With a mild winter and oil prices low.. What will pellet prices be next winter? Pellets are my only heat sorce and wondering what would be best for next winter... New oil burner? Or stick with pellets for next season..
What to do next winter...
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I wouldn't be to quick to jump on the oil wagon, with Pellet prices currently dropping if you have room for storage I would start buying next year's supply now.Or wait too see what the early buy programs offer on pellets.
I bought propane this winter but my furnace broke and was non repairable. I had to burn corn and pellets. I bought a new furnace so next year will be propane , oh and wood. I stumbled across a Woodstock Fireview and couldn't pass it up. I have 3 cords of wood so far.
Ya I think I agree as well.. With a pellet stove as my only heat sorce I always keep Extra parts in case of a break down.. Auger motor both blower motors vac switches.. I mean it would be nice to have a secondary heat source as a back up.. But next winter will be telling.. And I will start picking up pellets one ton at a time and add to the supply..
i stocked up at the 199 price. i'm good for about 3 years. I will also watch the oil prices as well as the pellet prices. If I see oil staying low, I might use the money im not spending on pellets (because i already have them) to start to invest in a oil furnace.
I also keep spare pellet stove parts on hand, after learning the hard way that this is a necessity when pellets are your only source of heat.
I also keep spare pellet stove parts on hand, after learning the hard way that this is a necessity when pellets are your only source of heat.
MarkF48
Feeling the Heat
"Pellets are my only heat source"
What does your homeowners insurance say about this, assuming pellets to be your "primary" and only heating source? Most insurers will require oil, gas, electric or similar, but not usually wood or pellets and view those as secondary or supplemental.
What does your homeowners insurance say about this, assuming pellets to be your "primary" and only heating source? Most insurers will require oil, gas, electric or similar, but not usually wood or pellets and view those as secondary or supplemental.
I have a furnace but it's from 1975 and is a fuel hog.. Home owners came out to my home and said nothing.. Actually I got a price break eliminating the Woodstove.. Own the home outright and there is no mortgage.. I inherited it from my parents.. Out in the woods on 12 acres of land..
bogieb
Minister of Fire
It's never a bad thing to have more than one heat source. If you have the money, I would vote for replacing the oil burner so you have an option. If it is stock up on pellets, or buy a new oil burner - tough position to be in and I wouldn't want to prognosticate.
I really want to update my propane boiler (1985) before it starts leaking, but at the price I pay for propane ($3.50/gal), and assuming I could only do one or the other, I would buy pellets - started with getting 2 tons at $199/per and free delivery this week.
I really want to update my propane boiler (1985) before it starts leaking, but at the price I pay for propane ($3.50/gal), and assuming I could only do one or the other, I would buy pellets - started with getting 2 tons at $199/per and free delivery this week.
Pete Zahria
Minister of Fire
We have a lot of customers that have had both in their homes, the "furnace" crapped out,
and now there "only" heat source is a stove.......
Deromax
Burning Hunk
The reasonning is this : Wood and pellet are both ways of heating that demand regular attention to work. If you were to unexpectedly be out of the house for some time, like you have an accident and are at hospital for some time, the heating will cease, the house will cool down and the pipes will freeze. Insurances would rather avoid this!
The other means of heating have greater reserve (oil and propane) or unlimited reserve (nat gas and electric) and so will continue to heat on thermostat for weeks unattended. That's why such a heating system is required. It can be standing by, unused, for years, but it has to be there and ready, in case it is needed.
The other means of heating have greater reserve (oil and propane) or unlimited reserve (nat gas and electric) and so will continue to heat on thermostat for weeks unattended. That's why such a heating system is required. It can be standing by, unused, for years, but it has to be there and ready, in case it is needed.
I would keep burning the pellets as long as possible, but I would also have the old stove ready to go Just In Case! Have the B.I.L. get it running in case the pellet stove fails. Start saving money for the new boiler if the B.I.L. says get a new one!
Bill
Pete Zahria
Minister of Fire
Yeah. I get it.
I was just saying that some people only heat with pellets... because they have a busted primary.
Not to start anything....
