Pellet Stove Owners

[Turbo Tim 1]

Which is better, Hardwood or Softwood pellets? I've got a new Harman P-61 pellet stove and have burned some Energex and Firemaster pellets in it, both of which are softwood pellets. Pellet supplies are scarce around here right now but when things straighten out I figured I'd try some hardwood pellets.



From the information I could find, pellet stoves are backwards from what you would think and like softwood better because they have more BTU's per pound but I find it very hard to believe that it's more efficient. What do you burn? What last the longest? What puts out the most heat?

 

[PToombs]

Hi Tim, have you tried Walmart for pellets? I bought mine there for about $170 a ton in september. I burn hardwood pellets, haven't tried softwood. Wally's seems to have different brands one year to the next. This year they are Bio-plus brand, as long as they are "premium" they are ok. They are pretty dusty, but seem to burn hot. I have a smaller stove and go thru about a bag a day on medium. When I bought my stove I was told that hardwood burns better. I never heard that they might be backward from regular stoves. Home Depots sometimes carry pellets also. Hope this helps.

 

[Gene Arnold]

My son in Nebraska has used a shelled corn version of the pellet stove for more than fifteen years. Corn varies in price but, unfortunately for the farmers, it is usually pretty low priced.



Gene

 

[4xquadrod]

Soft pellets seem to make more of a mess to clean up. I suggest staying with hardwood.

 

[TowPro]

I run hard. That is all that Tractor Supply sells.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

I have a ton of Firemaster pellets that came from Home Depot, they don't say soft or hardwood anywhere on the bag or on the website but they seem to work pretty good. The energex pellets I had seem to burn really fast and leave alot of ash at the edge of the burn pot. Around me the tractor supply, lowes and walmart are out and don't know when they are getting more. Everywhere I look they don't know when they are getting more.