"Thank you all for your help. I would recognize your delivery person Alan for his help. He was pleasant, courteous, and professional. Thank you again, and I look forward to our next transaction."
--Jack, August 2008
"I hope this reaches the right hands. I would like to compliment the delivery driver (Al) for his friendly and professional attitude and his outstanding skills with a forklift. He was able to maneuver in a tight area which saved me hours in restacking it. Thanks."
--Dave, Goffstown, NH ~ July 2008
FAQs
Which are better; hardwood or softwood pellets?
This is a much debated question, and if you are new to pellets, you may eventually form an opinion as well. The pelletizing process takes away much of the differences between hardwood and softwood, density and moisture content. BTUs can vary some, and ash content can also vary, but the quality and consistency of the fuel is more important than the species. Read more here.
How much will I save with wood pellets?
It depends on your current heat source, your climate, the size and heat loss of your home, and how warm you like your home to be. Many of our oil and propane heating customers have cut their annual home heating costs in half during the highest petroleum prices this summer. As some energy prices dip again, it’s a reminder that many traditional heat methods are hardwired to the crisis of the season. Choosing a heat source is a long term decision and wood pellet heat is proving to be the most stable, and will not only save you money, but provide long term heating security.
How much does a pellet heating appliance cost?
There are many different pellet heating systems available. One of your choices may be a pellet freestanding stove. Other choices include fireplace inserts, furnaces, and boilers. Your initial investment will include the heating appliance, venting, installation, and your feed system. Find a heating systems professional to learn more.
What are wood pellets?
Pellets are small, tightly-compacted wood products that can be burned in a pellet burning appliance, such as a stove or fireplace insert. They’re manufactured at nearly 100 mills in North America, and created by compressing sawdust remnants from the lumber industry, furniture and flooring manufacturing, and from forestry by-products. Pellet fuel is also made from other agricultural waste.
How are pellets packaged?
Wood pellets are packaged in plastic bags and stacked on a pallet. The bags are shrink wrapped with a cover to protect them from the weather. Within our home delivery area, we deliver pallets (skids) of 40-pound bags to your home. Or, in some areas, we can also deliver pellets in bulk. Many of our customers love not having to lug bags of pellets inside each time they need to add fuel. Soon, we’ll be able to install systems to automatically feed into your pellet appliance, and can provide storage units, such as large bins and silos, to accommodate the product. If you are purchasing within our truckload delivery area, pellets are delivered in bags.
How should I store wood pellets?
Protect your pellets from the weather. Most customers store their pellets in a garage, basement, or shed. If you store them outside, keep them off the ground, protected from snow and ice buildup, and make sure they are covered with a tarp or another shroud in order to protect them from precipitation and your sprinkler system. Make sure whoever is going to be loading your appliance has convenient access to the fuel and the path from storage to the appliance is hazard free.
How many wood pellets will I need to heat my home?
Most customers with an average size home will go through three to five tons a season. However, that amount will vary depending on the size of your home, temperature preference and if you use other heating options.
Where Does Pellet Fuel Come From?
Wood pellets come from many different sources around the country. In the US and Canada, there are almost 100 pellet manufacturers making pellet fuel for North America, and also exporting to other countries. In the West, most wood pellets are made from the sawdust created by lumber mills. A single lumber mill may be the only source of raw material needed for a pellet mill, and much of the lumber is softwood. The trees are de-barked before being cut into lumber, so there is very little dirt or bark in the sawdust, creating a very light colored, clean, low ash pellet with consistent burning characteristics. As the demand for lumber changes with the economy, that supply of sawdust can go up or down. There are also other industries competing for that sawdust which can greatly affect the price.
In the Mountain region, many mills are using Lodge Pole Pine trees killed by the Pine beetle. There are thousands of acres of these standing dead trees that need to be taken down in order to lessen the chances for devastating forest fires. These pellets tend to have flecks of blue in them showing the area where the beetle killed the tree. This source alone will provide consistent low ash pellets for decades to come.
In the South and Midwest, many mills are are also wood flooring and furniture companies, using their waste stream for wood pellets. These may be one species, a softwood blend, or a hardwood blend.
In the East some mills get their raw materials from hardwood lumber companies while other mills work with timber companies to help clean up the forests using wood unsuitable for lumber.
These are just small examples of where wood pellets come from among many different sources. There are also pellets being made from agricultural waste products and prairie grasses. Some of these pellets have slightly higher ash content, but provide for a much larger source of raw materials. There are more pellet manufacturers starting up every year, with many of them starting to product fuel from some of these non-traditional sources as our industry continues to find answers for replacing fossil fuel as an energy source.
How do pellet appliances work?