Hauling pellets into the house

[bogieb]

Hate your propane furnace?, you crazy?, propane is .99 cents here a gallon, no lifting, no dust and a EVENLY heated home!

Yeah, 99 cents - in CT. Not in NH by a long shot (average last month was $2.59 - and that ain't the low price my propane company will give me).

And, if she has an old furnace like I do, it is cheaper still to use pellets. And, further, if the heating ducts or FHW pipes aren't run thru the whole house, it aint' an evenly heated home.

 

[velvetfoot]

I figure in another ten years when I'll be closing in on fifty my son will be old enough and strong enough to split the work with me.

Now I know why you didn't go for the bulk option.

 

[MCPO]

I solved the hauling pellets the first year. I simply pour them (8 bags at a time) down the tube into a 50 gal holding drum in the cellar. From there right into a bucket and into the stove hopper.http://www.pbase.com/johnd1/pellet_shute

 

[DBNH22]

Now I know why you didn't go for the bulk option.

I'm a network engineer by trade so I basically sit on my butt all day. I look for any excuse/opportunity to get exercise. Staying fit/healthy is something that is very important to me. I realize that others may be a little older or have physical ailments but while I still can do things like haul 4 tons of pellets into the basement and re-stack them by myself I will do them and enjoy doing them. Age and ailments aside, I think most people these days are too soft and lazy. Just my two cents.

 

[bogieb]

Every year I order six tons of pellets which are dropped right outside my basement bulkhead. I usually get two shipments of 3 tons or one of 4 and another of two. I carry them all into the basement by hand by myself and restack them on pallets. . . I figure in another ten years when I'll be closing in on fifty my son will be old enough and strong enough to split the work with me.

This year was so much easier than last year; I had 4 tons of pellets delivered and placed by my shed. Sunday afternoon I picked each bag up and placed it into a 4-wheel cart. Hauled the cart with 5 or 6 bags manually about 70 feet to my garage, then hand carried the first 1.5 tons another 55 feet into the basement and stacked them. The other 2.5 tons I stacked in the garage. Oh yeah, no kids and closer to 55 than 50.

However, God and my parents blessed me with a strong back, strong joints, a willingness to get done what needs to be done, and a hard head. Other people are not so blessed but want / need independence. Any thing they can find to help them in that quest, I am all for.

 

[MellieNH]

Wow lots of REALLY great ideas I think I am going to do either make my dolly into a flat bed using a board like someone did and use a electric winch to pull it up to the deck using planks on the steps. The other option is I may go to the High School shop teacher and ask him what he thinks about having it as a project.

A couple of things. My propane is $2.60 a gallon, and my furnace runs through it fast. eventually I will invest in a more efficient furnace but not right now. I actually prefer the pellet heat, it feels like it warms right to my bones. Also with the pellets I keep the house pretty warm at 70+ whereas when I run the propane I keep it lower.

I am very independent and I never imagined that my muscles or muscle tone would betray me but here it is. It can happen to anyone. Right now they are calling it "probable multiple sclerosis". I guess I'm kind of thinking ahead for my future independence too. My neighbor is 77 and she told me you come to a point where you start making plans for how you are going to stay in your home. She gave up her pull start snowblower for an electric start and she got herself a riding mower. I think along the same lines as she does. We are Yankees and we are tough old ladies. Independence is a big thing for most people, I look at it as a challenge.

Thanks you all for your replies!! I knew there was some ways to get this done but I needed some brainstorming I guess. The winch really made me slap my forehead with a big DOH! Never even crossed my mind. lol

Thanks again everyone!!

 

[DBNH22]

However, God and my parents blessed me with a strong back, strong joints, a willingness to get done what needs to be done, and a hard head. Other people are not so blessed but want / need independence. Any thing they can find to help them in that quest, I am all for.

Glad to hear you're still going strong at your age. It's such a shame that so many my age and younger are so averse to any form physical exertion and make lifestyle choices every day which lead to very poor health. I think it's great when an opportunity, like hauling pellets, stacking wood, chopping wood etc etc arises because it offers not only the practical benefit of getting a necessary chore done but also a chance to move the body and get the blood flowing.

 

[DBNH22]

Wow lots of REALLY great ideas


We are Yankees and we are tough old ladies. Independence is a big thing for most people, I look at it as a challenge.

Thanks you all for your replies!! I knew there was some ways to get this done but I needed some brainstorming I guess. The winch really made me slap my forehead with a big DOH! Never even crossed my mind. lol

Thanks again everyone!!

