Wood Pellets - Best Pellet Stoves

Types of wood used in making wood pellets

There are many different types of wood which are used in the production of wood pellets for stoves and fireplaces along with numerous other things which can affect how they burn. Wood pellets are certainly energy-efficient as well as clean-burning, which is why so many people have stoves which work off of them. Since not all wood pellets are the same, it is important to take a close look at which types there are and what that means in terms of how they work in a stove. Everything from the moisture content to the ash content of the wood pellets can affect how one of these stoves function along with just how efficient they are.

The typical standard-grade wood pellets which can be found in most residential pellet stoves usually have an ash content which falls around 1-3 percent total. Premium grade pellets have an ash content which is closer to 1 percent and below. The higher the ash content of the pellets, the larger the residue is going to be after they have burned. This means that you have to do more maintenance on the stove in the form of cleaning after every use.

pellets

Another important factor to take into consideration when choosing certain wood pellets for your stove is the moisture content. Wood pellets that have low moisture content tend to burn very hot. You will find that the average moisture content for most wood pellets is between 5 and 10 percent total, according to the U.S Department of Energy’s statistics. The average moisture content of the average wood pellet is actually far better than a majority of fire wood which has an average of 20 percent moisture. This means that fire wood does not burn nearly as hot as wood pellets tend to.

There are also many different species of wood when it comes to these pellets, including both softwood and hardwood varieties. Hardwood and softwood pellets can both offer a very high heat content for every pound, as long as the overall moisture content is fairly low. Moisture content is without a doubt one of the most important things when it comes to choosing the right type of wood pellets for your stove at home. You will want to know that the pellets you get will be able to burn hot enough in the stove.

Additives are yet another factor which is crucial to consider when shopping for the right wood pellets. One of the other reasons why wood pellets are very popular for use in stoves in people’s homes is that they contain a very minimal amount of additives with a few natural exceptions such as lignin which is found in most wood. You will find that other additives such as petroleum or non-petroleum-based adhesives are included in different forms of wood in order to bind them.

Trace minerals are important as well, because they have been known to cause clinkering which is the accumulation of ash which can in turn easily clog up parts of the stove that need to be completely clear in order to function properly. For this reason alone it is important to consistently check the bottom of the bag for dust because it can help keep clinkering to an absolute minimum. Keep in mind that truly high-quality bags of pellets should no less than just half a cup of dust for every 40 pound bag. As long as you remember all of these things when going about purchasing your wood pellets, you should end up with the right ones to put in your stove so you can stay warm all winter long.

Pellet Stoves on the Rise

I have wanted to write a post about this for awhile, but just never got the chance to. Over the last few years I have started seeing more and more places selling wood pellets. What does that mean? Well simply it means that more and more people are using Pellet Stoves to heat their homes and for good reason. Pellet stoves are more efficient, cheaper, and a lot easier to use and maintain. Take a look at the picture below and you will see what sparked me to write this post about pellet stoves being on the rise.
There it was. As I walked up to the local Home Depot there was a huge with Wood Pellets for sale. The prices seem fairly reasonable. I wanted to go investigate a little bit more, but I had already got a late start to the day and had about a million other projects at home that needed to get done. I am not sure what quality or brand the pellets were, but I am sure they were just fine.

Well that is my 2 cents. It just seems lately everywhere I turn I am seeing more and more places selling wood pellets. Have you seen this or is it just me? Am I just obsessed with wood pellets? 😉

Pellet Stove Pellets

If you are in need of pellet stove pellets, then you will want to know where you can buy them from and how to get the best deal so you don’t spend too much money. Since there has recently been an increase in the number of people who are deciding to get pellet-burning stoves, there is a big demand for the pellets that fuel them. You can purchase these small pellets at your local bulk supply store, such as Sam’s Club or Walmart. Getting them in bulk is an especially good idea if you want to save money and have more for your stove. The last thing you want is to run out right when you need them the most.

Why Choose Pellet Stoves

One of the reasons that more and more people are choosing stoves that work off pellets is because the price of stoves that work from oil and natural gas is constantly going up. Anyone who wants to save on energy costs each month during winter will want to think carefully about whether or not they are in need of such a stove. The great thing is that most of the time you can find these pellets in 40 pound bags for a relatively low cost.

Certain stores sell these in sizes of around one ton for less than $200 dollars, so you will certainly want to look around and see what all of your options are before you decide on any one place to purchase them from. Remember that since you are buying a lot of them at once, you should be getting a reduced price. Bulk stores are popping up all over the country, and they carry all the supplies you will need for your stove, including pellets. Since they are becoming more popular, the prices are getting better and better because of competition between stores.

Calculating How Much Pellets You Will Need?

Anyone who needs pellet stove pellets should know around how much they are going to need each season. While this number may vary depending on the stove you have, you can go through as many as three tons. This can average out to be almost $600, so it would be very wise on your part to find a store that charges the bare minimum for what you need. The good thing about these pellets is that you will be able to get low-quality ones for much cheaper than other kinds that really aren’t any better in terms of how they burn.

There are also plenty of places online that sells these pellets in bulk. You will be able to do a simple search on the internet and come up with multiple results to look through. Make sure you take all the time you need to find an answer to your pellet stove pellets problem. This way you won’t have to spend more than is necessary on your stove pellets. If you end up with leftover pellets at the end of the season it’s okay, because you can always use them next winter for your stove.