Wood Pellets in Central Maine?
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Having contacts within the business...
Dysart's sold mostly Corinth pellets last season and is selling mostly Athens this season. Some basic business reasons why that I'd rather leave between the parties.
The Athens plant can produce pellets faster than they can bag them. Dysart's has even just arranged for another company to bag several hundred tons of these excess pellets for them. (Not a pellet company, but they have bagging equipment.)
Supply is tight, but not short. Athens has the wood supply, but can only produce so much per day. It's just that orders are coming fast and furious.... and way earlier than they expected. Dysart's is also constrained by the ability to deliver pellets. Trucks with piggyback forklifts don't come cheap.
They can keep up the current pace indefinitely. The pellets will be there.
Dysart's sold mostly Corinth pellets last season and is selling mostly Athens this season. Some basic business reasons why that I'd rather leave between the parties.
The Athens plant can produce pellets faster than they can bag them. Dysart's has even just arranged for another company to bag several hundred tons of these excess pellets for them. (Not a pellet company, but they have bagging equipment.)
Supply is tight, but not short. Athens has the wood supply, but can only produce so much per day. It's just that orders are coming fast and furious.... and way earlier than they expected. Dysart's is also constrained by the ability to deliver pellets. Trucks with piggyback forklifts don't come cheap.
They can keep up the current pace indefinitely. The pellets will be there.
That makes me feel a bit better. I ordered 3 more ton from Dysart's - but I am on a long waiting list.... I have considered grabbing a couple tons from Home Depot (Pennington) - just to make sure that I got something else in the cellar. I can't seem to find anyone who has anything good to say about that product - so I have held off.
In regard to the price, I don't think we should be shocked that prices are inching up a bit - I think that is to be expected.
For me, this is about more than just the cost - I am really sick of the oil companies. Pellets are going to have to become substantially more expensive than oil for me to go back. I just don't see that happening.
In regard to the price, I don't think we should be shocked that prices are inching up a bit - I think that is to be expected.
For me, this is about more than just the cost - I am really sick of the oil companies. Pellets are going to have to become substantially more expensive than oil for me to go back. I just don't see that happening.
All these insiders are regulars at Dysart's for lunch. Amazing conversations there. Plus, I have personal and business contacts.
FYI: Dysart's ended last season with a lot of pellets left in their warehouse. These Corinth pellets were the first to go when things picked up again in late spring. Let me assure you that the current tight supply is not what worries these guys. They are very happy with the current situation where they can sell all they can make and deliver. What concerns them is that everyone is stocking up on pellets now at whatever the cost, and their winter production will have to go into storage.
FYI: Dysart's ended last season with a lot of pellets left in their warehouse. These Corinth pellets were the first to go when things picked up again in late spring. Let me assure you that the current tight supply is not what worries these guys. They are very happy with the current situation where they can sell all they can make and deliver. What concerns them is that everyone is stocking up on pellets now at whatever the cost, and their winter production will have to go into storage.
As far as I know, Dysarts does not have an equity relationship with the pellet manufacturers. Definitely they do not have a stake in Corinth, or they would have stuck with those pellets!
I picked up 5 tons from Sams Club in Scarborough for $209.00 a ton about 3 weeks ago. They were going out the door as fast as they were coming in.
wayne
wayne
Titus said:
They do have good lunch, tho I was just there two days ago with the wifey and kids for breakfast, I had the kitchen sink.
The driver told me they were getting the majority of there stuff from Athens now. Thats where my stuff came from because I ordered bulk.
New one to this also... And Thanks for Every ones input
July 5th Seen Vinny @ Lowe's. he had 1 stove left, So I purchased it. Just because..lol
Got it to my garage, still in the box to date! and hope to get it in soon.
I'm thinking of Making a large (10 ton +) holding area in my basement. and having it delivered by;
(broken link removed to http://maineenergysystems.com/Bulk_Pellet_Purchases.htm)
? Do I need an Airtight container if its dry and ventilated ? Thanks
Oh ya Today at Paris Farmers in Turner, it's about $298/ton Delivered... sorry no details
B )
July 5th Seen Vinny @ Lowe's. he had 1 stove left, So I purchased it. Just because..lol
Got it to my garage, still in the box to date! and hope to get it in soon.
