How's the pellet supply for rest of heating season?

[latichever]

Running out of pellets as I'm nearing the end of the ton left from last year's mild winter.

I went to a Home Depot and took home 10 bags of Stove Chow and and 10 bags of Fireside. 20 bags is close to the safe payload--1,200 lbs.-- for my minivan. I'm partial to softwoods--Vermont or Okies--but the big box pellets seem to be putting out decent heat. The room with my stove reached 72 degrees as before. I haven't had a chance yet to check for clinkers or ash--although I expect more from these premium pellets versus the super premiums I have been using. I can live with that, as well as the fact that even by the bag these pellets will be about $100 less per ton when I throw in delivery--$209 for a ton.

So I'm thinking about continuing this way for the rest of the heating season. There are six Home Depots or Lowes within 20 minutes from me.

But does anyone know the supply situation? I can comfortably store about a ton of pellets in bags. Will I still be able to get them by the bag late February into March? The first year I had my stove, I ordered too few and I recall none available in late March and April.

 

[Bigjim13]

Still have 2 tons of firesides in my garage. The box store pellets heat fine for me, I can get the house to 80* if I wanted to.

 

[P38X2]

If you have 6 BB stores near you, you should be all set. I've yet to hear of any raw material shortages causing any issues. It may boil down to there being competent managers keeping an eye on the inventory at your local stores. Pellet stoves are much more popular now than in the past, but not so popular that supply is an issue.

 

[mepellet]

Still got over three tons in the basement. Last year was my first year with the pellet stove and I bought enough to have a little extra so I can't tell you what the box store supply situation was towards the end of the season.

I save quite a but of money by not buying the expensive stuff. Still am Not convinced that spending the extra on the higher priced stuff Is with it. Plus I like being able to keep my money local.

 

[will711]

I can comfortably store about a ton of pellets in bags

Yes pellets won't spoil just keep them dry.

Will I still be able to get them by the bag late February into March? The first year I had my stove, I ordered too few and I recall none available in late March and April.

The big boxes by me run out in Feb change store over to spring items. I would get as many as you can store over the next few weeks and have a back up supplier local stove shop .

 

[latichever]

Yes pellets won't spoil just keep them dry.
The big boxes by me run out in Feb change store over to spring items. I would get as many as you can store over the next few weeks and have a back up supplier local stove shop .

I'm thinking about getting 20 bags a week through January, then loading up with even more as I go through February. Fortunately, I'm clearing out a lot of junk from my basement now, which will give me more room. I also have two teenage sons to supplement my own lifting and toting.

 

[will711]

I'm thinking about getting 20 bags a week through January, then loading up with even more as I go through February. Fortunately, I'm clearing out a lot of junk from my basement now, which will give me more room. I also have two teenage sons to supplement my own lifting and toting.

Sounds like a plan and having some young bucks to help with the toting even better

 

[[email protected]]

I started with 140 bags of Green Supremes, which I really like, and am now down to 97. It will be close weather I need to buy more before the seasons over.

 

[will711]

I started with 140 bags of Green Supremes, which I really like, and am now down to 97. It will be close weather I need to buy more before the seasons over.

I would buy more. I don't know what your consumption rate is . I burn a bag a day there's about 105 days til the middle of April. I'm sitting on 84 bags so I will be getting more.

 

[SXIPro]

I started with 140 bags of Green Supremes, which I really like, and am now down to 97. It will be close weather I need to buy more before the seasons over.

What other brands have you burned?

 

[RWB1]

Burned 1 ton to date....still 2 in the basement without hitting the garage stash....been a mild winter here in upstate NY....temps foretasted this week in the mid 40's. Had a cold snap last week and burned about 6 bags of somersets....now back to the Ligs and Instant heat so I don't roast..

 

[Bigjim13]

If you have 6 BB stores near you, you should be all set. I've yet to hear of any raw material shortages causing any issues. It may boil down to there being competent managers keeping an eye on the inventory at your local stores. Pellet stoves are much more popular now than in the past, but not so popular that supply is an issue.

Raw material shortages? We hear that every year, and each year for the last four I've had zero issue getting pellets.

 

[CT Pellet]

But does anyone know the supply situation? I can comfortably store about a ton of pellets in bags. Will I still be able to get them by the bag late February into March? The first year I had my stove, I ordered too few and I recall none available in late March and April.

