Finally! (Envi-Block Review)

[bmwloco]

I'm having my third delivery in 4 years... $360 for a complete truck full, basically 1.5 pallets. I have enough left over in the basement to get us to January; the coldest months here being January, February and into March. What with the El Nino this year, I'm not going to take any chances.

Bring on the weather! I'll my VC Resolute at 650-700F on the coldest nights, burning 24/7 with Envi Logs. My truck is retired from hauling wood. I can't recall the last time I used my chainsaw. I gave away my wood splitter.

All things being equal, I think the logs about break even for me.

 

[Spliff]

Hi folks....I usually burn 4-5 cords yearly. I've been supplementing stick burning w/ some kind of compressed sawdust product for a while now, starting w/ Bio Bricks about 4 yrs ago. My favorite of all is the Envi Block. Last year I bought 1 ton, this year, 2. Luckily I'm only 10 miles down Rt 8 from CT Pellet and I take advantage of the spring sale price. Yes, they are more expensive than (non-seasoned oak) cord wood, but their convenience is worth the extra cost, imo. For example, no dealing w/ a dumped pile of sticks in the driveway, each of which has to be picked up, put on a log carrier, moved to the wood shed out back, picked up from the log carrier, and stacked in the shed. When that's done, the driveway needs to be cleaned up. Then the sticks get loaded onto the carrier again and moved into the house from the shed using the 50 ft. long, snowblower-cleared path during burning season.

Instead of all that work, I watch CT Pellet put the pallets in the garage. Then during burning season I load the log carrier w/ 10 packs and move them only 20' across the already snow-cleared driveway to the house. Much easier!

Also, they stack easily and compactly inside w/ no mess. No sweeping up the crumbs always left by the sticks. And, no spiders! They ARE a bit sawdust-messy when opened, but its not too bad. I place a cookie sheet right in front of the stove that can fit 1 pack of blocks and open the package on it to contain the mess. I burn 3 blocks at a time, 2 bottom N-S and 1 top E-W.

I love how little air they need to burn, and how relatively precisely the temp can be controlled using the air intake on the stove (Englander 13-NC).

While I'm here I'd like to mention another great wood stove product- the Ecofan. This is the 3rd season and I love it! No more ANNOYINGLY loud stove blower. Google it if you're unfamiliar w/ them. Mine is the Airmax 812 model.

Ok, enough blabbering. Stay warm folks.

 

[Jay106n]

Hi folks....I usually burn 4-5 cords yearly. I've been supplementing stick burning w/ some kind of compressed sawdust product for a while now, starting w/ Bio Bricks about 4 yrs ago. My favorite of all is the Envi Block. Last year I bought 1 ton, this year, 2. Luckily I'm only 10 miles down Rt 8 from CT Pellet and I take advantage of the spring sale price. Yes, they are more expensive than (non-seasoned oak) cord wood, but their convenience is worth the extra cost, imo. For example, no dealing w/ a dumped pile of sticks in the driveway, each of which has to be picked up, put on a log carrier, moved to the wood shed out back, picked up from the log carrier, and stacked in the shed. When that's done, the driveway needs to be cleaned up. Then the sticks get loaded onto the carrier again and moved into the house from the shed using the 50 ft. long, snowblower-cleared path during burning season.

Instead of all that work, I watch CT Pellet put the pallets in the garage. Then during burning season I load the log carrier w/ 10 packs and move them only 20' across the already snow-cleared driveway to the house. Much easier!

Also, they stack easily and compactly inside w/ no mess. No sweeping up the crumbs always left by the sticks. And, no spiders! They ARE a bit sawdust-messy when opened, but its not too bad. I place a cookie sheet right in front of the stove that can fit 1 pack of blocks and open the package on it to contain the mess. I burn 3 blocks at a time, 2 bottom N-S and 1 top E-W.

I love how little air they need to burn, and how relatively precisely the temp can be controlled using the air intake on the stove (Englander 13-NC).

While I'm here I'd like to mention another great wood stove product- the Ecofan. This is the 3rd season and I love it! No more ANNOYINGLY loud stove blower. Google it if you're unfamiliar w/ them. Mine is the Airmax 812 model.

Ok, enough blabbering. Stay warm folks.

Welcome to Hearth. Good 1st post. I am in the same neck of the woods as you. I'm in the same boat. With CT Pellet being so close, and factory 2nds of hotbricks available in Waterbury at discount, I've always wondered if its a viable option or not. What does CT Pellet charge in the spring sale for a ton?

 

[Spliff]

Hi folks....I usually burn 4-5 cords yearly. I've been supplementing stick burning w/ some kind of compressed sawdust product for a while now, starting w/ Bio Bricks about 4 yrs ago. My favorite of all is the Envi Block. Last year I bought 1 ton, this year, 2. Luckily I'm only 10 miles down Rt 8 from CT Pellet and I take advantage of the spring sale price. Yes, they are more expensive than (non-seasoned oak) cord wood, but their convenience is worth the extra cost, imo. For example, no dealing w/ a dumped pile of sticks in the driveway, each of which has to be picked up, put on a log carrier, moved to the wood shed out back, picked up from the log carrier, and stacked in the shed. When that's done, the driveway needs to be cleaned up. Then the sticks get loaded onto the carrier again and moved into the house from the shed using the 50 ft. long, snowblower-cleared path during burning season.