I'm thinking of Making a large (10 ton +) holding area in my basement. and having it delivered by;
(broken link removed to http://maineenergysystems.com/Bulk_Pellet_Purchases.htm)
? Do I need an Airtight container if its dry and ventilated ? Thanks
Oh ya Today at Paris Farmers in Turner, it's about $298/ton Delivered... sorry no details
B )
pcill62:
Not sure where in central Maine you are, but if you are around Bangor, you should probably just call Dysart's. They occasionally stop taking orders when they are too backlogged with delivery, but they open up again when they catch up. Maine Energy Systems is trying to get them to be the local pellet provider anyway. I'm not sure MES is even ready to roll yet. My understanding is they are still waiting for the Bosch units to arrive from Europe.
Be sure your basement is really dry. Pellets and moisture don't mix. My grandmother kept leftover pellets in her damp and musty basement. The pellets started falling apart back into sawdust, and started to mold.
10 tons also takes up significant room. 1 cu foot = 42 pounds o pellets. So, 10 tons takes up roughly 480 cu feet.
Not sure where in central Maine you are, but if you are around Bangor, you should probably just call Dysart's. They occasionally stop taking orders when they are too backlogged with delivery, but they open up again when they catch up. Maine Energy Systems is trying to get them to be the local pellet provider anyway. I'm not sure MES is even ready to roll yet. My understanding is they are still waiting for the Bosch units to arrive from Europe.
Be sure your basement is really dry. Pellets and moisture don't mix. My grandmother kept leftover pellets in her damp and musty basement. The pellets started falling apart back into sawdust, and started to mold.
10 tons also takes up significant room. 1 cu foot = 42 pounds o pellets. So, 10 tons takes up roughly 480 cu feet.
Thanks for that info Firestarter, again i'm new at this and trying to think ahead... I'm in Turner Area ...
Stove will be in the basement, so i'm thinking that Winter Storage of the pellets should be OK
I'm thinking of building this container away from any walls and off the floor, along with a small fan(s) and/or a Dehumidifyre.. And think that could work, Please correct me if i'm wrong... I need any and all inputs... thanks
True Value (Turner) today: $249. cash and carry, Softwood... They said that soft wood gives out More BTU's.... I ordered 1 ton for now Due in Fri. 7-25 ...
Stove will be in the basement, so i'm thinking that Winter Storage of the pellets should be OK
I'm thinking of building this container away from any walls and off the floor, along with a small fan(s) and/or a Dehumidifyre.. And think that could work, Please correct me if i'm wrong... I need any and all inputs... thanks
True Value (Turner) today: $249. cash and carry, Softwood... They said that soft wood gives out More BTU's.... I ordered 1 ton for now Due in Fri. 7-25 ...
Hi all,
I just had to let you guys know about a couple truck loads comming into Bangor Sam's club...not local pellets I know (but they are price right, if you ave a way to move them!) They are "expecting" 84 tons delivered on Thursday and Friday Morning be there EARLY! I paid $204 a ton on Friday and bought 8 tons (4 for me and 4 for my cousin) sore back! I was at the store by 5:15 AM (with my camp chair) and I was 2nd in line...6 people bought 21 tons(about a dozen stayed probably another dozen left when they found out the first six would be buying them all). Everyone else went home empty handed (that was me on Tuesday morning). They are hardwood Penningtons. NOW IF I JUST HAD A STOVE We got "THE CALL" From Evergreen (our Harman dealer) with 2 tons in the cellar and I was cutting the plastic on the last 2 tons! BUMMER!
I GOT NO STOVE ... BUT...I GOT PELLETS
-John
I just had to let you guys know about a couple truck loads comming into Bangor Sam's club...not local pellets I know (but they are price right, if you ave a way to move them!) They are "expecting" 84 tons delivered on Thursday and Friday Morning be there EARLY
! I paid $204 a ton on Friday and bought 8 tons (4 for me and 4 for my cousin) sore back! I was at the store by 5:15 AM (with my camp chair) and I was 2nd in line...6 people bought 21 tons(about a dozen stayed probably another dozen left when they found out the first six would be buying them all). Everyone else went home empty handed (that was me on Tuesday morning). They are hardwood Penningtons. NOW IF I JUST HAD A STOVE We got "THE CALL" From Evergreen (our Harman dealer) with 2 tons in the cellar and I was cutting the plastic on the last 2 tons! BUMMER! I GOT NO STOVE ... BUT...I GOT PELLETS
-John
I can't wait to see how the Pennington's burn this year, I may then buy a few bags just to try them out. Don't need any now.
I run a Quad Castile and I would rather burn my dress shirts in my stove then Pennington’s. Plenty of pellets around as well as coming down the road. I wouldn't panic and buy a sub par product at this point in my opinion. Just my .02
Just curious - you say that you have burned 4 tons / year without a hiccup.... How big is your house ? One story ? Two ? How warm do you keep it ?