But if somebody bought a stove, flue pipe and tonnage of pellets because their primary source of heat was failing? That is insanity. I realize I have access to wholesale prices at several supply houses, but a new Weil Mclain oil fired boiler, 120k btu is $1600. Circulators are $70. AFG Burners by themselves are $250. Pellet or wood has to back-stop a functioning primary heat source. I know I could go broke heating my house to 72 with Propain. Pellets give little effort to do that.
I guess Im too much of a wimp to trust my stove to be the primary heat source all the time. If it were, Id stock up on two of every part that could fail...
But if somebody bought a stove, flue pipe and tonnage of pellets because their primary source of heat was failing? That is insanity. I realize I have access to wholesale prices at several supply houses, but a new Weil Mclain oil fired boiler, 120k btu is $1600. Circulators are $70. AFG Burners by themselves are $250. Pellet or wood has to back-stop a functioning primary heat source. I know I could go broke heating my house to 72 with Propain. Pellets give little effort to do that.
I guess Im too much of a wimp to trust my stove to be the primary heat source all the time. If it were, Id stock up on two of every part that could fail...
Pete Zahria
Minister of Fire
With the value of the dollar where it is I might consider a high efficiency german made triple pass boiler or a 90/95% efficient furnace.
I don't think it makes sense to switch to natural gas any more although three years ago it would have been hard to imagine oil prices where they are now and where they might be in the immediate future.
If you can afford to, I think it makes a lot of sense to have the most efficient systems at your disposal should you have to depend on either one. 1975 boiler has to be nearing the end of its expected life.
I think there's going to be more pressure on pellet prices than oil prices in the next couple of years. But I don't believe oil prices will be this low for long either. But I also don't see a lot of pressure on a big rise in prices either.
I don't think it makes sense to switch to natural gas any more although three years ago it would have been hard to imagine oil prices where they are now and where they might be in the immediate future.
If you can afford to, I think it makes a lot of sense to have the most efficient systems at your disposal should you have to depend on either one. 1975 boiler has to be nearing the end of its expected life.
I think there's going to be more pressure on pellet prices than oil prices in the next couple of years. But I don't believe oil prices will be this low for long either. But I also don't see a lot of pressure on a big rise in prices either.
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I concur, just upgraded to a new Buderus this winter and its the shizzy. Absoluely sips oil. All while adding a zone for the basement i never had.
No waste, and adds immediate value to the home for long time to come.
Plus much of this winter , Pellet on 1-2 for general comfort at 39-30 hours/bag, no complaints, well, except should have done it sooner.
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maple1
Minister of Fire
You guys talking boilers - he has a furnace, not a boiler.
I would start watching the local used goods places/advertising sites. Last few years around here people were swapping out their oil burning stuff for heat pump stuff, or NG. And some of that oil burning stuff is good stuff.
I would start watching the local used goods places/advertising sites. Last few years around here people were swapping out their oil burning stuff for heat pump stuff, or NG. And some of that oil burning stuff is good stuff.
Bioburner
Moderator
Seeing fuel prices going up everyday now with a just the threat of the producers limiting output. If they do as they think they can, we will probably know by the end of the month if we better see how many pellets we can squirrel away now while retailers are trying to make room for spring garden supplies. I seen softwood today for $250/T and several hardwoods for under $200/T. I have a dozen bags from a ton that I was blending with corn with the very mild winter and the Bixby eating straight corn doing most of the work. If I could snag another ton for 160 I would have next year covered, even more so if I get to go south to somewhere with palm trees.
maple1
Minister of Fire
mass_burner
Minister of Fire
Like to mention, as an option, if you really think oil is going up. UHN, an ETF, is available, lock in today's price. It appears near its bottom now, but nobody knows.
MarkF48
Feeling the Heat
My pellet stove is my "primary" heat source when oil prices are high and then the oil furnace becomes the backup system. My third contingency for a loss of electric power to the house is the coal stove which needs no electricity. Myself and my insurance company have two different interpretations of primary and secondary heat sources.
Bioburner
Moderator
One of the largest electric suppliers in MN just got another price increase. So I think that's 13 cents/kwh plus the monthly fee of over $25
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