not a lot of options for improvement. Dehumidifiers keep it 45-60 percent humidity but after a heavy rain they struggle for a day or so. Anyone successfully keep pellets in similar conditions? I can put plastic down beneath the pallets, heck I could even shrink wrap them back up. Or just not a good idea to chance it?

I've got some barn space, enough for 6 tons but based on this year I want to have 7 tons (6 to use, one as a spare). Also completely filling the barn in June or July is a major pain....makes projects and getting things in and out (bikes, mower, ladder etc) nearly impossible.

Of course another option is to get 3 tons in early summer then top off with another 4 in October or November.

I keep my pellets 5 tons in a cellar.. sounds like you have a very damp basement...
yes you could re-shrinkwrap again... No worse than pellets that are stored outside at Big box stores..
myself I would do the barn thing and get rest in October..

 

[rky60]

I have the same type of basement. Below grade 75%, stacked stone that is somewhat damp, front of home is open to the road. 80% of it is a concrete floor, with a small room towards the center of the house I call the mud room since its always wet from ground water. And I get some water in all of it under really heavy rains.

But I store 4 tons in there at peak times, never had an issue. Pellets down there year round. Must be cuz it's so drafty down there, only room I haven't updated, old front door and front window, no insulation anywhere. Drafty at the sill plate in most places. The moist air just has to many escape routes I guess

 

[batchman]

I keep my tons outside under pallet covers. I've just started on my one ton left over from last year, left untouched still in the manufacturer's wrap. Found some 'snow' inside from condensation freezing but half of that than the ton I just finished (which was this years').

Cheers,
- Jeff

 

[TimfromMA]

I have a finished basement that's perfectly dry. I have room for 6 tons.