This will be my first year. I have a Quad CB 1200
I don't know where in Central Maine you are - but 'plenty of pellets' does not exactly describe the Bangor-area. I hope that there are more coming down the road. I have 3 in my cellar, and 3 more on order from Dysart's. I hope 6 is enough....
This will be my first year. I have a Quad CB 1200
I don't know where in Central Maine you are - but 'plenty of pellets' does not exactly describe the Bangor-area. I hope that there are more coming down the road. I have 3 in my cellar, and 3 more on order from Dysart's. I hope 6 is enough....
My house is a tad bit over 2100 sq feet. Brand new open concept log style house, good insulation. 2 stories, 3 bedrooms, etc. Basically a large style cape. Far back rooms I don’t use much, so I shut the doors. Stove is rated for 1500 sq feet, so I guess I’m clearly heating that. I have it on a programably electronic thermostat.
Run it at 60 during the day, 68 when we are home. 4 tons a year. Don’t use the baseboard heat as I turn my furnance off, and only use it for hot water in the morning. Using almost no oil. .40 gallons a day.
People are freaking out with pellets and buying more than necessary. I live outside Augusta and I have been just picking up a half ton here and there. Usually have 4.5 on hand for the season. I am seeing people that have never burnt a single pellet buying 8-10 tons. Foolish in my opinion. Everyone that is going crazy for pellets is just creating more panic.
Been burning pellets for a few years and I never bought my pellets in the middle of summer. Most pellet burners I know in Maine just buy some in the fall, then through the winter. Never seen the hysteria like this year.
Run it at 60 during the day, 68 when we are home. 4 tons a year. Don’t use the baseboard heat as I turn my furnance off, and only use it for hot water in the morning. Using almost no oil. .40 gallons a day.
People are freaking out with pellets and buying more than necessary. I live outside Augusta and I have been just picking up a half ton here and there. Usually have 4.5 on hand for the season. I am seeing people that have never burnt a single pellet buying 8-10 tons. Foolish in my opinion. Everyone that is going crazy for pellets is just creating more panic.
Been burning pellets for a few years and I never bought my pellets in the middle of summer. Most pellet burners I know in Maine just buy some in the fall, then through the winter. Never seen the hysteria like this year.
NoMoreOil said:
6 Tons is a LOT.
I burned 5 last year between 2 stoves running pretty close to 24X7. The Harman in my basement stayed on the very lowest setting most of the year, but the Hastings on the main level ran around midpoint. Altogether I am heating just under 2000 square feet with the two stoves. The only LP I burned last year was for hot water, and a small Rinnai unit in my son's room.
The room where my St Croix stove is kept around 72...with most of the rest of the house around 67-70.
Not sure how big your home is, but it sounds like there is a good chance you'll carry over some pellets for next year.
It is going to be really interesting if the pellet manufacturers really crank up the production for 2009 only to find out that 1000's of new stove owners overbought...and have extra supply going in to next year. There could be some phenomenal deals on pellets next Spring.
Also, you wonder how the craigslist resellers are going to make out trying to gouge people this winter. My sincere hope is that new supplies will be coming on line in late fall and that the gougers out there will have to "eat" their pellets
Hello all,
We're new to the pellet stove world, our insert is installed but not fired up yet. Got a question for all you pros burning pellets here in Central Maine. As I read the threads I see people buying in bulk. I was warned not to purchase in bulk because the pellets are easily broken down by moisture. Should this be a concern? Is anyone burning anything but pellets? Our stove will do corn and a few other materials. Also without a truck I am not sure the best way to be purchasing. Any help for the beginner would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Quadra Fire Mt. Vernon AE Insert.
We're new to the pellet stove world, our insert is installed but not fired up yet. Got a question for all you pros burning pellets here in Central Maine. As I read the threads I see people buying in bulk. I was warned not to purchase in bulk because the pellets are easily broken down by moisture. Should this be a concern? Is anyone burning anything but pellets? Our stove will do corn and a few other materials. Also without a truck I am not sure the best way to be purchasing. Any help for the beginner would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Quadra Fire Mt. Vernon AE Insert.
Joe, I wouldn't have any concerns about buying pellets in bulk. I have bought 3-4 tons in the fall or I have bought 10 bags at a time during the heating season. Both work, but having them on hand is piece of mind and easy.
That being said you have to decide where you are goign to store them. Basements are fine if they don't get wet or really damp. I have a cheap humidifier going to keep the air 45%. No problems.
