I have used many different brands of pellets and took temp readings and burn rate in lbs/hr that achieved those temps. My findings were basically all pellets when adjusted for feed rate put out the same heat at a certain rate. There were a couple of brands that stood out a bit but nothing really significant and probably all fell within a percentage of error considering all the potential variables one cannot acount for outside of a lab. There is a significant difference in ash. And this is where I make my decision on how good a pellet is or is not. I used to pay up for better pellets for the convenience but not anymore starting next year. To me the price difference has gapped too far.
Not everyone has a good stove...not everyone wants to clean their stove every few days, nor do they enjoy it. Not everyone likes a dirty window after a few hours (days)...thus the market for a really upper end pellet...that can help with all of that....it's not for everyone, for some it is worth the price for less hassle....its really that simple.
I believe price is my most important factor to me these days. Seeing there are several reasonable brands at my local boxes. I still use the other 3 factors to better choose from whats available. Even though they are $219/ton I treat them as if they were $350/ton. Just trying to get the best bag for my buck. 1.)heat, all measured at the same feed rate 2.)How long a bags lasts or Pounds per hour. 3.)Amount of ash. By weight not volume. 1 and 2 are key for me. I want the most heat out of a pellet that lasts for a decent amount of time. If I have 2 brands that both push 250*F but one only uses 3.5 PPH and the other is using 4.5 PPH? I'd go for the lower PPH feed rate. I still try to choose the lowest ash content if a pellet has similar heat/burn time. I will consider volume if I have a couple brands and use it as a tie breaker if needed. But rarely used. Example: PTL were producing 260*F @ 3.8 PPH AWF was producing 256*F @ 3.4 PPH .4 PPH is a savings of about 10 pounds per day. After I did all that , HD didn't have PTL's anyway. SO even if they won, I would have ended up with AWF!! I can't make this too simple on myself, I have to keep my brain active or I'd get freekin bored and go cookoo/looney even. O'h wait I think I'm already there! Then I drink some beer and feel oky doky again!
I burn pellets to heat my house and save money. I don't have a champagne house and I can't afford champagne pellets. For less than an hours work per ton, I can save $100 per ton. I do have a tight house, a good stove and a beer budget. And that is really that simple!
Let me put it this way. If HD had Maine Choice and AWF, both were the same nickle. Would you load up on Maine Choice? Even with the pellets being the same price, You still should choose with a little bit of thought. Otherwise we might as well say "all pellet are the same"and just go by the dollar factor.
Sure, I would give it some thought. But the overall cost would win. I overcame the picky pellet thing when I changed stoves.
A true "self indulging pellet pig" will always try and find the hottest, lowest ash pellet at the cheapest price possible...AND will ALWAYS be on the lookout for more even if their stash is stuffed to the gills.......I definitely resemble this fo sho!
Picky stove or not save, A stove will not take a sub par pellet and make it par. Don't care what the Harmone boys say. Even if the stove can compensate for the lack of density of the MC. Its gonna use more pellets to make the same heat of the higher density AWF. You may be spending the same dime, But in the end you still use more MC than the AWF. Which means more bags of fuel to do the same job. I think he done drank the coolaide!
Your kidding right? Err I hope. I couldn't get chit for heat out of em. I'd have to go way over 5 pounds per hour to get even close to 250*F! Density was way way low IMHO. Even with all those little crumbs just couldn't get any heat. Even at $199/ton on special I had to pass on them. But maybe it was just me.
I don't think density is the right word here. Density on its own will get you more heat per turn of the auger but not more per 40lb bag.
If your using more PPH to get the same heat you "will" use more bags of fuel. Its probably BTU per pounds, But I have no way to measure. I use bulk density measurement and PHH to compare. MC would take 5 PPH(approx) to get around the same heat as the AWF using 3.4 PPH MC density was around 41 where AWF was closer to 44. Thats as far as this brainless fool can do to compare.
I prolly should a would a used no name brands. I didn't go dig up my notes. MC Numbers may be slightly a stray. And I'm sober! Thats my excuse And I'm running with it! Thats my problem, I'm not drinkin yet! Errrrrrr! Going to pick up dinner, Then I can start!
I haven't burned any cheap pellets as yet. All my bargain pellets were $210 a ton or less. They were AWF, MWP, and the Blazers. All have performed very well. My kool aid is the string of thermometers I have set about the house that keep showing 70+ temps. Oh, I know of a place that has Infernos if you are interested.