Instead of all that work, I watch CT Pellet put the pallets in the garage. Then during burning season I load the log carrier w/ 10 packs and move them only 20' across the already snow-cleared driveway to the house. Much easier!

Also, they stack easily and compactly inside w/ no mess. No sweeping up the crumbs always left by the sticks. And, no spiders! They ARE a bit sawdust-messy when opened, but its not too bad. I place a cookie sheet right in front of the stove that can fit 1 pack of blocks and open the package on it to contain the mess. I burn 3 blocks at a time, 2 bottom N-S and 1 top E-W.

I love how little air they need to burn, and how relatively precisely the temp can be controlled using the air intake on the stove (Englander 13-NC).

While I'm here I'd like to mention another great wood stove product- the Ecofan. This is the 3rd season and I love it! No more ANNOYINGLY loud stove blower. Google it if you're unfamiliar w/ them. Mine is the Airmax 812 model.

Ok, enough blabbering. Stay warm folks.

Welcome to Hearth. Good 1st post. I am in the same neck of the woods as you. I'm in the same boat. With CT Pellet being so close, and factory 2nds of hotbricks available in Waterbury at discount, I've always wondered if its a viable option or not. What does CT Pellet charge in the spring sale for a ton?

Thanks. Price was $280/ton during spring 2015 sale (which may have been the reg. price the previous year, IIRC). I see they're on sale now until 1/9 for $295, down from reg. $325.

I've thought of trying those Hot Brick 2nds too, but I like the bigger size block. I should probably check them out anyway.

 

[edge-of-the-woods]

I have never tried to light the Envi blocks from a cold start, I have always put them in on an already started fire. But.. Here is how I light the Envi 8's. I lay them in my stove (i3100) north south configuation 3 of them with about 1.25 spacing between them then I lay 2 more on top east west. I use those strike a fire sticks and lay one of them in between the three on the bottom.(usually between the first 2 just for air flow) light the end that has the matchstick on it with a lighter and off she goes. I always leave the door open (never unatttended) about a half inch for about 15 mins leave the draft rad open and shut the door. Works everytime!! I dont do this to often though because I burn 24/7 so there is always coals to get her going again. Package comes with 48 pieces (about 8 bucks) so if you burn like I do it lasts the whole season. Took me awhile to find what works and this is how I have been doing it for 3 seasons now. Every stove is different so watch those temps

Just curious, when you say watch those temps....when should I start getting nervous and shutting down the air? Is it the same for bricks as it is for wood?

 

[bmwloco]

Temperatures here in the mountains of NC run up/down/up/down most of the winter. I'm glad I don't own one of the local ski areas!

Been burning more of the Envi logs than the Envi 8 this year, though I have both stacked up against the wall in the garage.

Start up is simple. Three Envi Logs (one pack, i.e. the big ones) go into my old Resolute. I try to angle them in so there is room to break up a Super Cedar (sold on 'em since the free give away here) and wedge in 2 or 3 pieces in, wad up an old NY Times sheet or two (Sunday Times makes great wood stove starter - just not the glossies or magazine).

Just light the Super Cedar, crack the door... as soon as the stove reaches 200F (quickly), I button 'er up and let her run.

Gotta say, I'm sold on Envi logs. 3 years in. Low ash, no mess.

 

[Spliff]

When I need a fire starter product I use Weber Starter Cubes. They're petroleum-based but have no appreciable odor. They light easily and give a good flame for around 15 mins. Sold at home improvement stores for <$3.50/box of 24.

@bmwloco- What's the price of a ton of Envi Blocks in NC? Thanks.

 

[trailrated]

Man I wish I could get some envi-blocks around my parts.

 

[bmwloco]

When I need a fire starter product I use Weber Starter Cubes. They're petroleum-based but have no appreciable odor. They light easily and give a good flame for around 15 mins. Sold at home improvement stores for <$3.50/box of 24.

@bmwloco- What's the price of a ton of Envi Blocks in NC? Thanks.

Paid $390 for a pickup load full, flush to rails, and another 20 packages in the back cab. Temps dropping through the day here - 44 at dawn when I woke. Currently 40F and falling. 20F by nightfall.

 

[drz1050]

I've also been burning the big envi blocks this year.. they definitely burn longer than cord wood, and I haven't found them hard to get started as long as you toss them onto a decent kindling fire or hot coals. Trying not to burn too many, as they're currently more expensive than oil BTU for BTU.

 

[Spliff]

Heads-up folks.....It's Spring Sale time at CT Pellet. The ENVI blocks are $255/ton and the smaller ENVI 8s are $245/ton.