Looks like I picked the wrong year to buy two pellet stove oil prices keep dropping....

[Bioburner]

Tried using new smart phone to take picture. Won't beat a cheap Nikon pocket camera.
Diesel is heavily taxed to pay for roads. Its about $1.50 more per gallon than gas here in central MN and the Gov declared a emergency to allow drivers to drive longer to get more fuel up here as the Bakken crude is causing shortages of it and propain as the pipe and rail is used to get the refined product up is instead pumping crude south.

 

[Bioburner]

Cool dry place like most of the pellet bags state. Burnt a bag yesterday that was three years old.

 

[bags]

As long as they are kept dry, pellets will keep forever. Ive burned pellets before that were more than 2 years old and they burned great. I guess it all depends on how you store them.

I think condensation can be as bad as rain over a prolonged period. I noticed a decent amount on some bags on a ton I have which is covered well but open. The pellets in the bag will hold a cooler temp and when it warms up and rains after a colder day the humidity of moist air likes to cling to them. Just a small observation I recently made. They are in a covered area off the side of the barn with an open side. No rain can get to them at all. They were fine but the bags were wet. Might rethink my storage some now.

 

[TimfromMA]

Mine are all in my basement.

 

[Wilbur Feral]

I store mine in a shed we built under our second story deck (house on hill). It is dry but subject to outdoor fluctuations in temperature and humidity throughout the year. I always have somewhere near a quarter to half ton left at the end of the year, and burn those pellets first at the start of the next season. Have never had a problem and notice no difference in performance from the previous year.

 

[RickNH]

Mine are all in my basement along with a geospring and a dehumidifier for summer. It is currently 63 degrees and 58 % humidity. Is this OK ?

 

[Bioburner]

Mine are all in my basement along with a geospring and a dehumidifier for summer. It is currently 63 degrees and 58 % humidity. Is this OK ?

Off the floor? If so should be good and you have no major temp changes like outside storage to collect moisture.

 

[RickNH]

Off the floor? If so should be good and you have no major temp changes like outside storage to collect moisture.

yes off of the floor.

 

[chken]

Should be no problem, my 5+ tons are also in my basement with my Geo and my dehumid, and haven't had any issues.

 

[SKOAL MAN]

It's amazing how quickly posts get off topic here!

 

[bags]

It's amazing how quickly posts get off topic here!

What topic are you on? Dude, this is all part of the learning process for many people and people do and will stray a bit. Big deal. The moderators here do great job when it gets way off topic and throw out a reminder to get back on topic or they shut it down. Let them do their jobs. I notice you constantly chime in with BS and negative criticism so I will step up and say something.

The thread is about pellet stoves and oil prices and cost savings of one or the other. We are talking about pellets so I'd say it isn't too far off. Burn the oil if it floats your boat.

 

[SKOAL MAN]

What topic are you on? Dude, this is all part of the learning process for many people and people do and will stray a bit. Big deal. The moderators here do great job when it gets way off topic and throw out a reminder to get back on topic or they shut it down. Let them do their jobs. I notice you constantly chime in with BS and negative criticism so I will step up and say something.

The thread is about pellet stoves and oil prices and cost savings of one or the other. We are talking about pellets so I'd say it isn't too far off. Burn the oil if it floats your boat.

Another reason why I cancelled my Facebook, rambling! I just realized that I can block people who post useless information, awesome!

 

[twodogs02]

$1.24/gallon propane fill up last week in Upstate, NY. Unbelievable. Using mostly gas now unless temps drop below 10 degrees

 

[Jason845845]

I've been using oil since Saturday as I'm "between stoves". Every time the furnace fires up it just horrifies me how much oil I go through to heat this tiny house. New stove being delivered and installed today, thank god!

 

[TimfromMA]

I just finished off my first ton of the season.

 

[bags]

I just finished off my first ton of the season.

That is doing well! What size place are you doing if you don't mind? Wish I could get that average. Also are you using any other heat source? Thanks.

 

[Rock Crusher]

On 12th bag of pellets, 1/2 cord of wood, zero gallons oil=warm house and lots of smiles!

 

[TimfromMA]

That is doing well! What size place are you doing if you don't mind? Wish I could get that average. Also are you using any other heat source? Thanks.

My stove is located on the main upper living level. my main level is about 1800 sqft. I keep the oil thermostat on my lower level set to about 55. Upstairs, the stove thermostat is on 69 when we are home and 65 when we are away.

 

[TimfromMA]

Hey bags I ran outta likes so I like your post man

I wasn't even aware that was possible. I guess I don't like alot of things.

 

[zrtmatos]

I got this used Enviro pellet stove for $300 dollars that I fixed up. Payback is much faster!

Very nice reconditioning.

 

[bags]

I wasn't even aware that was possible. I guess I don't like alot of things.

Ha ha ha! Tim, Thanks for the explanation. Ya LIKE that pellet heat now don't ya?

 

[TimfromMA]

Ha ha ha! Tim, Thanks for the explanation. Ya LIKE that pellet heat now don't ya?

Pellet heat might be taking a vacation if oil goes much lower.

 

[bags]

That's understandable. You have to do what makes economic sense. Subject to change daily of course. I hope oil keeps going down. Everyone has been gouged way too long as is.

 

[CaptSpiff]

According to the specs in my boiler, it uses .40 / gal per hour. I imagine that's under ideal conditions when it was new. Is there any feasible way to measure it in operation?

The standard Oil Burner Head uses a replaceable nozzle which can be found in many local Home D's. The nozzle is rated by x.xx gal/hr and by the mist pattern it produces. The mist pattern is recommended by the manufacturer to best fill the firebox, and the rated gal/hr is assuming a 100psi constant pump pressure.

Your boiler/furnace has a Max Input rating on a steel plate label, and you can divide that by 140,000 for the absolute maximum allowable nozzle size.
Example: Old 160K Utica Boiler: 160000 / 140000 = 1.14 is the max allowed nozzle size.

Back in the day, I usually undersized by 10%, but would frequently go down by 25-30% if the customer complained of frequent boiler short cycling (on/off).

To answer your question, the best way to measure the supply rate is to install a small (1 1/2 inch ish) 200 psi pressure gauge on the pump port made for that purpose.

The gauge makes it easier to adjust the flame (only the air ratio remains) when the pump pressure is in spec. And it also gives advance warning of clogged filters when the needle starts vibrating.

 

[CaptSpiff]

Gas pipeline runs straight through our town, and they're talking about running a second pipeline We were never given any choice about this, it was a done deal at the federal level when it was announced and rapidly built 17-18 years ago. NOT EVEN ONE residence, business, or local government building in this town can access the NG in that pipeline. Not even one.

Yup, done for the greater good.
Not every town gets an off-ramp from the Interstate. Grease baby!
Now shut up and pay your grease,... I mean taxes.

** definition of "greater good" is what benefits the wigs in capitol city.

On a serious note, New England desperately needs 2 new supply pipelines (transmission pipelines). During last years cold snap the existing NG supply was withheld from industrial users, to ensure there would be enough for residential heating. Almost sent the electric sector (ISO-NE) into a tailspin looking for replacement energy. Coal piles were frozen, oil generators weren't even bidding in the market because the high fuel cost, came close to initiating rolling area blackouts. Consequences baby,... consequences.