Just read samm6's post on outside storage of pellets. I am having a problem too, but a little different. I posted about this a little while back and wanted some additional input.
We purchased 3 ton from our dealer as a pre-buy. They store outside. They have been stored in our garage, up on pallets, since the day we brought them home. The problem I am having is that the pellets look ok when the bag is opened, but after the stove has run long enough to warm the pellets in the hopper there is condensation. I suspect high moisture in the pellets. My stove has rust inside the hopper around the lid as well as in the burn area (fins, door, etc) now. Did not have that this fall before using the stove and we have had the stove since 2006.
In my previous post it was suggested I "test" the pellets in the microwave for moisture content. I did and there was a high level of moisture (enough condensation on dish cover to run/drip off when lifted)
I have mentioned it to the dealer by phone (we live 60 miles away). They didn't sound convinced that it was a pellet problem. Yesterday I had a tech here to work on a "squeal" problem on the XXV. Showed him the rust. He didn't seem overly concerned! Within 4 hours of the tech leaving, I had moisture starting to condense on the glass hopper lid again. New/different bag had been loaded into hopper. I had even brought the bag into the house the day before so that it was at "room temperature". Something I have never been concerned about before.
So tonight I brought in 2 bags left from last year from the garage and am burning one of those. No condensation so far after 6 hours of burning.
Tomorrow I am going to call the dealer and tell him that I want to return 2 of the 3 tons for replacement. The first ton we picked up earlier in the fall, before the heavy rains, and they seem to be ok when burned. The pellets in question are Uncle Jeds Pine. The 3rd ton that that we picked up earlier in the fall are Uncle Jeds Bear Mountain and they seem ok.
The reason I want to replace both tons, is that I can't really tell if all bags or only some have the moisture problem. I can't even tell when I load them into the hopper, other than there does seem to be more fines than normal but the pellets look ok.
We transported the pellets to our home originally, would it be wrong of me to ask that they deliver new pellets and pick up the old? Or should I just hope they will replace if we return and count myself lucky they did that? We only have a small trailer and can only haul 1 ton at a time. That would be two 120 mile round trips to exchange pellets.
Am I being unreasonable to consider asking for replacement and delivery?
We purchased 3 ton from our dealer as a pre-buy. They store outside. They have been stored in our garage, up on pallets, since the day we brought them home. The problem I am having is that the pellets look ok when the bag is opened, but after the stove has run long enough to warm the pellets in the hopper there is condensation. I suspect high moisture in the pellets. My stove has rust inside the hopper around the lid as well as in the burn area (fins, door, etc) now. Did not have that this fall before using the stove and we have had the stove since 2006.
In my previous post it was suggested I "test" the pellets in the microwave for moisture content. I did and there was a high level of moisture (enough condensation on dish cover to run/drip off when lifted)
I have mentioned it to the dealer by phone (we live 60 miles away). They didn't sound convinced that it was a pellet problem. Yesterday I had a tech here to work on a "squeal" problem on the XXV. Showed him the rust. He didn't seem overly concerned! Within 4 hours of the tech leaving, I had moisture starting to condense on the glass hopper lid again. New/different bag had been loaded into hopper. I had even brought the bag into the house the day before so that it was at "room temperature". Something I have never been concerned about before.
So tonight I brought in 2 bags left from last year from the garage and am burning one of those. No condensation so far after 6 hours of burning.
Tomorrow I am going to call the dealer and tell him that I want to return 2 of the 3 tons for replacement. The first ton we picked up earlier in the fall, before the heavy rains, and they seem to be ok when burned. The pellets in question are Uncle Jeds Pine. The 3rd ton that that we picked up earlier in the fall are Uncle Jeds Bear Mountain and they seem ok.
The reason I want to replace both tons, is that I can't really tell if all bags or only some have the moisture problem. I can't even tell when I load them into the hopper, other than there does seem to be more fines than normal but the pellets look ok.
We transported the pellets to our home originally, would it be wrong of me to ask that they deliver new pellets and pick up the old? Or should I just hope they will replace if we return and count myself lucky they did that? We only have a small trailer and can only haul 1 ton at a time. That would be two 120 mile round trips to exchange pellets.
Am I being unreasonable to consider asking for replacement and delivery?
!!
