This Forum is Creating the Pellet Panic!!

[MarkF48]

Look at the number of views on threads that have the mention of pellet shortages. You're getting everyone scared that they won't have heat this winter and of course you're telling all your friends and co-workers about the shortage and they're getting antsy about pellet availability.

This forum is fueling the run and shortage on pellets

 

[jfunk138]

Just filled my oil tank for $3.06/gallon. Haven't seen that price in a few years. Burning oil won't be too painful.

 

[TimfromMA]

For me, oil has to drop below $2 per gallon before it's less painful than pellets.

 

[jfunk138]

(broken link removed to http://stcroixstoves.com/pellet-stoves/compare.htm)

I plugged in $345 a ton for pellets and $3.06 for oil. If anything will end this "shortage" the falling cost of oil will. Oil is starting to beat the fancy pellets. Though it would have to drop to $2.25/gallon to beat Home Depot pellets.

 

[moey]

(broken link removed to http://stcroixstoves.com/pellet-stoves/compare.htm)

I plugged in $345 a ton for pellets and $3.06 for oil. If anything will end this "shortage" the falling cost of oil will. Oil is starting to beat the fancy pellets. Though it would have to drop to $2.25/gallon to beat Home Depot pellets.

If you have a modern boiler or furnace that is properly sized I would say unless your buying pellets sub $250 its more economical to just turn the switch on your boiler on.

 

[Highbeam]

If you have a modern boiler or furnace that is properly sized I would say unless your buying pellets sub $250 its more economical to just turn the switch on your boiler on.

Is that assuming the 3$ oil that jfunk quoted?

Assuming you have plentiful stockpiles of each fuel and that each stockpile won't expire from old age, it makes sense to burn the cheapest.

 

[TimfromMA]

I've cut my oil consumption by 600 gallons per year. As soon as I can buy 600 gallons of heating oil for less than the cost of 3 1/2 tons pellets, I'll flip on the oil furnace.

 

[Tonyray]

1,000 dollars for 4 tons of pellets for heat this winter.
oil supply for heat/Hot water would be close to 2,000.00 for a year..
this past year got 100 gallons oil in Feb [for DHW] and just now got 100 gallons in sept which should take us to close to February again.
Pellets still Ahead by 800.00 -900.00.

 

[iron stove]

This forum is fueling the run and shortage on pellets

And pencils misspell my words.

 

[muss]

The original poster is correct in saying some people on this forum are supporting a bit of panic among the newbies about having a "pellet shortage" . With all the new pellet manufacturers across the country, very doubtful if there ever would happen

 

[moey]

FUD...

 

[lessoil]

I would hope that if all of us purchased only what we needed, then we should be all set.
There was a shortage last Jan-Feb. Never ending cold......

Muss,
One of my ancestors on my Dad's side settled in Embden after the Revolutionary War.
His name was Granville Berry. He and his Wife are buried in a small cemetery overlooking Embden Pond.

 

[Peterfield]

Maybe some good news. A few vendors of pellets I visited today will not sell you a ton at a time. I don't know how prevalent this anti-hoarding policy is but all the places doing it had plenty of pellets and several brands to choose from.

 

[Pete Zahria]

The original poster is correct in saying some people on this forum are supporting a bit of panic among the newbies about having a "pellet shortage" . With all the new pellet manufacturers across the country, very doubtful if there ever would happen

Keep in mind... Everybody that reads this forum doesn't live in Embden, Maine.

The shortages that "I" have been speaking about, are very real, in "my" area.
As I have said before, we are VERY happy that everyone is not experiencing
the same dilemma.
Our yard is still empty.
Keep getting told they will be here any day.
The phone still rings all day from people looking for good grade stuff..

As for the new plants... How many and where.
And are they making up for the boatloads going overseas,
that never used to?
Not hardly..

Dan

 

[RhodyPelletRook]

I've cut my oil consumption by 600 gallons per year. As soon as I can buy 600 gallons of heating oil for less than the cost of 3 1/2 tons pellets, I'll flip on the oil furnace.

That'll take time since your looking at the per ton price of DF

 

[DneprDave]

No pellet shortage around Western Washington

 

[TimfromMA]

The majority of pellet users don't post here and these people have alot to do with pellet usage. They experienced shortages last year just like the rest of us and don't need to read a message board to know it's a good idea to buy pellets early.

 

[ttdberg]

If I were in the market to buy my first pellet stove right about now, reading all this stuff about fuel shortages would turn me off to the idea. There was a recent thread where a member was contemplating buying DF pellets at $375/ton ($7.50 per bag) just to make sure he had some pellets. Using 200 gallons oil as an example, at today's price of $3.06, the cost is $612. The same heat value is produced by 80 bags of pellets, but at $7.50 per bag, the price is $600!

I don't know about you guys, but I bought the pellet stove first and foremost to save money, so spending that kind of money on pellets completely diminishes the value of it. For the whopping $12 in savings, it's just not worth it. Rather than despair, lose sleep, and spend more money than I ever wanted to on pellets, I would gladly relax and let the oil man come fill up the tank and keep hunting for pellets at $240 - $250 per ton. When you find them, and you will, then buy.

 

[dlehneman]

I'll buy my own small pellet mill and produce them myself before I ever buy oil again

 

[iron stove]

Maybe some good news. A few vendors of pellets I visited today will not sell you a ton at a time. .

During the March severe shortage, local vendors were doing this. 5-10 bag limit. But it was March, April. If I drove my HD truck to a vendor today, and they wouldn't sell me a full ton, theyd never see me again. Waste of time and Gas to only buy a few bags.

 

[Edward Hughes]

During the March severe shortage, local vendors were doing this. 5-10 bag limit. But it was March, April. If I drove my HD truck to a vendor today, and they wouldn't sell me a full ton, theyd never see me again. Waste of time and Gas to only buy a few bags.

Bought my stove, Nov 18 1995, and knew this would happen. I will not renew my pellet dependency,
if and when, I can no longer repair. Close to 70, and the B.S. gets old quick.

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

Is this supply issue the same for bulk delivery of pellets also. Im not a pellet burner, but have been curious about this supply. Thanks

 

[Pete Zahria]

During the March severe shortage, local vendors were doing this. 5-10 bag limit. But it was March, April. If I drove my HD truck to a vendor today, and they wouldn't sell me a full ton, theyd never see me again. Waste of time and Gas to only buy a few bags.

Chances are really good that when (if) we get pellets again,
we will only sell one ton per. Hopefully that will get people by until more come in.
Better to help a couple dozen, than four or five.

But honestly.... This you'll have them Tuesday....
no, Thursday... maybe Friday, BS is getting really, really old...

 

[scajjr2]

We got our 4 tons in August, $1100. We have electric baseboard heat, average has been $1400-$1500 above the rest of the cost we pay monthly (hot water, electric stove, etc.) to heat from Nov -April. Today news came out that our electric supplier, Unitil, has requested a rate increase to the NH PUC that would add $42/mo to the "average" user. Not being an "average" user, I'm glad I made sure to have our winter supply on hand before fall this year.

Sam

 

[bbfarm]

We had a shortage in our area mid winter last year about the same time as the propane shortage

Not all of us have the cash flow to buy the entire winters stock of pellets in advance. Last year we bought a ton a month. Tons of room to store them just no $$ to buy them

I am so happy to be able to have 4 tons bought already with a 5th ton in the works for October

There were places like fleet farm that had pellets but i won't buy from them because they store them all outside, not under cover. We got lots of freezing rain last year