FSU's at HD

[StormPanic]

Just stopped by my local HD and went snooping around the back. Had about 20 tons of Fireside Ultras back there. Went in and bought 3 tons, got 10% off for opening HD credit card + $65 delivery for all 3 = $700 delivered. I get the feeling lots of people are going to be overstocking their basements and garages after what happened last year. Now I just need to make space to store all 3 tons......

 

[TimfromMA]

Lots of people stocking up early.

 

[Harman Lover 007]

Would love to find some of those here on the North Shore of Mass....

 

[StormPanic]

Would love to find some of those here on the North Shore of Mass....

I got mine in Salem, NH. I would call around and see....

 

[snocross1985]

North Hampton HD also had FSU. I got 4 tons a couple weeks back.

 

[Danny9909]

Just stopped by my local HD and went snooping around the back. Had about 20 tons of Fireside Ultras back there. Went in and bought 3 tons, got 10% off for opening HD credit card + $65 delivery for all 3 = $700 delivered. I get the feeling lots of people are going to be overstocking their basements and garages after what happened last year. Now I just need to make space to store all 3 tons......

good luck with those. didn't have much luck with them.

 

[deercamp]

I was at my local HD the other day and they just got in the FSU's also. When I was looking at the bag it didn't say
how many BTU's they were. It also didn't say if they were hardwood or softwood. Does anyone have any information
about these pellets? For a big box store pellet @ $239 a ton a lot of people seem to like them.

 

[alternativeheat]

good luck with those. didn't have much luck with them.

Can't say I was thrilled with them either, glad I only bought ten bags actually. That was last FEB, so I don't remember much about them except a lot of ash but no specs.. Guess they heated the house and the P61 never died on any pellet I tried, so they weren't bad enough to conk the stove out. Ash is what I remember about them and so many people touted them here I was surprised they were so well liked.

 

[Hdhogger]

Just stopped by my local HD and went snooping around the back. Had about 20 tons of Fireside Ultras back there. Went in and bought 3 tons, got 10% off for opening HD credit card + $65 delivery for all 3 = $700 delivered. I get the feeling lots of people are going to be overstocking their basements and garages after what happened last year. Now I just need to make space to store all 3 tons......

Here's the most important thing. If you get good heat and your stove handles them with no problem you got a great deal. FSU's are Energex bagged for the for the big box stores. They do this to satisfy the Mom & Pop pellet sellers so no ones toes get stepped on. Mom & Pop don't have the buying power HD & LWS do so they're selling Energex at higher price because they pay more for them. I've been burning FSU's for the past two years without a hitch.
Another thing. I burned a ton of Inferno's, which everyone despises, a coupe of years ago and yes they were very dirty and ashy but the hottest pellet I've burned. Exterior flue temp with Infernos was 160, taken at the 6" pipe coming off of the 3" to 6" transition. No other pellet has reached that temp, 140 to 150 max and I've tried most of them. Happy burning

 

[alternativeheat]

FSU's are Energex bagged for the for the big box stores. They do this to satisfy the Mom & Pop pellet sellers so no ones toes get stepped on. Mom & Pop don't have the buying power HD

FSU's are supposedly re-bagged Energex but I've burned both and in my experience the ash is different in Energex. It's not as black or as heavy IMO. I'm thinking bagged at Energex and "same as Energex" are two different things. If I really thought they burned the same as Energex I would buy a ton or two and save a few bucks. FSU's were one of the messier pellets I burned last winter actually, even compared with Energex ( both the soft mix and the harwood, and actually Energex hard wood burn very hot in my P61A as well).

 

[Hdhogger]

FSU's are supposedly re-bagged Energex but I've burned both and in my experience the ash is different in Energex. It's not as black or as heavy IMO. I'm thinking bagged at Energex and "same as Energex" are two different things. If I really thought they burned the same as Energex I would buy a ton or two and save a few bucks. FSU's were one of the messier pellets I burned last winter actually, even compared with Energex ( both the soft mix and the harwood, and actually Energex hard wood burn very hot in my P61A as well).

I bought a ton of Energex hard/soft mix in March when my FSU's were getting low. They were a twin to the FSU's. Same consistency, flame and heat. I know the ton I got came from the plant in Canada because the trucker had just arrived at the dealer in New Hampshire and was complaining about the icy roads up north, in a heavy French accent, and I got the first ton off of his trailer. They also have a plant in Mifflintown, PA which might explain the difference you experienced between the two had they come from PA.
I don't think it would be very cost effective for the plant to shut down, change out the sawdust they're using and re-fire everything up because of the name on the bag. JMHO

 

[alternativeheat]

I bought a ton of Energex hard/soft mix in March when my FSU's were getting low. They were a twin to the FSU's. Same consistency, flame and heat. I know the ton I got came from the plant in Canada because the trucker had just arrived at the dealer in New Hampshire and was complaining about the icy roads up north, in a heavy French accent, and I got the first ton off of his trailer. They also have a plant in Mifflintown, PA which might explain the difference you experienced between the two had they come from PA.
I don't think it would be very cost effective for the plant to shut down, change out the sawdust they're using and re-fire everything up because of the name on the bag. JMHO

I have to agree with you and yes that would explain the difference. I don't know if the pellets I had were from PA or Canada. Time wise for travel to the Plymouth Ma store where I bought my FSU pellets would be close to equal.

