How to buy pellets?

[Ctwoodtick]

hi all,
I’ve burned wood for a number of years, but this will be the first year with new pellet stove. I really have no idea about where to buy pellets adide from the big box stores. The pellet stove will be in finished basement. I’m thinking of getting a ton at a time-not sure how much I will be using. Any recommendations?

 

[Dataman]

I am in the same boat. New Pellet Stove Owner. I went to Ace Hardware and paid them. Delivery was $45 more. I got 3 Tons delivered. Easy Peasy. Now I am in NE Wa State. They wholesale the right down the road. I called several places to see prices. Cheapest I could find was "North 40 Outfitters".

WHere are you? Town

(broken link removed to https://www.pelletheat.com/dealer-locator)

 

[32x20]

I buy a ton at a time since there's typically a discount on ton quantities. Our local Murdoch's has sales about twice a winter for an additional 10% off, so I try to buy then. I doubt you have Murdochs in CT, but maybe keep your eye out for sales.

We burned 1.5-1.75 tons last year. I have a small trailer, so have to make two trips for a ton, but it's not far.

Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk

 

[Jhawknseattle]

What I would recommend to both of you is buy 5 bags of a few different brands to see what your stove works best with. Best heat output being the main thing but how dirty your stove gets is another consideration For heat output, put the stove in the same setting and put a thermometer where the heat blows out.

Dataman, we are blessed to live in the northwest, buy Douglas fir pellets. Northern Idaho, Golden fire, bear mountain have all been really good for me and can generally be found for 200 a ton. Guys in the northeast would flat out murder for that.

 

[george255]

I am in the same boat. New Pellet Stove Owner. I went to Ace Hardware and paid them. Delivery was $45 more. I got 3 Tons delivered. Easy Peasy. Now I am in NE Wa State. They wholesale the right down the road. I called several places to see prices. Cheapest I could find was "North 40 Outfitters".

WHere are you? Town

(broken link removed to https://www.pelletheat.com/dealer-locator)

If you have a CENEX around locally, give them a call for pellet fuel. I buy North Idaho Pellets from them regularly, They're a good burning pellet and not to expensive.

 

[george255]

I have a question about some red fir pellets that i found online at North 40 Outfitters, Has anyone tried these?
Rocky Canyon Ultra Premium Red Fir Wood Pellets. They are packed in a white and orange labeled bag.
I saw these advertised last year but they were out of them when I went to purchase 5 bags to try out. Anyone
have any experience with this brand?

 

[tlc1976]

I buy a ton at a time since there's typically a discount on ton quantities. Our local Murdoch's has sales about twice a winter for an additional 10% off, so I try to buy then. I doubt you have Murdochs in CT, but maybe keep your eye out for sales.

We burned 1.5-1.75 tons last year. I have a small trailer, so have to make two trips for a ton, but it's not far.

Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk

I agree with first figuring out what burns well in your stove (and what doesn't). Once you know, I would buy them by the ton if you have a place for them. I have a big garage so I keep several ton in supply, then buy them when they are on sale. Typically we have an August sale, and a Black Friday sale. I have a small enclosed trailer that will just fit a ton on a pallet, and is rated to carry it, so the store loads them for free with a fork truck, then I just unload them by hand into the garage. With as much as I've used that little trailer over the last 20 years, it's more than paid for itself. Also better to have more than you think you need, you'll use them sooner or later. Never can predict how bad the winter will be, and if it's an extremely cold one, you'll go through more and supplies might be short when you need them most.

 

[Jhawknseattle]

I agree with bulk purchase as well. I buy 2 tons to begin the season with and go from there. Only suggestion that differs is try to figure (if possible) what burns best before dropping a couple hundred. I know that bear mountain pellets for me are the best all around, that's what I get.

 

[peakbagger]

A FYI for pellet newbys is that there are not big warehouses full of pellets for an entire season sitting out there. No one in the supply chain wants to be left holding pellets if it turns out to be warm winter so they roll the dice and figure out what they need for a typical winter and buy less so they end up with no inventory to carry over to the next year. If its a cold winter or fossil prices go up or are hard to obtain (like propane some years) more folks will burn more pellets and the supply chain of pellets will empty out. If you can get pellets they will be priced high and you probably could heat with something else for less. Your choice is either buy a winters worth, store it carefully and have it on hand with the possibility that you carry some to the next year or run out. The other reason for buying in advance is once you have sampled what is out there and found the best pellet for your stove, buy a load as even the same brand may vary in quality over the course of a year.

 

[DneprDave]

I buy pellets from a local lumber yard, they stock Clean Burn pellets year round, $199/ton.
I never have more than a ton stored, as I can drive into town any time and get another ton of pellets.

 

[Ctwoodtick]

Nice. Silly question, any issue with storing a ton of pellet indoors in unfinished part of basement?

 

[george255]

Nice. Silly question, any issue with storing a ton of pellet indoors in unfinished part of basement?

No issue that I can think of if it's dry and you don't mind going up and down the stairs hauling 40 lbs down then going back up for another bag. I think that would be about 50 times going down and 50 going back up to stock the basement,hope your in shape Woodtick, lol..

 

[Ctwoodtick]

No issue that I can think of if it's dry and you don't mind going up and down the stairs hauling 40 lbs down then going back up for another bag. I think that would be about 50 times going down and 50 going back up to stock the basement,hope your in shape Woodtick, lol..

Lol, the pellet stove will actually be on the finished part of the basement, so my current “dad-bod” should suffice!

 

[jackhammer]

No issue that I can think of if it's dry and you don't mind going up and down the stairs hauling 40 lbs down then going back up for another bag. I think that would be about 50 times going down and 50 going back up to stock the basement,hope your in shape Woodtick, lol..

Times three tons for me! I need the exercise. I always buy three or four tons every spring. I’ve seen shops here over-sell and under-deliver. Hasn’t happened in a while but I don’t want to be forced to buy leftovers. There is something to be said foe being prepared. I do understand that buying a winter supply isn’t for everyone, but it has worked for me for 20 years.