More Newbie Questions...Homewood Pellets?

[Pfeiff99]

Hello again...so our stove is still on schedule to be installed on 7/25. I've been researching pellets, found some good deals on names I've seen mentioned here. However a local Masonry company is running a promotion, they have Homewood Premium softwood pellets. $269 p/t. If you order 4 or more tons there is no shipping within a 25 mile radius. They also package the pellets 1.8 tons per pallet, so we'd be getting 4.8 tons at 1195.20.

I've never heard of these before. And of course, since they are sales people and trying to sell, he told me they were 'the best you can buy' and that they have less than .5% ash, burn at 8700 BTU, Canadian Pine and White spruce.

What's the major difference between soft and hardwood pellets and does anyone have any experience with this brand?

Thanks!

 

[j00fek]

best bet is to get hardwood pellets, they burn hotter and longer

softwood you just get more because you have to burn more to get the same btu out of them

*MODERATOR EDIT- While I don't feel it necessary to remove this post, it should be noted that it is a blatant mis-statement of fact.

 

[Pfeiff99]

That's what I figured, thank you so much!

 

[kilarney]

best bet is to get hardwood pellets, they burn hotter and longer

softwood you just get more because you have to burn more to get the same btu out of them

This is absolutely untrue. Pellets are sold by weight, not by volume. On average, softwood pellets burn hotter (per pound) than hardwood due to resins contained in the softwood.
See: http://www.pelletking.com/wood-pellet-information.aspx

Sorry you got such bad advice. I hope it's not too late!

 

[NoMoreOPEC]

There are 3 things I look for when buying pellets. I pick the lowest ash and highest BTU but the consistency of the pellet is hard to tell until you burn the bag.

1) BTU
2) ASH
3) CONSISTENCY of the pellet manufacture.

Here is ASH and BTU of some popular Brands.

APPALACHIAN ... APPALACHIAN (JUNIATA) HARDWOOD PELLET
(BTU 8600 .35% ASH)

LIGNETICS Hard... LIGNETICS Hardwood Pellet
(BTU 8700 .3% ASH)

ENERGEX ENERGEX (SHUR-BLAZE)
(BTU 9000 .65% ASH)

L&G;GRANULE... L&G;GRANULES
(BTU 8700 .35% ASH)

Barefoot - Barefoot Hardwood Pellet
(BTU 8400 -.5% ASH)

 

[kilarney]

Also, take these numbers with a grain of salt. The good news is that the pellet industry is working on better standards. (Members are voting on the new standards as we speak.) These include new fuel classifications, product labeling, and an industry-wide quality control and assurance program. Participating fuel manufacturers will register their fuel and use an independent lab for periodic testing.

 

[NoMoreOPEC]

Agree, can you tell the difference between .35 and .3 ash and 8700 and 8600 BTU probably not.

But on the other hand you can tell the difference between these two brands. Do you want low ash or high BTU?

LIGNETICS Hard… LIGNETICS Hardwood Pellet
(BTU 8700 .3% ASH)

ENERGEX ENERGEX (SHUR-BLAZE)
(BTU 9000 .65% ASH)


The new standards will be a good thing for the consumer no doubt.

-G

 

[begreen]

kilarney is correct, this is nonsense. Softwood pellets actually have higher btu content and often burn cleaner, hotter. What's good for the woodstove isn't always the same in a pellet stove.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/213/

 

[Pfeiff99]

Wow, thank you all so much...I haven't purchased anything yet, this is good to know! My dealer had mentioned that hardwood is what they recommended, but as long as it's a 'premium' pellet we should be ok. Lots to think about!

 

[MButkus]

Pellets are different by brand. Stove Chow was the best. They went out of business. I bet they would be working overtime now !
I've had pellets for about 12 years. Lots of brands, home brands too. Some were good, some left more ash.
I had Hammers HotPellets last year.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

look up information on pellets at www.pelletheat.org

i have to agree with the panel , though i have not burned much in the way of softwood pellets (east coast here) what i have burned i feel makes a lighter fluffier ash that doesnt accumulate inthe stove as much but did build in the flue a bit more, heat output was pretty well even in my experience maybe a bit hotter in the softwood , but i didnt see a huge difference