Is it OK to store pellet bags outside under a tarp?

[Ed Churilla]

been putting them in my garage past few years--any issues with storing outside under cover of a tarp? Looking for some input before I unload.

Thanks in advance

 

[DAKSY]

My stash sits outside all year. I had 4.5 tons at the beginning of last season & only burned 3,
& THAT 4.5 tons was from the season BEFORE...
The last pallet is still sitting where it was dropped two years ago & is still factory wrapped.
I got three more tons at the end of May to take advantage of a sale & free delivery.
I covered them with a tarp & they're gonna stay covered til I need to start burning.
Hopefully THAT will be some time in November.

 

[Ed Churilla]

Thanks for the info-wish I had a way to offload my truck so I didn't have to break down the pallets. But I'll have to break it open and re-stack it and cover it. I'll store this years supply outside and try and keep it covered as best I can.

 

[DAKSY]

You can buy rolls of 20" x 1000' shrink wrap for about $20. I think I'd do that before I threw the tarp on.

 

[AccentraRRT]

As DAKSY said, shrink rap yourself then tarp if needed for extra protection. I left three ton outside all last season and broke them down, brought it in 1/2 ton at a time as I needed them. No issues.

 

[bogieb]

You can buy rolls of 20" x 1000' shrink wrap for about $20. I think I'd do that before I threw the tarp on.

I stored 6 tons in my yard from spring 2016 until just a month or so ago. I had to break down 4 of those tons because the deliverer did not place them where I wanted them (next to the other two tons - duh ). Anyway, I recovered each of the re-stacked pallets with the original covers, added a layer of 6 mil plastic on top (covering all 6 tons), then used the shrink wrap that was mentioned by others. Then, on top of that I used a heavy duty tarp.

Everything stayed nice and dry. There wasn't even any condensation when I unwrapped them and moved them, by hand into my house this summer.

 

[batchman]

I keep mine outside under 4x4x4 pallet tarps, and on top of an old pallet. I need to bring them in when ground is frozen so I leave one for the following year. Didn't burn pellets last year, so I've now broken into a ton sitting out there two years. They give up 5 maybe 10 degrees but otherwise fine, unless critters get into 'em, but mostly they're too busy inside the house (ugh).

I do get a bit of condensation within the factory wrap sometimes, but it doesn't seem to spoil the party. Much.

Cheers,
- Jeff

 

[Orson_Yancey]

I have stored pallets of pellets outside since Spring 2016. Some still in the factory plastic and some stacked individual bags.
I cover with thick canvas tarps I purchased from Chicago Canvas. All has worked well. I use a 12ft x 14ft canvas to cover
an individual pallet and a 14ft. x 16ft tarp to cover two pallets side by side. In August, Chicago Canvas runs 50% off sales of
pink canvas tarps.

 

[batchman]

They give up 5 maybe 10 degrees but otherwise fine

Updating since I finally took an actual measurement - I found that after the 2nd year outside my Okie Plats burned 50 degrees colder.

The 5-10 degrees mentioned above was a 1 year measurement.

Sorry if I led anyone "down the path". I won't be keeping them outside for two years again, if I can help it. If I do, they'll be shoulder pellets afterward!

Best,
- Jeff