Dissapointed with LaCrete

[johnnh]

All,
Last year these things were the best I burned. So hot that I was afraid the stove would melt. This year I'm getting metza metz results. Lower heat with higher ash. As a test, I just tried 3 bags of PWI's (which were equivalent in results) just to see if it was the stove, an it's not the stove. The PWI's didn't dissapoint. Anybody else see the same thing? I'm pissed because I stacked up on them.
John

 

[Peterfield]

I've read in other posts that wood sources can change for mills from year to year and as a result quality/performance can change.

 

[kniffin50]

First year with pellets so I thought it would be smart to get one of the best pellets right away and then test others and buy more. LACRETES BIG LETDOWN. A lot of ash flying around and cleaning burn pot twice a day. Will not buy them again.

 

[Pete Zahria]

..Anybody else see the same thing? John

No. They are still the best in my stove.......

 

[thundercracker]

first year burner here. bought lacretes after reading these threads. seem ok to me, but i have no reference. just burned about 4 bags of stove chows just to see if there is any noticeable differnece - i can't really see any. the chows seemed hot enough. maybe put out more ash than the lacrete's. maybe had to scrape the burn pot a bit more, but again, nothing hugely different from the chows to the lacretes.

 

[Pete Zahria]

first year burner here. bought lacretes after reading these threads. seem ok to me, but i have no reference. just burned about 4 bags of stove chows just to see if there is any noticeable differnece - i can't really see any. the chows seemed hot enough. maybe put out more ash than the lacrete's. maybe had to scrape the burn pot a bit more, but again, nothing hugely different from the chows to the lacretes.

There is a relationship between heat and consumption. "Sometimes".
I found, in my limited testing, that the Chows were pretty small.
At least the ones I had.. so they drop more volume into the auger.
So more volume "generally" means more heat..
And you don't get as long between refills, obviously.
Longer pellets, I can get 24 hours... shorter ones, no way..
But... the temp of the stove can be hotter.
For "my" application, which may not be the same for all, obviously,
the La Cretes seem to be the happiest medium for me.
Best heat vs. burn time, and whitest minimal ash..

Your mileage may vary..

Dan

 

[Peterfield]

Reading a lot of countering pellet reviews, I believe the stove factor hasn't been covered enough. Not a bad thing but it's obvious some pellet stove owners have great performance with a particular brand and predictably, a following review trashes the same pellet. The thing is, both reports are accurate. Here's what I have found in my testing different brands, to include hardwoods and softwoods and mixes:

Heat production: much better than my old wood stove
Ash production: much less than my old wood stove
Time cleaning out ash: much less than my old wood stove
Time tending to stove: far less than my old wood stove
Cleanliness: much better than my old wood stove (wife very happy)
Burn time between loads: far better than my old wood stove
Reducing oil consumption: far better than my old wood stove

Notice a trend?? I look at it this way, some pellets are better than others but they all do a far better job heating my house and keeping us more comfortable than my former heat source. It's all good.

 

[Old Spartan]

Reading a lot of countering pellet reviews, I believe the stove factor hasn't been covered enough. Not a bad thing but it's obvious some pellet stove owners have great performance with a particular brand and predictably, a following review trashes the same pellet. The thing is, both reports are accurate. Here's what I have found in my testing different brands, to include hardwoods and softwoods and mixes:

Heat production: much better than my old wood stove
Ash production: much less than my old wood stove
Time cleaning out ash: much less than my old wood stove
Time tending to stove: far less than my old wood stove
Cleanliness: much better than my old wood stove (wife very happy)
Burn time between loads: far better than my old wood stove
Reducing oil consumption: far better than my old wood stove

Notice a trend?? I look at it this way, some pellets are better than others but they all do a far better job heating my house and keeping us more comfortable than my former heat source. It's all good.

This is exactly my take. Burned wood for many many years. Pellets are a snap regardless of brand.

 

[Zakkxx]

Lacrete burning great for me. 2nd year burning them. Although they do seem slightly more dusty this year