Stove shops and manufactorers store pellets otuside, so they are not as fragile as some may think.
My wife drives a Subaru Wagon and can get 15 bags home at a time. I can put 25 in my SUV.
You can also go to Lowes or HomeDepot in Augusta and rent a truck from them for 19.99 for 75 minutes and use that to transport your pellets. You don't have to buy them from them, you can drive right to a stove shop, etc.
Hope that helps.
That being said you have to decide where you are goign to store them. Basements are fine if they don't get wet or really damp. I have a cheap humidifier going to keep the air 45%. No problems.
Stove shops and manufactorers store pellets otuside, so they are not as fragile as some may think.
My wife drives a Subaru Wagon and can get 15 bags home at a time. I can put 25 in my SUV.
You can also go to Lowes or HomeDepot in Augusta and rent a truck from them for 19.99 for 75 minutes and use that to transport your pellets. You don't have to buy them from them, you can drive right to a stove shop, etc.
Hope that helps.
Thanks a lot. We have a barn, no where close to air tight, but dry enough. Certainly in the winter we expect the air to be drier than it's been this summah. My thought was to bring in a ton at a time in the barn and then transfer a few bags at a time to the storage bin we're locating near the fireplace. I bought my stove from The Stove Barn. At the time the buying process started we were being quoted $240 a ton through them. Now they can't get pellets and when they can it's $265. Where should I be looking to buy? I've heard Knight's Farm Supply and Springbook would be good places. Any more thoughts?
Alternative Heating Solutions on Western Ave right almost across from Pat's pizza in Augusta, near the state house had many tons out front last night when I drove by. Athen's pellets. 265 a ton.
Knights has a big list for waiting for the cheaper pellets, but has some expensive hardwood for 280 I think.
Rocky's Stove shop in Augusta has been getting in a lot and that's where I have been buying mine. Gets weekly shipments.
Home depot in Augusta had some the last time I went in.
Get a list and a rotation and call around every couple days.
Knights has a big list for waiting for the cheaper pellets, but has some expensive hardwood for 280 I think.
Rocky's Stove shop in Augusta has been getting in a lot and that's where I have been buying mine. Gets weekly shipments.
Home depot in Augusta had some the last time I went in.
Get a list and a rotation and call around every couple days.
Joe in Maine said:
We have a US stove bio-mass and a corn stove. Corn burns great, we buy bulk last year was $125 a ton from farm in southern nh, but sure will go way up this year.
There used to be a co-op in maine to purchase corn from, think it was on the western part. Good luck, we also mixed corn and softwood corinth pellets and had no problem.
It looks very interesting to me, The people may be having a clean look to this.
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GAYATHRI
Maine Treatment Centers
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GAYATHRI
Maine Treatment Centers
Lets face it, a lot more people will be burning pellets this year in Maine than ever before. With the price of heating oil so high no one wants to run out of pellets especially after they have doled out $3,000. for a new stove. So not really knowing how much they need and if there is going to be a shortage, many people are opting to get their pellets now and not take the chance.
Prices should come back down in the spring if not late winter. It all depends on oil prices this winter. The higher oil goes the more people will make the change. If oil goes down a little, less people will change over and pellet prices may drop sooner than next spring.
I am heating apartment houses with pellets and I could not afford to be caught running out of pellets this winter so I have 11 ton on hand. I worked at finding the best deal I could and got some other people who needed pellets involved and ended up getting 10 ton for $170./ton. That was a one time deal for this year.
Next year I plan on having a silo up and getting bulk. By that time there will be enough people in Maine delivering bulk so there will be some competition in that market too.
All you guys that have made the change over should think about putting in some type of bulk holding system. This will be cheapest way to buy pellets in the future and will be a lot less work too.
As far as I’m concerned I have made the change over from oil and I will never look back.
Prices should come back down in the spring if not late winter. It all depends on oil prices this winter. The higher oil goes the more people will make the change. If oil goes down a little, less people will change over and pellet prices may drop sooner than next spring.
I am heating apartment houses with pellets and I could not afford to be caught running out of pellets this winter so I have 11 ton on hand. I worked at finding the best deal I could and got some other people who needed pellets involved and ended up getting 10 ton for $170./ton. That was a one time deal for this year.
Next year I plan on having a silo up and getting bulk. By that time there will be enough people in Maine delivering bulk so there will be some competition in that market too.
All you guys that have made the change over should think about putting in some type of bulk holding system. This will be cheapest way to buy pellets in the future and will be a lot less work too.
As far as I’m concerned I have made the change over from oil and I will never look back.
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