Guess I'd better get the rest of my stash

This was on the news tonight.

http://fox17online.com/2014/10/02/heating-pellet-prices-rising-ahead-of-winter-season/

Last year when 'pellet shortage' was said on the news (this same particular channel) it was like a bread and milk run when the weatherman says 'blizzard'. Last winter, you could buy full tons the day the story about the pellet shortage aired, next day you could only buy 10 bags at a time. Strangely enough, this particular channel is the only one who ever mentions anything about pellets, and the store mentioned is one of the most expensive places in this area to buy anything pellet related.

I guess I'm proud to be one of the hoarders mentioned at the end of the article. I won't be cold come February.

 

Pellets were on the news here.
Political talk about "Biomass fuels"
Talk was about NG shortage + higher NG prices
several new pellets stoves installed this year.
Most pellets are barged up to Alaska.
The need for a pellet plant in the Anchorage area.

Stock up. Better to have some left over.

 

I have not even started buying pellets for the camp yet. Have some left over from last year to get started with. I have heard from a few places they have sold everything in the next load or two loads they have coming in. WT_? Are any of you guys having problems buying right now?

 

The store by me still has about 20 tons available. I'm picking more up tomorrow.

On my way to work this morning, one of the local talk radio shows was talking about a propane shortage, propane prices being higher than last year, etc. I've always been curious what prices for gasoline, heating fuel, etc would be if the media kept quiet and just let the market dictate prices. Seems every time I hear 'gas prices haven't been this low in X months', they fly up 30 cents a gallon the next day.

I figure I'll have enough for a bad season. If it ends up not being so cold, I'm that much farther ahead next year. If winter is brutal, then I pick up 10 bags at a time to make it through.

 

What's your other heat .
I have a NG furnace. Use it thru Spring & Fall to take the chill off when needed.
NG in the garage & shop set for 40/45°

 

My 'real' furnace uses heating oil. In addition to the pellet furnace, I have a wood burning fireplace insert and a pellet fireplace insert. Oil is the last thing I burn if I have anything to say about it.

The nearest NG is three miles away. There is a line that gas and technology (cable TV and high speed internet) doesn't cross.

 

343amc I thought I read that you got your pellets at TSC? What brand did you get?

Gary

 

I get mine at Family Farm and Home. They have Pro Pellets early in the year, then switch to Michigan pellets later in the season.

 

How are the ProPellets? I got 2 tons of them from TSC on their early buy and then another from my stove dealer with my insert. First year with pellets.

Gary

 

Pellet Pigs to the rescue!

 

They're a good pellet. Decent heat, low ash, all around good for the price. And they're made in Michigan (White Pigeon, right on the Indiana line).

Somersets burn a bit hotter, but they're also around $40/ton more.

 

3 heat systems, you'll never freeze out . LOL
I hear you about oil, high $$ dollar . Same here most expensive is oil.

 

Oil is priced as low as it's been for the past couple years. Mine was filled last in 2010 (I think, maybe 2009), and I have just under a half tank.

I only ran two bags through the pellet insert last season, and that's when the power was out and I was running on generator. My pellet furnace is manual ignition, and when the power goes out it has to be manually started from the ground up, even if it was just a short outage and it's still at running temp. The insert is auto ignition and will pick it where it left off as long as it is still at operating temp.

I try not to use pellets until at least November. Before that it's wood. In the dead of winter when it gets to 10 degrees or below I burn both wood and pellets. And run a humidifier.

 

Actually I have. Just came back from the fall rally of Maine Tops (take off pounds sensibly ) it is a support group for people trying to loose weight. I was the top male looser for the summer competition in this state. About the only time being called a looser is a good thing. I still have a huge journey ahead for me, but I ssem to be off to a good start.