Big Heat pellets

[Jester]

Avoid them. Garbage. Got them fresh off the truck three weeks ago, just got into my first three bags this weekend and they're junk. Wish I had stuck with the cheaper penningtons from wally world.

 

[eric_s]

Not what I wanted to hear since I currently have 2 tons. I think I will try out a few bags next to see how they burn in my stove.

 

[millerag]

We are burnning Big Heat as well right now. So far we haven't had any problems with the pellets (have only burned about a half of a bag). We let you know after use them for a week.

 

[slls]

Not what I wanted to hear since I currently have 2 tons. I think I will try out a few bags next to see how they burn in my stove.

You should have no problem, the MV will burn most any pellet.

 

[eric_s]

Not what I wanted to hear since I currently have 2 tons. I think I will try out a few bags next to see how they burn in my stove.

You should have no problem, the MV will burn most any pellet.

I'm sure they will burn, but was looking at the original posters description of "Big heat:KA RAP, low heat, lotsa ashm, tonsa clinkers ".

So far I have burned Energex and Penningtons. Burning the Energex, it seems as though I barely have to clean the stove. I have gotten no build-up in the burn pot, minimal ash and even my window stays clean (at least for a while). The Penningtons (version without the date code on the bag) require constant cleaning. I'm hoping the Big Heat don't fall into that category. I guess I'll find out once I try some.

 

[Jester]

The thing Ive noticed after burning a bunch of test bags of other pellets is that these things build up a dam on the upper edge of the burn pot. Its not ash, but I wouldnt call it a clinker either because it is just heavy enough where the burnt pellets dont push into the ash tray. The wife actually made the comment about having to run the stove more wide open to get heat out of it the last few days, not knowing I tapped into the ton in the basement to try them out instead of burning the penningtons I have in the mudroom. Ive also noticed a huge variation in color, from light to dark dark brown in the hopper. I just cancelled the order I had in for the last 2 tons (they were 329 a ton when I ordered them and they charged me 349 a ton when I picked them up)
Penningtons burn dirty but at least the ash doesnt constantly back up.
Let me know how you make out, one thing for sure is that no two stoves or no two batches of pellets burn alike.
E

 

[eric_s]

I'm in the process of burning my first few bags of these pellets. Not able to assess the ash situation yet, but they are burning quite nicely. I'd say they definitely put out more heat then the Energex and Penningtons I have burned so far. I've got my stove set for softwood pellet and they look to be burning good and steady. I guess all stoves burn differently.

 

[millerag]

I have burned about 3 bags so far and i have to ecco what jester Said. They seem to form a small dam of ash like material. I am burning a P38 and now have been awaken by a cold house 2 times now. I belive the ash like material is smothering the fire. Both times this has happened i have had the stove set on 1.5. I cannot say these pellets are bad as these are the only pellets that i have burned in the stove. At this point i am not too happy.

 

[Jester]

I will say that these pellets do light a whoooooole bunch easier. I was testing a cedar powder for lighting the stove, and it really didnt work too well on Penningtons, but on these pellets all you really have to do is give them a real dirty look and the light, so Ive got to rethink my eval of the cedar powder stuff.
I just took the stove down for a good cleaning. I did one before the season started but I wanted to have a gauge of what it would be like, and I found over 50% of the air holes in the firebox blocked enough to require a drill to go through.