Considering a Wood Pellet Stove? Do Your Homework First

(Page 2 of 2)

December/January 2006
By John Gulland 
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Meanwhile, turbulence in most other fuel industries has fed the demand for a more secure, local fuel, and another alternative fuel has taken a big market share. Kernel corn-burning stoves have been around for almost 20 years, but in relatively small numbers. One industry insider predicted that U.S. sales in 2006 would exceed 200,000, which is more than sales of wood pellet stoves just a few years ago. Corn fuel has become so popular that many manufacturers have adapted their stoves to burn both wood pellets and corn.

RELATED CONTENT

Homeowners searching for a reliable way to reduce heating costs can take a few lessons from these recent ups and downs in both conventional and alternative heating fuels.

  • The first is that prices of oil and gas are likely to remain volatile because of dwindling domestic supplies and instability in many oil producing countries. That volatility is likely to ripple throughout renewable energy fuels, as well.
  • The second is that for pellet fuel, the most secure supply is likely to be local, so it’s worth investigating where the nearest pellet plant is and how committed the manufacturer is to the production of pellets.
  • The third lesson is that the price of fuel corn is likely to be unpredictable, too, because of challenges to federal corn subsidy programs and the increasing demand for ethanol transportation fuel, most of which uses corn as the feedstock.
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  • beryl eccleston 2/1/2009 7:51:27 PM

    my husband brought a europa stove last fall from a pellet
    stove dealer who stated he also would service this stove if
    we had a problem, well sure enough by april of 08 the
    we started having problems with this stove the supplier
    wasn't any help at all. we have try to get into with europa
    but was told no longer in business. so we have 7tons of
    pellets and a stove that don,t work. we would really appreciate if someone could help us. please.

  • beryl eccleston 2/1/2009 7:50:53 PM

    my husband brought a europa stove last fall from a pellet
    stove dealer who stated he also would service this stove if
    we had a problem, well sure enough by april of 08 the
    we started having problems with this stove the supplier
    wasn't any help at all. we have try to get into with europa
    but was told no longer in business. so we have 7tons of
    pellets and a stove that don,t work. we would really appreciate if someone could help us. please.

  • CAMALLA Adams 1/15/2007 12:00:00 AM

    We bought our wood pellet stove in September of 2005. The
    problem I have found is that there are plenty of "price-fixing"
    scams going on to manipulate the supply of wood pellet fuel in
    order drive up prices. There isn't enough competition to keep the
    industry honest. There is not much hope for the pellet stove to be
    a mainstay. It was a good idea while it lasted. Almost everyone I
    know has either mothballed their pellet stoves or converted them to
    burning corn until the same thing happens to corn. That will be
    happening soon.

  • ROBERT Hatfield 1/9/2007 12:00:00 AM

    Purchased my Corn/pellet stove in October of 2006 and had many
    of the same concerns that have been addressed. The stove was a
    perfect fit for my family and I with a newly remodeled basement and
    new bedroom in basement. We installed a fire escape and exit for
    the basement. We needed a heat source that would not bankrupt us
    and heat an open 1000 square foot basement. We also found that
    heating the basement with no ceiling we were able to keep the main
    floor of are home at a comfortable temperature. We are now looking
    at a second small corn /pellet stove for the upstairs during the
    coldest part of the winter. We have already noticed an approx 60%
    savings on natural gas bills. Living in Indiana’s Corn Belt does
    have its advantages. We have found very few disadvantages to the
    new heating system and enjoy handling the corn / pellets.

  • PETER Schmidt 12/27/2006 12:00:00 AM

    It's obvious to me that regardless of the fuel, burn what is
    easily available in your area. Burning corn in Boston seems
    uneconomical because of trucking, and what about availability? 800
    miles is a long way to drive to buy 'inexpensive' fuel. We live 20
    miles north of NYC, and burn strictly wood fuel to reduce our
    heating bills. Our fuel is free except for our labor and gas for
    the log splitter.Unless you live pretty close to a major sawmill
    (pellets) or agricultural (corn) area, you may better off with wood
    as fuel.-Burn what is least expensive-Burn the fuel that's most
    available locally-Burn what is easiest to handle and store-And
    always, burn what has least impact on the environment. Look at the
    bedoins in the middle/far east. They burn what is most available;
    they burn dung.In the end, heat is heat. I applaud anyone who is
    using a renewable source of fuel.

  • chigginson 12/19/2006 12:00:00 AM

    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _As many of the foregoing posts indicate, pellet
    and corn stoves are great for some people, not so great for others.
    That's why the article advises "doing your homework."CHigginson,
    MEN associate editor_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

  • drizler 12/19/2006 12:00:00 AM

    I see negativity here with reguared to burning pellets and corn.
    Some of it is deserved while some of it is not and a lot of it is
    probably due to lacality. First off if you live in the corn belt
    just get a corn stove, period there is no arguing that if you are
    willing to transport and handle it. For the rest of us it gets
    somewhat dicy and you have to see what sells locally in your area.
    On the East Coast quite often corn is outrageous due to its cost of
    shipping. Shipping is the true evil with any of these bulk fuels so
    go with what is avialable from your region. Check into it before
    buying and you won't go wrong. Also the post previously about
    problems with burning corn mixed with wood pellets is the first
    instance of anything of its type I have ever heard of. People do it
    successfully all the time, you simply have to be careful, read up
    on it and be prepared to do the required cleanin. Corn burns much
    dirtier than pellet. This makes the case for the multifuel stove
    capable of butning, corn, cherry pits, pellets or any other similar
    combustible fuel. I have used one for the past 3 years and saved
    greatly burning about 1/4 the oil normally used most of which was
    for domestic hot water. Check out iburncorn.com forum for some of
    the best corn and pellet burning information before buying one of
    these units. If you buy pellets always buy them in the summer. They
    keep and store nicely and you will save big. Don't give up the ship
    just yet.