You will have no problem getting "pellets" for the remainder of the season, especially if you are not fussy. Certain brands that I carry, like Barefoot, Turman, Okanagan are tight on supply, because they are very "high demand" pellets. But as for not being able to find any pellets at some point this season?....relax. Especially the "big box" stuff. There will be plenty. If anyone tells you to beware of a shortage they are probably just trying to get you to "act now!"

 

[P38X2]

Raw material shortages? We hear that every year, and each year for the last four I've had zero issue getting pellets.

I'm talking this year, around these parts....which I suppose may not apply to the OP.

 

[Heaterhunter]

I'm half way through the insert supply but have 20 or 30 more bags in my basement freestanding supply. I think I might squeak by if weather doesn't set too harsh. I've run into the same problem at the boxes in late winter, if I was you I'd clear a 48"x40" space in the basement and grab another ton now if you can part with the money. As said before, they don't go bad, especially in the basement!

 

[woodsman23]

unloaded 3 tons of instant heats, well my 2 sons did it in 11 minutes flat!

 

[[email protected]]

SXIPro I haven't burnt anything else the last couple of years. Ive also burned fireside ultra which I liked. I also tried Pennington natures heat I did not like them at all.
Will711 With my average consumption I should have enough, I am at about a bag a day too. My heating season ussually starts later and ends earlier than most, I have a fairly well insulated 900 square foot house so it doesn't take much to heat it. If it is over about 35-40 outside I don't run the stove more then a couple hours a day or ut gets up to 80 or more inside very quickly. Because of this I have been heating my house fir about $400-500 for the entire winter!

 

[Cleetussnow]

i have enough to go another 50 days at a high burn rate of 2 bags plus per day. I don't think I will be at that rate all season though, especially now.

I am going to grab another ton and half maybe by the end of january, and that ought to do it. I imagine I will be burning into April, but at a much lower rate by then. 4.5 tons for the while season, at about 1/3 the price of oil. works for me.

 

[DneprDave]

Boy, they sure have a lot of wood pellet manufacturers in the east. You guys talk about a lot of brands that I never see. I've only see a couple of different pellet brands in the Pacific Northwest, Clean Burn, which is made by a lumber mill in Tacoma WA and Olympus or Cascades, which are made by one pellet manufacturer in Shelton WA. The only other brand I've seen was a real wet pallet of Presto Log pellets outside of a Lowe's.

The Tacoma pellets and the Shelton pellets burn real well with very little ash, they are all made of softwood and cost $190 to $200 per ton

I get the Clean Burn pellets from a local lumberyard that has them year round, so I don't bother stockpiling more than a ton at a time.

Dave

 

[SXIPro]

I can't imagine anyone running out of pellets this year. Everyone carries pellets now. Even the crappy little supermarket up the street has them for sale.

 

[kenstogie]

I have about 80 bags on hand (1ton Sets and 1/2ton North Americans, 5 or so of the Green Teams) probably will need more but should be ok for a while. Kinda depends on the winter I suppose. I am glad there will be no shortage that way I can by the 5 or 10 here and there until warmer weather. Speaking of which .... .when is the cheapest time to get pellets??

 

[Cleetussnow]

I have about 80 bags on hand (1ton Sets and 1/2ton North Americans, 5 or so of the Green Teams) probably will need more but should be ok for a while. Kinda depends on the winter I suppose. I am glad there will be no shortage that way I can by the 5 or 10 here and there until warmer weather. Speaking of which .... .when is the cheapest time to get pellets??

consensus on that is the spring, as soon as the heating is over. I just got my stove in October, so I have no first hand knowledge.

 

[will711]

when is the cheapest time to get pellets??

If buying from a pellet house spring April/May they run specials. Big boxes get pellets in Sept. this year price never changed. Just looked up my records of pellet purchases in 2010 Lowe's started at $4.38/bag [Oct.] dropped to a low of $3.74 in [Dec.] just Yo Yo from week to week. This yr. $4.38 2 yrs. later same price .

 

[kenstogie]

thank for thetips

 

[will711]

thank for thetips

No problem . Enjoy your trip to Knox that's where my son was stationed when he got back from Afgan. deployed in Oct. to Camp Casey Korea current temp 12.