pellet storage
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I usually buy a few tons at a time, and bring them down the cellar bag by bag. They arrive double wrapped - the factory puts a huge trashbag-type cover over the pellets, and then that is shrink wrapped. A couple of times, they've been rained on, but I found the pellets to be actually amazingly dry once I took off all that wrapping. I've been told by the pellet place that delivers them that they could be stored outside, but all the same I put them inside as soon as I can. I don't unwrap a ton unless it won't rain before I'm done lugging it down.
I've used Barefoot and Logik, and they were both well-wrapped, with a good trashbag-type cover. That cover seems to help as a last line of defense against moisture.
If I had no choice but to keep some outside, I would keep the unopened tons only. Once opened, I would not trust a tarp to keep them dry.
Thanks. I have no experience with pellets, but am putting in a pellet boiler, and looking at options. I still have to store firewood in the garage, and an not sure about bulk/bag, or some combo. I wouldn't leave opened bags outside. Would prefer to keep inside of course.
Did it for two years and never lost a bag. I put them on two pallets stacked to keep them off the ground and allow air underneath. Had two tarps on them including the plastic bag they come in and the plastic wrap. Puts some moth balls to keep the critters away in and around the pallets and you should be good to go. If possible keep the snow away from them and off the top after each storm. clear standing water off the top or even better pitch each top so the water will run off.
If you worry about condensation be trapped, which I don't, but if you do, I'd put scrap 2x4s on top, then a sheet of OSB, then the tarp. That way you'll have an air gap. But, I think it's unnecessary.
TimfromMA
Minister of Fire
You should b fine until you open the pallet for use. Once you do, I would move the remaining bags inside.
Are they YOUR pellets? If the answer is "YES", then prob'ly you can do anything you want with them.
Tonyray
Minister of Fire
My 4 tons get moved into the basement thru the removable windows and stored on Pallets.
I still cover them with the original plastic cover they come with. Stretches good if u don't get a Factory perfect stack..
Have water pipes running above the pallets so just a pre-caution measure,
I still cover them with the original plastic cover they come with. Stretches good if u don't get a Factory perfect stack..
Have water pipes running above the pallets so just a pre-caution measure,
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Yeah, I didn't dehumidify consistently last summer and even with insulation (open cell) got drippage from cold water pipes.
How dry does it have to be?
Tonyray
Minister of Fire
well, my basement is not insulated.. I do have insulation all around the sills but that;s it.
Cement walls and floor.
So actually it;s really a cellar.... stays around 60 degrees all summer and on humid days we don't open the windows.
This is my 1st year storing pellets for the summer and I don't foresee any problems.Never seems to get damp down there. Pipes never sweat... maybe from having good cross ventilation with 4 windows opposite each other down there.?
I feel lot better having them in the cellar as opposed to outside, wrapped or not..
TimfromMA
Minister of Fire
Mine got unloaded in a light drizzle, a bag at a time, hauled to the back yard, stacked on pallets again (which presses out any excess water that might be on the bag), covered by the original huge bag, then tarped. And I still have half a ton at this point that's still out there, still dry under the tarp, and ready to start me up again next fall before I lay in the next batch. The places I buy from leave the pallets outside all winter. Until someone pokes a hole in the pellet bag itself, and then it rains on it, there's not usually a problem.
alternativeheat
Minister of Fire
That's basically my experience as well. I had 30 bags under a tarp only ( no original wrap) all through the end of march and all of April. Good heavy duty tarp, one of the silver colored ones and brown inside. They got snowed on and rained on for almost two months out there, not a problem at all. I left a couple of bags of pellets out in the driveway one night, forgot they were not under cover. It rained all night on them. Brought them in in the morning and dumped one in the hopper. The pellets were fine. Granted that is not a bag left out in the rain all winter but it rained like hell. I figured they might be ruined but were not.
I actually think summer humidity might be more of a problem, so in a way I'm glad I'll be picking my pellets up towards fall. I think we are putting them in a shed though when we do get them. My wife doesn't want them under a tarp, says it's ugly. Actually if her sister ever got her crap out of our existing shed the pellets could go right in there but ultimately we could use another shed here anyway nearer the house too ( no garage, that ended up being a rental apartment with a tenant no less)..
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