 

[SwineFlue]

I bought a ton of Energex hard/soft mix in March when my FSU's were getting low. They were a twin to the FSU's. Same consistency, flame and heat. I know the ton I got came from the plant in Canada because the trucker had just arrived at the dealer in New Hampshire and was complaining about the icy roads up north, in a heavy French accent, and I got the first ton off of his trailer. They also have a plant in Mifflintown, PA which might explain the difference you experienced between the two had they come from PA.
I don't think it would be very cost effective for the plant to shut down, change out the sawdust they're using and re-fire everything up because of the name on the bag. JMHO

Yes, the Energex Hardwoods (and I believe Stove Chow) all come from the Pa plant. Until this past season, they had been labeled as "Energex American".

The Softwoods and Blends (and I believe FSU) are from the Quebec plant.

 

[deercamp]

Here is a picture I took the other day.
This is the back of a bag of FSU's
at my local HD. I looked all over the bag to see what the BTU's were and if they were hard or softwood or a blend.
None of this info was listed on the bag.
So it looks the bag was made in the USA but the pellets were made in Canada.

 

[mralias]

Here is a picture I took the other day.
This is the back of a bag of FSU's
at my local HD. I looked all over the bag to see what the BTU's were and if they were hard or softwood or a blend.
None of this info was listed on the bag.
So it looks the bag was made in the USA but the pellets were made in Canada.

Which HD?

 

[iron stove]

Yes, the Energex Hardwoods (and I believe Stove Chow) all come from the Pa plant. Until this past season, they had been labeled as "Energex American".

The Softwoods and Blends (and I believe FSU) are from the Quebec plant.

Hmm. I bought stove chow, and they list www.stovechow.com website, which doesn't come up at all. Anybody else confirm energex American ?

 

[alternativeheat]

Here is a picture I took the other day.
This is the back of a bag of FSU's
at my local HD. I looked all over the bag to see what the BTU's were and if they were hard or softwood or a blend.
None of this info was listed on the bag.
So it looks the bag was made in the USA but the pellets were made in Canada.View attachment 137447

I went to HD today and to Lowes. HD had FSU and outside was a pallet with a ripped cover. I peeked in as best I could and saw a little guy figure in there on a separate paper label that looked like a Quaker oatmeal label and the word Quaker as well. So I assume these are from PA. These were all sold out I might add. Inside the store they had some on a pallet , best I could read was 1% ash content. A guy walked up saying you don't want these they are horrible. We conversed about pellets and he likes and bought some Green team from Lowes, not Green Supreme ( Lowes had both in stock). His claim is green Team are better than FSU or Green Supreme. So we swung into Lowes right up the street, Green Supreme advertises 8000-8300 BTU and .5-.6 ash. Green Team says 1% ash and no BTU rating. All this FWIW. I wouldn't buy a ton of any of them till I burned them and right now I have my AC going so that isn't happening soon !.
..

 

[SwineFlue]

Hmm. I bought stove chow, and they list www.stovechow.com website, which doesn't come up at all. Anybody else confirm energex American ?

Google came up with this relationship:
http://trademarks.justia.com/owners/energex-corporation-2610092/

And yes, the Stove Chow web site seems to be dead.

 

[TimfromMA]

Unless I was in a pinch, I wouldn't buy pellets from Lowes or HD at all.

 

[SwineFlue]

Unless I was in a pinch, I wouldn't buy pellets from Lowes or HD at all.

If that pinch ever comes, you won't know what works well in your stove unless you've tried them.
In Oct/Nov, I'll buy a couple bags of whatever I find. I don't mind burning the cheap stuff (the stove is not running all the time in milder weather). And I usually come across a pleasant surprise. A few years ago it was Somerset, another year it was CheatRiver (both at Lowe's), and last year it was the Tractor Supply Hardwoods (Energex). I bought more of each to burn in the colder weather.

On the other hand, in really cold weather the stove runs flat-out continuously so I burn the hottest/cleanest pellet I can get. But I have never seen those mythical Doug Firs around here...

 

[alternativeheat]

Unless I was in a pinch, I wouldn't buy pellets from Lowes or HD at all.

Unless I was in a pinch, I wouldn't buy pellets from Lowes or HD at all.

Well to be honest with my Harman and coming into shoulder season soon I don't think it matters much what pellet I buy. However, indeed if these various brands are the same pellet as Energex's own brand then why pay more for them from another dealer ? Energex has proven to work ok for me in the shoulder season . I have my DF's for the cold weather. All this pellet selection stuff is related to stove brands sometimes. The guy I spoke with today had an Enviro and is wishing he bought a Harman now he said. I guess his stove is a bit selective on pellets. With the Harman it's just a matter of how much mess you want to put up with, it burns them all. Some stoves require a bunch of cleaning just to keep them going though.

 

[TimfromMA]

Any heat pellet will work in my stove. I know for a fact that those big box pellets will keep me warm. The only question is, how fast will I go through them and how much more frequently do I have to clean my stove.

 

[alternativeheat]

Any heat pellet will work in my stove. I know for a fact that those big box pellets will keep me warm. The only question is, how fast will I go through them and how much more frequently do I have to clean my stove.

That's good, some folks struggle with stoves and pellets though.

 

[TimfromMA]

That's good, some folks struggle with stoves and pellets though.

My first year burning pellets, I tried at least 5 of every variety I could find that was readily available in my area. It would do me no good to try pellets that I couldn't easily get.

 

[SwineFlue]

if these various brands are the same pellet as Energex's own brand then why pay more for them from another dealer ?

I know what brands my pellet dealer carries, and if something is not in stock it will be shortly.

A big box store carries whatever brand of pellets fell off the truck that day . It can be hard to acquire a specific brand.