After I tested 10 bags of Presto Logs, I restocked with them today. What amazed me was 2 weeks ago I bought 10 bags, and they were very light brown in color. Today I opened a bag, and they were really dark looked like walnut. Amazing that in 2 weeks time, I received a different batch. Hope they burn OK!
Yep, The last batch I picked we also dark. Burning fine with no issues and keep up fine with these cold temps. I had -2°F the other morning and it was 74°F in the AM. It's all smiles from my stove, She likes em just fine!
I'm not a pellet guy but have a few threads here and there. Whats a typical bag of pellets weigh? How long will a bag last in the deep of winter (right now)?? Do you ever mix bags to get a combination? We do that with splits, so I wondered if you do it with pellets too. Does anyone ever make they're own? Thanks
Bag weighs 40 pounds and last approximately 15 hours(in my stove on medium heat level), But that depending on stove and heat settings. Yes, you can mix them. Some do for many reasons. Mostly to easy the pain of a pellet that doesn't burn very well or lacks the heat needed. Making your own is very costly in equipment IMHO. But it can be done with enough $$ involved.
In a power outage situation, is it the pellet stove that gets the plug or the main heating system? Not sure what pellet folks do when there is no power.
Some have battery back ups, others have generators, I have the wood burner working on getting the genny .
Also, to compare costs. I pay about $500 for a grapple load of wood which I process myself. It turns into aprox 8 cords of wood which will get me about 1.6 yrs of heat. What is the cost of pellets and how much does it cost to heat for a typical season?
I use my wood stove mostly. I keep a cord of wood for no power issues. But just bought a genny and can put the stove on that if needed to move the heat around better. No furnace here, Just electric heat. Cost depends on your location. But $200/ton for pellets is about average. Each ton is equal to approximately 1.75 cords roughly. But there are other benefits like even heat and less mess overall. I also bought picker loads when we had the inlaws mini farm to use. So I was able to store lots of wood. But when they sold it I was at the mercy of the cord wood sellers and they don't properly season. I only have enough room here for about 1 seasons worth of wood. What I like about the pellet stove is the ability to control the heat with a stat. So my house stat consistent. I can also set the temps back when sleeping and have it warm when I get up in the AM due to my programmable stat. And wood pellet don't have the seasoning issue.
I suppose it's less expensive than oil, gas or electric heat. I'm a hoarder of sorts, so part of my wood supply is free. Actually a lot I recently cleared produced nearly 9 cords of firewood, which will take me well into 2016. I enjoy the labor associated with the wood, it's kinda like my day at the gym. I do like the idea that you have automation, walking away after you set it and forget it.
What tipped it for me is cost per cord of seasoned wood. It would be around $250/cord and I'd burn around 5 for the season. My next option is the bio bricks or fire logs. But about the same cost as pellets without the consistent heat. I'd still be doing at least some wood if I could get and store it cheap. In my case pellets were the ticket. Wood is still the cheap way for you by the sound of it. But you came to check so we at least tempted ya a lil!
I'm always open to new things. For all I know I may be a pellet burner when I get into my older years. I have thought about it. What I do know is that as long as I am able I will burn, I appreciate it too much to let it go. If the wood is too much to handle when I get up there in years I may consider crawling across to the dark side. I appreciate your time in filling me in on your way of heating.
Thanks for stopping by don't be a stranger us pellet heads like to have fun mention Beer and we can derail /hijack any thread
Back when I didn't have such an odd work schedule I burned a lot more wood. My wife isn't a fan of loading the wood burner but she doesn't have any problems loading a bag or two of pellets if I'm working late or out of town. With the extended hopper on my pellet furnace I don't have to think about loading pellets for three days if it's full. I'm on target to burn about $800 in pellets this season. I'd hate to imagine how much oil would cost if I tried to keep the house at 68-70 with the oil furnace. On cold nights like this, I fire up the wood burner to keep the house warmer and save pellets. I'll probably burn 1-1.5 cord this season. All my wood is scrounged. If I had to pay for my firewood (directly, not counting chainsaws, fuel and maintenance) I probably wouldn't bother with firewood. As will said, don't be a stranger. We don't bite. Hard. Especially if there is beer around.
