Storing pellets outside?

[edhug]

I have a pellet stove (Breckwell P23) and 2 tons of pellets on order. I don't have a garage or shed to store the pellets. I plan on storing them behind the house, under a tarp. Are there any problems with this plan?

 

[BadDad320]

I would make every effort to keep them dry as moisture will render them useless. Keep them up off the ground for sure. You might want to think about getting some type of shed / outbuilding if and when possible.

 

[imacman]

A good quality tarp will be OK, as long as the pellets are up off the ground and completely covered. if you're getting them on a pallet, keep that underneath so air can circulate. Otherwise, I would think you should be OK, IMO.

BTW, I'm in Orange County too (New Windsor)...where are you located? Who did you order your pellets from?

 

[MCPO]

Be aware of storing them too close to the house regarding rain water off the roof and splashing if you haven`t got gutters installed.
John

 

[edhug]

I live in Florida,NY. Ordered the stove & pellets from Stoves Plus (361-2757) in Thompson Ridge... $270 per ton + delivery.

 

[Xena]

I have stored pellets by the ton outside before, but I find it to be
a pita for a few reasons. First, if you get a lot of snow you will
need to keep the area around the pellets clear so you can get
at them. Covering them with a good strong tarp works, but you
will always be clearing snow off the tarp and it gets old very fast constantly
removing and tying back down the tarp. Without ample storage space
you will be removing and replacing the tarp a lot. Too much of a pita
for my liking but ymmv.

I know if I didn't have my garage and three season porch I would
most definitely get a small shed that would house at least 3 tons.

 

[edhug]

My hope is to be able to keep a 4 or 5 day supply in the house, and deal with the outdoor supply once every 4/5 days.
My main concern is that the outdoor supply stay good and burnable.

 

[Souzafone]

Temperature changes can cause condensation, try to keep them out of the sun. Storing anything outdoors long term is an invitation for critters to move in, time for a cat.

 

[BubbRubb]

(broken image removed)
This is a pic of Energex's plant in Mifflintown, PA as from their website. I go by their plant frequently and, while not this year, there usually is inventory sitting on their lot. The tons prior to shipping are not stored in a warehouse, but outside.

 

[edhug]

Thanks for the picture........ Very reassuring.
I'm going to store them the same way, with the addition of a tarp! ;-)

Ed

 

[rayttt]

once you 'break' open a skid..its not going to be sealed in its shrinkwrap any longer and may be more prone to getting wet.
the skids are completely shrinkwrapped to be somewhat 'waterproof'

 

[imacman]

once you 'break' open a skid..its not going to be sealed in its shrinkwrap any longer and may be more prone to getting wet.
the skids are completely shrinkwrapped to be somewhat 'waterproof'

I have to store most of mine outside, but I have a wood shed w/ an asphalt shingled roof that I used to store my cord wood. Once I had the pellets transferred into my "wood" shed on the original pallet, I slid the "bag" back down over the top, and tucked the edges under the bottom row of bags.....snug as a bug in a rug....LOL.

 

[Hansson]

My sons school thats heats whit pellets and solar have this fine store

 

[MCPO]

My sons school thats heats whit pellets and solar have this fine store

Hahaha. My neighbors would love to see that bin next door to them.
John

 

[MCPO]

Thanks for the picture........ Very reassuring.
I'm going to store them the same way, with the addition of a tarp! ;-)

Ed

Yeah, A good tarp would be sufficient .
I think the hardest part is securing the tarp and keeping it secured.
John

 

[twiddler]

Most pallets of pellets come with a large plastic bag covering it . Makes a grea trash bag , but I use it to cover my pellets in my garage. I had a few bags with holes in them at the bottom. Seems that these wooden pallets have nails sticking out and punctured some of my bags. I plan on moving my pellets in my basement, but if you have a wet basement then store them outside or in a garage.

 

[Hansson]

My sons school thats heats whit pellets and solar have this fine store

Hahaha. My neighbors would love to see that bin next door to them.
John

hehe
Its a container from Mafa i think
(broken link removed to http://www.mafa.se/menyb.htm)

 

[Lisa_is_warm]

I just bought a 10x 10 "undercover" canopy, with a wall kit. I plan on keeping 3.5 tons of pellets in this, along with a tarp on them as well. I hope this will ease getting to
them in the dead of winter, as the canopy will be located off of the house. they are on clearance at Lowes for half price, got the whole set up for 130.00 http://www.iundercover.com/iundercover_web/index.html

 

[stoveguy2esw]

if you store outdoors, make sure the "big bag" covering is kept as intact as possible, what i would suggest is to remove the shrink wrap around it so you can lift it off then when finished getting what you want out from under it , replace it and wrap a few "bungees" around it after pulling the bag back over the pile. be careful not to tear that bag and do not take off the shipped pallet and restack outdoors unless the pallet you wish to place them on has the waxed cardboard bottom sheets that the manufacturers put under the pellets this helps to keep moisture from wicking up into the pellets from the ground.

 

[imacman]

I just bought a 10x 10 "undercover" canopy, with a wall kit. I plan on keeping 3.5 tons of pellets in this, along with a tarp on them as well. I hope this will ease getting to
them in the dead of winter, as the canopy will be located off of the house. they are on clearance at Lowes for half price, got the whole set up for 130.00 http://www.iundercover.com/iundercover_web/index.html

Word to the wise on these canopies (we use them for a sun cover while we are at pavement races during the summer (we race dirt and pavement sprint cars): Make sure you stake the poles into the ground VERY SECURELY! If any wind gets under them, they want to take off like a kite! We use nylon rope and 5 gallon fuel jugs normally, but on occasion have had to actually drive nails through the feet into the pit asphalt.

I'm sure the walls will help in this regard, but again, make sure everything is very secure, and no openings around edges that wind can "catch an edge". Also, I just noticed that you are in Maine....better find out what kind of a snow load the canopy will withstand.

 

[Wet1]

I'd be amazed if that thing would handle a typical ME snow load...

 

[Lisa_is_warm]

good responses. i will be raking the canopy, along with the rest of my roof. i'm also going to call the company, undercover, and ask them about silicone spray. my next concern is the zipper freezing up!