Just got back from my first ever visit to BT Pellets in Bristol, CT. Cool place, too bad they didn't have many pellets!
Sold out of virtually everything they normally sell: Energex, Cubex, O'Malley's, Hamers, Maine Woods, LaCretes, etc. Very nice guys there though, were getting ready to close at 1pm, and didn't rush me out when they knew I was only interested in trying a few single bags as a newbie. All they could offer were PA Pellets and Trae Heat. PA's are NOT from PA...duh. They're from Pittsford, NY. The Trae Heats are from, wait for it...Bumpass, VA! Anyone have any experience with either of these? The Trae's say <0.7% ash, we'll see. Kid said they're new there, and once they get people to try 'em, they come back for more. All I've burned so far are FSU's and Chows. I like both. FSU seems like less ash and more consistent size. The Chows throw great heat for the money, but the ash is a bit much. Chow size has been good as well. I have to clean every 72 hours, and usually have 2+" of ash filling the entire firebox. Any comments on the PA's or Trae's would be helpful so I know what to expect. I'll post my uneducated findings once I'm through these few bags.
Sold out of virtually everything they normally sell: Energex, Cubex, O'Malley's, Hamers, Maine Woods, LaCretes, etc. Very nice guys there though, were getting ready to close at 1pm, and didn't rush me out when they knew I was only interested in trying a few single bags as a newbie. All they could offer were PA Pellets and Trae Heat. PA's are NOT from PA...duh. They're from Pittsford, NY. The Trae Heats are from, wait for it...Bumpass, VA! Anyone have any experience with either of these? The Trae's say <0.7% ash, we'll see. Kid said they're new there, and once they get people to try 'em, they come back for more. All I've burned so far are FSU's and Chows. I like both. FSU seems like less ash and more consistent size. The Chows throw great heat for the money, but the ash is a bit much. Chow size has been good as well. I have to clean every 72 hours, and usually have 2+" of ash filling the entire firebox. Any comments on the PA's or Trae's would be helpful so I know what to expect. I'll post my uneducated findings once I'm through these few bags.
I didn't even think this was possible. Pellets are all made via the same process I wouild imagine? Variables are wood source, binders used, moisture content, etc. I actually woke up to a cold house, 65-66 upstairs and maybe 67-68 downstairs. With the Chows, I cannot sit 6 feet from the stove for more than a couple of minutes...just too hot. With the Trae's this morning I sat with a coffee for almost an hour, staring in disbelief. My hopper floor is generally hot to the touch, can't plant your palm there and leave it. With the Trae's burning all night, I could palm the hopper...that's just weird.
Had a good, lively flame, just no heat to speak of. I'd say Chows are twice the heat, maybe more! The PA's were much better, burning them now, but the heat is still half the Chows, or so it seems. Won't know until I shutdown for cleaning, but the ash so far from 1 bag of Trae and 1 bag of PA doesn't look too bad. I'm still stunned that pellet's heat output can vary this much, especially with a visually good burn going, it just seems to defy physics.