I'm a born and raised New England Yankee myself. 38 years old. I sometimes get called old fashioned but I take it as a compliment. But I'm afraid it seems that the notion of no-nonsense, common sense, Yankee pragmatism is a thing of the past. You are part of a dying breed. It's a shame.

 

[Papelletman]

Mellie can you post a picture of the pellet path and steps involved? Maybe as simple as using a wagon with a ramp on steps and winch to pull wagon up?

http://t.harborfreight.com/2500-lb-atvutility-electric-winch-with-wireless-remote-control-61297.html

http://t.harborfreight.com/bigfoot-panel-wagon-60570.html

A photo may help us see what might work better for you.

 

[Papelletman]

There is also something like this if you have the room.

(broken link removed to http://www.bruno.com/residential-vertical-platform-lift/)

There is also commercial lifts.

 

[Ctcarl]

first ton two bags a time.Second ton half way in one bag a time. Lol

 

[bogieb]

I am very independent and I never imagined that my muscles or muscle tone would betray me but here it is. It can happen to anyone. Right now they are calling it "probable multiple sclerosis". I guess I'm kind of thinking ahead for my future independence too. My neighbor is 77 and she told me you come to a point where you start making plans for how you are going to stay in your home. She gave up her pull start snowblower for an electric start and she got herself a riding mower. I think along the same lines as she does. We are Yankees and we are tough old ladies. Independence is a big thing for most people, I look at it as a challenge.

I have a niece in her 20's with MS, so understand about it putting limitations on you. Hopefully, if that becomes the official verdict, they can find a medication that you respond as well to as my niece has.

I'm a transplanted mid-westerner (Kansas), although I've lived in NH slightly longer than I was in KS (27 years in NH). KS farmers are much as old-time Yankees, independent, tough and stubborn about it .

 

[Ambient]

Build a hopper, water tight on the outside wall, free standing like a deck, with a gravity fed shoot (the pellets will offer insulation). Load it once a year (yes pay someone if need be) but then you're in control.

edit:
Oh, meant to mention, if the grading of your landscape around the house is just right loading the hopper might not be an issue either.

 

[bogieb]

Build a hopper, water tight on the outside wall, free standing like a deck, with a gravity fed shoot (the pellets will offer insulation). Load it once a year (yes pay someone if need be) but then you're in control.

edit:
Oh, meant to mention, if the grading of your landscape around the house is just right loading the hopper might not be an issue either.

Since she is hauling them up stairs, I'm guessing the landscape around the house isn't right. Could be wrong though.

 

[Ambient]

Since she is hauling them up stairs, I'm guessing the landscape around the house isn't right. Could be wrong though.

Three stairs, is less than a 24 inches rise? Point is her boyfriend or other could fill it for the season. I'm considering doing it here, the wife might like it better if I was gone for a few days.

 

[batchman]

Three stairs, is less than a 24 inches rise?

I have only one step but it's pretty tall. Scoured CL for a hand truck with a large bottom plate, I got some help to fashion a small ramp. I move 6 bags at a time but can see there'll be a time when I do less than that. I do wish I'd made my ramp a little less steep - it's the size of the wood I had hanging around, but the good news it's simple enough to stand up and out of the way so it doesn't get iced up.

the wife might like it better if I was gone for a few days.

Heh - me too... or maybe longer...

Cheers,
- Jeff

 

[3650]

I have only one step but it's pretty tall. Scoured CL for a hand truck with a large bottom plate, I got some help to fashion a small ramp. I move 6 bags at a time but can see there'll be a time when I do less than that. I do wish I'd made my ramp a little less steep - it's the size of the wood I had hanging around, but the good news it's simple enough to stand up and out of the way so it doesn't get iced up.




Heh - me too... or maybe longer...

Cheers,
- Jeff

 

[3650]

last year I had them delivered and lined up right outside my door. I brought a ton in as I needed. I started with the one furthest from the door and worked my way down the line over the winter. That way the deeper the snow got the less I had to walk. Carried a ton in 3 bags at a time. I bought seven tons last year and the one clisest to the door is still sitting there. I just had the propane tank filled. First time in about 9 or 10 years. I'm just going to get a ton as I need and mix the use with my furnace this year. This year will be easier on my back. Thank god for $1.35 propane.

 

[Ambient]

*snip*Thank god for $1.35 propane.

Over three dollars here, might as well put cash in the wood stove and burn it.