  • FRANCISCO FRANCO 12/19/2006 12:00:00 AM

    one of the problems with pellet stoves is they are dependent on
    electricity to operate and if a storm strikes and knocks out the
    power you are also out of heat

  • Derreck Wells 12/18/2006 12:00:00 AM

    I don't know if they carry it, but you can try these two for
    your corn. Salem is easier to get to then Pelham from Boston.Dodge
    Grain Co.59 North BroadwaySalem, NH 03079603-893-3739Beaver Valley
    Farm17 Main StPelham, NH(603) 635-2597

  • motherreader 12/18/2006 12:00:00 AM

    testing comments feature

  • JOHN Ryther 12/18/2006 12:00:00 AM

    Lat year we burned wood pellets and it was fine but we had to
    travel 800 miles to get the pellets purcghased on ebay. This year
    we switched to corn and a new stove also purchased alomst 800 miles
    away. The corn in upstate NY was going for $9.00 for 80 lbs. Here
    in Boston a 50 lb bag goes for about $10.00. We have just burned
    about 3/4 ton of corn and are looking for more corn. Does anyone
    know were we can get corn near Boston at the price we paid in NY?
    We find that the corn stove a bit more difficult to start than the
    pellet stove but it works just fine once it gets going. It has more
    ash than the pellet stove but dows not need cleaning every day -
    can go for several days depending on the temperature or level of
    burn you set it at. I love the corn and wood pellet stoves. It
    gives us an alternative to high gas prices. In anaothe life I
    burned wood and used solar to help heat the hot water. Now that I
    live in the city I really like the corn and pellet altearnative. I
    am currently working on a passive solar project to help reduce the
    heating and possibly lenghten the planting season. Last year we cut
    our heating bills by 50% and that incluced the cost of installing
    our first pellet stove.

  • KELLY Biedny 12/18/2006 12:00:00 AM

    This is a test post.

  • KELLY Biedny 12/18/2006 12:00:00 AM

    Test Post Again.

  • KELLY Biedny 12/18/2006 12:00:00 AM

    Another Test Comment on 12/18

  • STEPHANIE LINGAFELTER 12/18/2006 12:00:00 AM

    Test

  • JASON bowers 12/18/2006 12:00:00 AM

    I live in a house that is 130+ years old in Ohio. Winter season
    2005 I bought a corn burner. My gas boiler used approx $500+ per
    month. My corn burner was $2500, my unit paid for its self in one
    year. After this year I will have paid last year and this years
    corn usage plus have a money savings. My gas bill averages $17 a
    day, my corn usage is between $2-$4 a day. I pay $4 for a 80lb bag.
    So I am saving $13-$15 a day for corn compared to gas. Living in
    the corn belt corn is easily accessable. It just depends on where
    yor live, if a corn burner will benefit you.

  • GARY ALLES 12/17/2006 12:00:00 AM

    I ran a pellet stove last year and had the high pellet cost
    problem. This year I figured I'd trycorn pellets. I used a 50%
    mixture of wood and corn and it burned ok. I laterdiscovered a
    hidden giant clinker in the bottom of my ash pit. It was about 2
    inches thick. Underneath it was some smoldering corn. The room had
    reached temperature and the stove dutifully vented itself and then
    shut itself off just like it was supposed to. The only problem was
    that the corn was still burning and the house filled with really
    horrible burned popcorn smell. I had an allurgic reaction. Together
    with my heart condition, I could have died! NO more corn for
    me!

  • Derreck Wells 12/16/2006 12:00:00 AM

    The author states "dwindling domestic supplies and instability
    in many oil producing countries." without researching the facts.
    According to http://www.ipaa.org (Independent Petroleum Association
    of America) there are 1,866,145 oil wells in the USA and only
    518,805 wells producing oil in 2002 (last year of data). That means
    there are 1,347,340 wells that the Government has leased so they
    could shut them off. We just need to turn them back on. New
    legislation just passed that allows the government to lease even
    more wells. Check out http://www.ipaa.org/news/wr/WR-2006-12-12.pdf
    for the details.

  • WILLIAM COOPER 12/15/2006 12:00:00 AM

    I just looked at pellet stoves and found (in Richmond VA) that a
    small stove would be approx. $3000 and pellets were $4.50/40#bag.
    They said I would need a bag per day. Next I called my homeowners
    insurance co. and found I could not install a freestanding stove.
    It had to be a fireplace insert, had to be UL approved and had to
    be installed by a liceinced contractor. I already have natural gas
    at $1.07/ccf and electric (13 seer heat pump) at $.06/ckwh. I could
    not find any reason to change. Now I am looking at solar hot air
    and additional insulation in the attic and under the house (975
    square feet) Bill Cooper (804)261-7270

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