Southern NH folks - when do you shut down your stove for the season?

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bcarton

bcarton

Feeling the Heat
Oct 15, 2014
313
Pelham, NH
This is my first year burning pellets, and I'm trying to figure out whether I should go on the hunt for more pellets.

The stove was installed November 30. SInce then, I figure I've burned on average 1.3 bags per day. December was warm, January was normal, and February let's just forget about. I have 75 bags left and at 1.3 bags per day that'll get me to May 1 with about 7 bags left over.

Any guesses whether I should go search for another 20 bags?There are some around, but they're not real close and they're not real good.

I don't have to guess at all what kind of mood my wife will be in if we run short.
 
It all depends on the weather. Last year the cold lasted into May. That is not expected this year but we don't know. I would say 75 bags should last you. Before you know it we will only be burning at night when the sun goes down
 
Far better to have extras for the beginning of next year, than to run out this year. Especially with the winter we've had so far.
 
Usually around mid April. I get a lot of solar heat from my South facing glass so once the stove starts shutting down regularly I run on stove temp for "chill" fires. I try not let the stove run for days on idle. It tends to be a little dirty that way.
It looks like mid January out there tonight. A deep snow pack and snowing hard. I brought in the last ton yesterday and hopefully I will have enough. This last ton of FSU's are much lighter in color than the first two and it seems like much less ash. It is strange how different the pellets can be from ton to ton. It seems like a different pellet with a much cleaner burn.
 
Ive run in June the past few years.
 
I use mine in June as well, mainly on cool rainy weekends. Why not get some pellets when available? They won't spoil. Kind of a no brainer.
 
Bridgeman said:
This last ton of FSU's are much lighter in color than the first two and it seems like much less ash. It is strange how different the pellets can be from ton to ton. It seems like a different pellet with a much cleaner burn.
Click to expand...
Same here. I noticed the ones that were lighter the bag says 6-14 and the darker says 7-14
I did read that the fireside is a blend of hard and soft wood
 
i got 18 bags left, not sure i want to order another ton or not i probably should i just dont want to lug them inside lol
 
packofqtips said:
i got 18 bags left, not sure i want to order another ton or not i probably should i just dont want to lug them inside lol
Click to expand...
Tell me about it. My arms are done this year from moving the snow this year
 
The dark pellets where dated 6-14 also and this last batch is 4-14. I speculate that the source material in June had excessive bark. They were not bad, they just had a grainy dark ash that didn't float out of burn pot very well. This stuff from April is a very good pellet. Both are a very good pellet for the money.
Still snowing hard. Haley says it's not stopping until morning. Yikes, enough already! I put a down payment on a new fishing boat today. Salmon season opens in 4 weeks.
 
I wasn't up for driving 40 minutes each way today for the sake of buying Green Supremes, but I'll keep my eye out for something better and closer.
 
Burn to mid June. Shut oil furnace off in May.
 
mixpat said:
I under estimated this year. At the end of my 3rd ton. Picked up 10 bags this weekend and will continue to do so until this insane winter ends.
Click to expand...

I did the same thing, will not do that again in a hurry, plan to get 5 tons in before winter returns, that's if it ever leaves that is. :p
 
One year I did my usual summer shutdown procedure. I emptied out remaining pellets, took the stove completely apart and cleaned absolutely everything, capped the vent, unplugged it and put damp rid inside. Less than a week later it got chilly again so I undid everything and fired it up again.
 
If I see a season end sale on good pellets I'll buy them, If not then my backup heat will kick in.
We have a fairly dry basement so storage over the summer won't be a problem, Also burn a lot of corn and it is very affordable this year but we won't buy any until next fall hope the market is still favorable on corn this coming year.
 
boo boo said:
Same here. I noticed the ones that were lighter the bag says 6-14 and the darker says 7-14
I did read that the fireside is a blend of hard and soft wood
Click to expand...

Bridgeman said:
The dark pellets where dated 6-14 also and this last batch is 4-14. I speculate that the source material in June had excessive bark. They were not bad, they just had a grainy dark ash that didn't float out of burn pot very well. This stuff from April is a very good pellet. Both are a very good pellet for the money.
Still snowing hard. Haley says it's not stopping until morning. Yikes, enough already! I put a down payment on a new fishing boat today. Salmon season opens in 4 weeks.
Click to expand...

Huh, all the FSU's I got were 8-14 and 9-14; and the 9-14 were the ones I got first. Maybe they use a LIFO accounting system.
 
We run the heat until we do not need to run the heat. Some years May, some June.

We use heat and A/C based on the temperature not the calender.

Many years ago when starting out in life the heat came on Nov 15 and went off on May 15 regardless of the temp. the landlord was in control cause he paid the oil man. Never again
 
I'm sitting on my last 20 bags and a full oil tank. I'm thinking April/May is going to be on oil unless I fall into some extra cash quick. Now I know I need 5 good tons to make it through the year.
 
bcarton said:
This is my first year burning pellets, and I'm trying to figure out whether I should go on the hunt for more pellets.

The stove was installed November 30. SInce then, I figure I've burned on average 1.3 bags per day. December was warm, January was normal, and February let's just forget about. I have 75 bags left and at 1.3 bags per day that'll get me to May 1 with about 7 bags left over.

Any guesses whether I should go search for another 20 bags?There are some around, but they're not real close and they're not real good.

I don't have to guess at all what kind of mood my wife will be in if we run short.
Click to expand...
When it warms up !!!
 
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