Green Supreme Burning Plastic Smell

[apn73]

I've done searches around this site and read about other people noticing a burning plastic smell associated with their stoves. I've got a Harmon P68 that I've been running now for about 4 months, no changes to exhaust since installation, been burning Green Supreme mostly. I was noticing a burning plastic smell outside, I mean acrid. I have vinyl siding on the house and checked all around and found nothing. I assumed that the neighbors were burning their garbage in the wood stove, but found out that it was the exhaust coming out of my pellet stove vent. I did burn some Fireside Ultra and didn't notice a smell with that, and hasn't been all the time with GS, I'm wondering if New England Wood Pellet is using some funky filler or cutter stock in their pellets. Anyone got any thoughts on this? I've been firing my stove pretty hard, so I wouldn't think I've got a new stove burn out issue.
Thanks,
Adam.

 

[Phoenix Hatchling]

I know when I used the NE Wood Pellets last year, the stink that came from the bags was horrible. It blew off after a while, but was nothing like the piney sweetness of softwood pellets. May add to or confirm your hypothesis that there was filler/rank raw product used.

 

[apn73]

The other thing that was strange was the inside of the firebox was white, then last night a little bit of back started on the inside of the firebox and the exhaust really started stinking of burning plastic, wondering what's going into those pellets. They seem to heat fine otherwise.

 

[LordmetalZ28]

I actually had plastic chunks in my green supremes this year. I have a couple threads on here aboutm im currently dealing with newp direct

 

[zinfendel]

Try just putting the pellets in the hopper, not the bag.



<kidding, I couldn't resist>

I am finishing my 3rd ton of GS this year and am not as happy as last year when I burned them. I have not noticed a plastic smell at all (but will go sniff the exhaust tonight). What I have noticed is much more ash and carbon build up than I remember last year. I have to clean the stove every 7-10 days (Harman Advance) to keep it running hot as is needed with this weather we have been having. I am hesitant to buy any more this season and may try something else. I am finding a fair amount of black soot inside also.

 

[Peterfield]

I've been told that NEWP was sold a couple of years ago and I am wondering if there is cost cutting going on in the manufacturing process that is affecting the quality of the pellets. Wouldn't be the first time that has happened after a change of hands. I know several folks that were diehard GS fans and would burn nothing else for years but this year they have changed brands.

 

[LordmetalZ28]

Rentech pellets

 

[Bassmantweed]

My thread addressing this was closed in under 24 hours. Be interested to see how this goes.

 

[F4jock]

Might you have dumped some bag in with the pellets?

 

[Lake Girl]

Feedstock used may account for the differences in smells ... the only binders usually used are those that are naturally occurring in the wood - called lignin.

Indecks smell swampy - From their website http://www.indeckpellets.com/faq.php
Q. What types of wood species are used in Indeck Energy Premium Wood Pellets?
A. Our premium wood pellets are comprised of a blend of nothern Wisconsin hardwood species including aspen, ash, basswood, birch, maple and oak.

 

[F4jock]

Feedstock used may account for the differences in smells ... the only binders usually used are those that are naturally occurring in the wood - called lignin.

Indecks smell swampy - From their website http://www.indeckpellets.com/faq.php
Q. What types of wood species are used in Indeck Energy Premium Wood Pellets?
A. Our premium wood pellets are comprised of a blend of nothern Wisconsin hardwood species including aspen, ash, basswood, birch, maple and oak.

Indecks are also, this year at least, very cool and ashy.

 

[Lake Girl]

Indecks are also, this year at least, very cool and ashy.

They do run cooler than softwoods (and some hardwoods) and have always been more ashy in my experience.

 

[MuchoBueno]

I've burned 15 bags of GS and no plastic smell. I mean, no pellets give off any smell when I burn really. BUT I have found many pellets from a GS bag with a half black and half whatever color. Yes BLACK. i threw out the ones I ran across but who knows what they were.

 

[F4jock]

I've burned 15 bags of GS and no plastic smell. I mean, no pellets give off any smell when I burn really. BUT I have found many pellets from a GS bag with a half black and half whatever color. Yes BLACK. i threw out the ones I ran across but who knows what they were.

I get a wood smoke smell from my pellets not unlike a campfire. Pleasant.

 

[Lake Girl]

I've burned 15 bags of GS and no plastic smell. I mean, no pellets give off any smell when I burn really. BUT I have found many pellets from a GS bag with a half black and half whatever color. Yes BLACK. i threw out the ones I ran across but who knows what they were.

I have seen some with black on them but not a half a bag. I figured the black was from the extrusion head (term may be wrong) getting worn or lacking appropriate lubrication. Kind of like using a dull drill bit or saw blade and having scorch marks....

 

[apn73]

Might you have dumped some bag in with the pellets?

This has not been a one time thing, so unless I'm get bits of the bag in with every time I fill the hopper, then I would say that that is unlikely. I'm slicing the bags open with a pocket knife, maybe I'll try cutting them with scissors. My wife has an interesting theory, the little perforated vent holes cut in the bag, maybe some of those are winding up in with the pellets, again, seems unlikely. Today it smells fine, but it seems to vary from bag to bag. I too have seen a few black pellets, I figure that it is bark.