What Kind Of Pellets Are You Using And How Do You Like Them? **Poll Inside** Just How Many Brands A

[nanama72]

I agree with others that Cleanfire made clinkers and didn't put out as much heat.
Barefoots put out the most heat, but requires cleaning out the burnpot every 3-4 bags.
LG granules not quite as much heat as Barefoots, but more than Cleanfire and less ash than the others.

 

[Skunk]

I need to get me some barefoots.

 

[gone fishing]

I am using Energex pellet this year in my Harmon. If these were the only pellets available I would never use a pellet stove again. These are just junk. I am burning 2 times the usual amount and still can't keep my normal room temps.
ash content low
clinkers MANY TOO MANY
heat output LOW
fines low
length med

 

[Sawduster]

There is far too much variablility in pellet quality. If the manufacturers really want to grow this industry, they are going to have to clean up their act. I was none too happy with my Boreal Pellets (the only ones I've really used), but after reading some of the horror stories here, I may stick with them. Better the devil that you know, then the one you don't sort of thing. When you buy your pellets in the off season, it is pretty hard to fire up your stove to try before you commit to say six tons, but if you don't you could be stuck with a huge headache.

 

[Skunk]

There is far too much variablility in pellet quality.

Isn't that kind of crazy?

I was also unhappy with the Energex pellets. They put out a little more heat than the Clean Fire, but clinked badly. These Clean Fires are still producing a very nice ash.

And I misspoke earlier - I wasn't happy with "Nature's Heat" pellets, they were Forest's Pride, bought from Wal-Mart. Guess they're the same as Lignetics...(?)

 

[trbinrat]

There is far too much variablility in pellet quality. If the manufacturers really want to grow this industry, they are going to have to clean up their act. I was none too happy with my Boreal Pellets (the only ones I've really used), but after reading some of the horror stories here, I may stick with them. Better the devil that you know, then the one you don't sort of thing. When you buy your pellets in the off season, it is pretty hard to fire up your stove to try before you commit to say six tons, but if you don't you could be stuck with a huge headache.

I wish I could get the boreals they burned way better than the NEWP that I just finished. Just picked up 5 bags of bayou's we'll see how they do.

 

[mark d fellows]

I prefer Lignetics. I have used a few. They are listed in preference in my signature panel.

 

[www_godzilla]

I have 2 kinds....LG Granules...med/low ash med heat NO clinkers very uniformed length very little fines(3/4") Then there is the Fireside Ultras... low ash high heat small clinkers 3/4- 1 1/4 " in lenth very little fines........Over all both are very very good. I'm burning Firesides Ultras right now. I have my dogs to left and to the right of me and typing to you people......AHHHHH LIFE

 

[KPWright]

I've burned Hamer "Hot Ones" in the past and was pretty happy with those. Plenty of heat, minimal ash and light on the fines. I've had repeated bad luck with Pennington and have sworn off them. For the past three years, I've been buying a Southern States brand "Statesman" premium hardwood. The dealer swears they are re-packaged Hamer pellets and I tend to believe it as they look and perform the same, but for a somewhat lower price. I used lignetics a couple times, but don't find them available here regularly.

 

[novah]

I've gone through 1 1/2 tons of Fireside Ultra pellets so far this year. I'm impressed with the heat output, but disappointed with their quality control. I've had three auger jams from pieces of wood mixed in with the pellets. The first jam shut down my stove resulting in a service call to the dealer. That cost me $130. The service tech showed me how to remove the auger to free the 1 1/2" piece of jammed wood. Since that 1st jam, it has happened 2 more times. I burned 5 tons last year without any jams. Fireside Ultra's manufacturing process should be monitored better.

I have had good luck with the Ulra's but I found a what looked like the top of a Betty Crocker cake mix box in one of my bags. I dumped it in the the cardboard was sitting on top so there were no problems.

 

[steamguy]

After experimenting with several brands,I have had the best results with Golden Fire.

Ash Content.........low
Clinkers...............Just a few small ones
Heat Output.........High
Fines...................Very Low
Length.................Medium

I agree with the above; tried Bear Mountain and got these results:

Ash Content.........Medium, about twice that of Golden Fire
Clinkers...............About as many as Golden Fire
Heat Output.........Medium
Fines...................Very High, as many as a double handful in a single bag
Length.................Short

Required running much more air in the stove to keep it from getting sooted up.

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

I use Country Boy produced in southern Kentucky. 100% oak. Low amount of fines, high heat output. Only issue I've had is that some of the bags tear open on the top portion of the bag, leading to a big mess in my basement.

 

[jng518]

Greene Team from Lowes. Have used 10 bags shy of 2 tons and have 1 ton in storage.
There has been some bags(on the bottom of the pallet) with more than 1/2 a cup of sawdust.
The rest less than 1/4 cup per bag. I clean out the stove every week weather it need it or not.

 

[Idahokid]

Atlas ultra premium red fir

 

[Rooscooter]

Other.....These are the brands I've used primarily over the last two years. I would recommend any of them.
Atlas Ultra Premium (mill just closed)
Rocky Canyon Ultra Premium Red Fir
Okanagan Pellets
Armstrong Pellets (both SPF and Douglas Fir)
North Idaho Energy Pellets (my current favorite)

 

[esuitt]

I tried Penningtons in an emergency, bought from Walmart on Thanksgiving day and will not buy another bag of them ever!
I will stick with the Lignetcs, I know that my stove likes them and they burn well. They do tend to build up a lot of ash in the burn pot but it does not seem to affect the heat output of the stove. I clean it once a week unless it shuts down from low pellets.
For 199.00 ton, I really cannot go wrong with them.