What a difference the pellet makes

New to the forum. Just put in an Enviro Mini three weeks ago. Have sampled seven different pellets and it is amazing the difference in the burn. Started out will pellets in the local feed store. Easy heat and Agway premium blend. Then some LG, North Country, Northern Warm, La Crete, and Ambiance. After burning the La Crete, no matter what I did, I could not get the Ambiance to burn good. Slowed pellet feed as low as possible and upped combustion blower and it filled the burn pot with large clumps and half burned pellets. Purged the hopper and added some LGs and off like a rocket again. Stove is set with a magnehelic gauge.

Jay

 

Welcome Jay!!

 

Welcome,and good testing/report.My austroflamm only likes good pellets,the harman doesn't care.PS being the new guy,did you bring the beer??

 

One of my hobbies is homebrewing. I always bring beer.

 

Easy heat was the first. Lots of ash and had to fiddle a lot as it was my first fire. Not to good in my opinion.
Agway premium blend, burned ok. Medium ash. Had to clean burn pot daily.
These two first pellets were without the stove set with a magnehelic gauge.
LGs were next, burned really nice, had to set stove back to factory settings and they really impressed me.
North Country, again from the local feed. Fair amount of ash and not that hot.
Northerm Warmth was next, burned hot minimal ash, but pricey.
LaCrete was next, burned hot, virtually no ash with three bags of pellets.
Then the Ambiance.

LaCrete is the winner so far with LGs second, Nothern Warmth, Agway and will not buy Easy Heat, North Country or Ambiance.

 

Welcome Jay.
We have members who are experts at consuming brew, and we have some that who are good at making brew.
Good luck with your stove. Just remember, batches of pellets vary from year to year. So good one year, not so good the next. Then there is how they have been handled and stored. You will become well acquainted with that here. Once in a while, when the subject of burning doesn't stray to a beer or thong thread, you will learn a lot from other stove owners.

 

I took this picture today. I haven't opened the stove for two weeks.

 

What pellets are you using. I have not burned more than three bags in a row of one brand. LaCrete and LGs I think would go that long.

 

my stock this year is northern idaho,prob one of the best out there.But also have some ligs,and like oakanagens,cound find them this year.But being out here have much less selection you all have.

 

I am burning "Natures Own" I bought last spring in a clearance from Lowes for $100/ton. Remember, I have a Harman P68 It is a burning beast and doesn't care at all what it is fed. The only differences I note between brands of pellets is the amount of ash.

 

agree my harman will burn the crap,just have to burn more of them.my austroflamm will not,but most top feeders are like that

 

Over all, I'm pretty happy with a pellet stove. I was a coal burner for 15 years with an old Warm Morning stove with a broken shaker. Had to get on my back with a metal poker to clear the coals. With the pellet, I can turn off the the stove, pull the liner and pot in 5 minutes with pliers. Scrape, clean and brush and back in in another five.

 

Welcome aboard, and wow that is a lot of pellet testing for just a few weeks. I'm still burning the same ones as the first ton I bought I did some research online first of course to find out which pellets are good and which to avoid and lucky me one of the real good ones (Somersets) were available to me the closest anyhow so I've just went with them for the most part. I did try just a couple other brands, only other one in a full ton (actually 3) was TSC pine horse pellets since they were on a good deal 2 years ago. But I mainly just stick with the Sets. I didn't notice any major differences with my stove, but I also didn't even bother trying the worse of the pellets out there. My pellet stove takes too much work to clean even with the good pellets lol

 

I read a lot of reviews as well, but they were all over the place. On the same pellet, one person would say they are the worst, then the next would say the best. Stove adjustment makes a big difference and some people just can't do it.

 

Welcome to the Show Jay , you 'll fit right in here

 

Welcome aboard Jay Looks like you got the handle on the pellet stove & pellets

 

Welcome!!

 

I wouldn't survive past the first week..

Welcome Jay! .. I'll bet your stove looks cleaner than Larry's ..