Will this pellet shortage make people want to sell their stoves?

[mik_kane]

I am thinking about buying a pellet insert, I have a pellet stove in the basement that I love and want to get one for the fireplace upstairs. I was just wondering if this pellet shortage would make people think about other means of heating their homes and sell their stoves after the winter.?

 

[Enigma869]

I would say that a more logical approach would be people with pellet stoves purchasing more pellets before next Winter begins.

 

[kofkorn]

I'm sure that it will be the straw that broke the camel's back for a number of people who were already fed up with their purchase. For those of us that have been using them for a while, this is no worse than 2008 when demand spiked.

Just keep an eye on Craigslist and jump on any deals that are sure to be floating your way...

 

[mik_kane]

I'm sure that it will be the straw that broke the camel's back for a number of people who were already fed up with their purchase. For those of us that have been using them for a while, this is no worse than 2008 when demand spiked.

Just keep an eye on Craigslist and jump on any deals that are sure to be floating your way...

That was my plan

 

[kofkorn]

Inserts are a little tougher to find on Craigslist, as most people don't want to take the insert out and leave the bare fireplace. Someone with a free standing unit can take it out, fix the holes and use the extra floor space.

I'm sure there will be a few though. You should look for some of the craigslist apps for your mobile device that do routine searches. The only way you make Craigslist deals is to be searching all of the time and keeping an eye on the market. I don't know how many no-brainer deals that I've missed by being the second caller.

 

[TimfromMA]

I am fortunate to have enough space to store an entire season's worth of pellets so I can buy my fill early in the spring when demand falls and prices drop. There are alot of people who simply don't have the space and must buy as they go.

 

[Xena]

newbs who don't know the ropes might bail.
Folks who have been heating w pellets
for the long haul know better.

 

[JoeS]

I am thinking about buying a pellet insert, I have a pellet stove in the basement that I love and want to get one for the fireplace upstairs. I was just wondering if this pellet shortage would make people think about other means of heating their homes and sell their stoves after the winter.?

I am probably selling mine only because NG is so much cheaper.

 

[hoverfly]

I am probably selling mine only because NG is so much cheaper.

I would think twice before selling the pellet stove, the reality is current Natural Gas pipe lines can be maxed out during peak heating season, in order to get people to use less prices will go up. Also having multiple sources of energy is not a bad idea. If you still want to sell it buy a wood stove and a pellet basket.

 

[iron stove]

Some people will try a stove, get tired of hauling pellets, have a mild year or two and sell, or were told how Maintaince free a stove is
I think there will be fewer stoves after this year. But, if we have another pellet shortage for next winter, that could shake some from the tree.

 

[BigJohnfromCT]

I would have to agree with all of the above. My only regret is that I wish I had purchased a 6th ton. If purchasing used be careful as a number of folks on this site have purchased used stoves only to find out after they got it home that it did not work as reported. Good luck.

 

[hoverfly]

It hard to plan for a harsh winter every year when long term storage is an issue.

 

[Bioburner]

Neighbor bought a used stove and basically had the payback on it in one month compared to trying to get a fill of propain. He figures it's paid for and now enjoys the heat and cost savings. Now is looking at upgrading. Will be interesting what his family will think of a nice used Harman.

 

[Pellet-King]

If i had to start lover and buy a new stove i would use that money to convert to NG

 

[richg]

This is the fourth pellet shortage I have seen since 2000 and pellet heat has steadily gotten more popular. A lot of folks may not be able to operate under this model, but my advice on pellets is to purchase them whenever you see them and have money and room to store them. If kept dry, they don't go bad. Pellet supply and demand is subject to wild swings which are beyond the control of the end user and the only protection is to stockpile them if you can. In my opinion, this does not make you a "pellet pig".

 

[smg64ct]

I'm curious to see how much a ton cost this spring when I buy my pellets. If they go over 300/ ton I think I will bail on thus stove. I've been burning pellets for 14 years and it's a lot of work. Also, this fussy stove I have gave me a hard time this year. My last ignitor failed just short of two seasons. The pellets take of a lot of room and all the dust that gets all over the house.

 

[Bioburner]

When corn went sky high I just about bailed on burning biofuels but went over to pellets and now blending to lower the costs. The cost of a ton of fuel is about $165/ton and local Ash is about $120 cord and a lot more handling and tending of fire plus would have to install class A chimney. Now NG is not available in county. Propain is still hard to get. Long range forecast still indicates a cool spring like last year for here so that means still having to use a heater on Memorial Day.

 

[wsar10]

Interesting all this being said,
here locally since March 3rd there has been probably 20 pellet stoves listed on CL. A month ago or longer when I was shopping IF a stove was on CL it would last 2hrs !
maybe its due to the end of the season being upon us or maybe they are selling due to lack of pellets, than again there has not bee a REAL pellet shortage locally.

 

[moey]

May help.. People may read about it wonder what they are missing out on. There is a propane shortage and Im sure there are plenty of people building houses with propane heating appliances.

 

[Bioburner]

Interesting all this being said,
here locally since March 3rd there has been probably 20 pellet stoves listed on CL. A month ago or longer when I was shopping IF a stove was on CL it would last 2hrs !
maybe its due to the end of the season being upon us or maybe they are selling due to lack of pellets, than again there has not bee a REAL pellet shortage locally.

I have seen the same thing here. No problem getting pellets but propain is high. First day yesterday that went above freezing in three weeks. Freezing rain this morning left things ugly. Everyone wants to move on to spring and summer things. Yesterday at fire school everyone was talking about starting seeds, getting the boats ready or the upcoming turkey hunt. Not much about how to abate the high cost of heating the home till June.

 

[Pellet-King]

Sat picked up a very dirty but ok Whitfield Advantage 3 stove insert for $250

 

[wsar10]

I'm watching a used Harman for $900, I may upgrade from the Big-E.......If somebody is selling out I'll capitalize on it !!
Not so sure its an upgrade but it seems guys on here have better burn experience's with the Harman's, I'm also going on Saturday to check out another stove to "flip".

 

[vinny11950]

hard to say how people will behave. but you have to consider the other options consumers have and those too gave their customers serious issues (propane).

i think if you have it installed already you might as well keep it in your arsenal of heating options and supplement it with something else. nowadays having diversity in heating makes a big difference.

i know my parents house, which has the pellet stove i am always writing out, needs more insulation, specifically in the attic. so i will tackle that business in the spring before it gets hot. insulation and conservation is another option that is often forgotten. the Green Room, by the way, has great discussions on insulation and energy savings.

 

[Bioburner]

Insulation has the fastest payback. My home is at its limits with r60 in attic. 2 by 6 walls with wrap etc. Foaming would not be practicle.

 

[Luvmesomesamples]

I may be selling by 6 month old Harman Accentra insert to upgrade to a pellet boiler. Rep from Pellergy is coming at 1pm today to give me an estimate but wouldn't be installing until summer. Message me if you are interested.