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[yorkdude]

We heat with a pellet stove, we have mini splits, a 5 zone system but prefer the stove. This year we are trying all softwood pellets, seems to be significant amount less of ash. Anyone else have experience with hardwood versus softwood? We have 6 tons put up and another ton for tomorrow.

[02ebz06]

I had a pellet stove insert when we lived in mountains (Bailey, CO)
I have not used soft wood pellets, but I would suspect you will consume more of them to get same energy as from hardwood pellets.

[yorkdude]

I had a pellet stove insert when we lived in mountains (Bailey, CO)
I have not used soft wood pellets, but I would suspect you will consume more of them to get same energy as from hardwood pellets.

From what I can determine its the opposite. May not be but that is what I have gathered informationally, not as concerned about the BTU’s as the ash build up. I guess time will tell.

[Bentley]

I had no idea...Weaver's Ace Hardware

Fuel pellets are sold and tested be weight, so a 40 pound bag of softwood pellets equals a 40 pound bag of hardwood pellets.
A good quality hardwood pellet has about 8,000 BTU’s/lb- 320,000 per bag.
American Wood Fibers Ultra Premium Softwood pellets have about 8,700 BTU’s/lb- 348,000 per bag- 28,000 BTU more!
A good quality hardwood pellet has an ash content around 0.50%.
American Wood Fibers Ultra Premium Softwood pellets have an ash content around 0.25%- that’s 1/2 the ash!
Overall a good quality softwood fuel pellet will burn hotter and cleaner both in ash and clinkers in the burn pot than a hardwood fuel pellet.

[yorkdude]

I had no idea...Weaver's Ace Hardware

Fuel pellets are sold and tested be weight, so a 40 pound bag of softwood pellets equals a 40 pound bag of hardwood pellets.
A good quality hardwood pellet has about 8,000 BTU’s/lb- 320,000 per bag.
American Wood Fibers Ultra Premium Softwood pellets have about 8,700 BTU’s/lb- 348,000 per bag- 28,000 BTU more!
A good quality hardwood pellet has an ash content around 0.50%.
American Wood Fibers Ultra Premium Softwood pellets have an ash content around 0.25%- that’s 1/2 the ash!
Overall a good quality softwood fuel pellet will burn hotter and cleaner both in ash and clinkers in the burn pot than a hardwood fuel pellet.

I have to tell you that I was 100% hardwood and got to digging around a little bit. Interesting if you ask me.

[MysticRhythms]

This is very surprising to me.
Less ash makes sense but higher BTUs comes as a real shock.

[Canadian John]

 My daughter and son-in-law found softwood pellets give off more heat than hardwood pellets. The ash also differs.

[02ebz06]

Well, that is news to me.
I always heard it was the other way around.
Maybe what I heard was for logs.
Found this:

Why Hardwood Firewood Is Better Than Softwood

Although softwood is the leading type of lumbar, hardwood performs better when used as firewood. Therefore, you should consider using hardwood in your fire pit, fireplace or wood-burning stove. Hardwoods are typically denser than softwoods, so they naturally burn longer. A softwood log may burn for less than an hour, whereas a hardwood log of the same size may burn for several hours. By building a fire with hardwood logs, you can spend more time relaxing and enjoying the fire and less time transporting firewood.

[Bentley]

For a fireplace, the VOC's in softwood would create havoc for the chimney I imagine!

[02ebz06]

For a fireplace, the VOC's in softwood would create havoc for the chimney I imagine!

Can't be screwing up my pizza oven chimney, now can I ? 

[Bar-B-Lew]

I'm getting ready for winter too but my method is smoking meats and vac sealing to eat later

[BigDave83]

I have only used hardwood pellets, I have looked for softwood or even a blend to try but have not found any locally. My favorite pellet is Hamers Hot Ones. The place I was buying them from changed to something else so they are harder to get. I have been using them on my pellet cookers for close to 7 years, still have about 3 ton. We usually go through 3.5 to 4 a year, heating about 1000 sq ft.

I have always read that soft wood burned hotter, probably due to the resins in it.

when I had the place built I wanted hated floors, the contractor decided I didn't want them and put in an air to air heat pump for my AC and heat with a coil in it. It does not provide a warm heat. The pellet stove provides a much nicer heat, not as nice as a wood or coal stove but far less mess. I actually cleaned mine today to get it ready for when we need it.

what stove are you using? Harman P43 here, put in in 2012, very pleased with mine. I put a combustion fan motor in it last year as it was making noise. I usually get fired up mid November or so and runs constantly until March or April. Only time I shut it off is for a few hours maybe once a month to clean.

Interested in see your ideas on the softwoods. I may need to try to find some, i have not looked for a few years.

[yorkdude]

When we were negotiating on our house the seller disclosed that one of the chimney flue tiles was cracked. The inspector insisted that we seal off the fireplace (as in fill with concrete) or he would not sign off the inspection which held up the financing. I asked what other options, he said none. I was very frustrated because both the interior wall (brick) and exterior wall (stone) are about 8’ wide each. It would have looked hideous on both sides. I wondered why if I created an alternate flue route why it would not be code worthy. I then asked the inspector if that would work (he scratches his head and said, well, I will have to look into it) I said to him have you never encountered this before? The fireman who I consulted who sweeps chimneys as a side gig after asking the inspector said that they can’t deny that remedy. So I approached the seller, he said, nope no help from me on this. So the $ gamble was all ours. Which will now lead me to the stove we use. We lined the flue with stainless and it was about $400.00 and a few hours of father/son time. We went with the pellet pro 60, we paid $700.00 or very close. I did not want to be stuck with a $4,000 stove and no house. Well final inspection he said turn it on, we did and he watched it light and then went out to look at the cap and saw heat waves and said you’re good to go. We are planning on upgrading for sure but I don’t want to throw away a perfectly good stove though. Next year we are seriously considering it and probably will after next years heat season as they will be a lot easier to fetch a deal. That will be 5 years old and I can easily justify that. Sorry for the diatribe.

[BigDave83]

When we were negotiating on our house the seller disclosed that one of the chimney flue tiles was cracked. The inspector insisted that we seal off the fireplace (as in fill with concrete) or he would not sign off the inspection which held up the financing. I asked what other options, he said none. I was very frustrated because both the interior wall (brick) and exterior wall (stone) are about 8’ wide each. It would have looked hideous on both sides. I wondered why if I created an alternate flue route why it would not be code worthy. I then asked the inspector if that would work (he scratches his head and said, well, I will have to look into it) I said to him have you never encountered this before? The fireman who I consulted who sweeps chimneys as a side gig after asking the inspector said that they can’t deny that remedy. So I approached the seller, he said, nope no help from me on this. So the $ gamble was all ours. Which will now lead me to the stove we use. We lined the flue with stainless and it was about $400.00 and a few hours of father/son time. We went with the pellet pro 60, we paid $700.00 or very close. I did not want to be stuck with a $4,000 stove and no house. Well final inspection he said turn it on, we did and he watched it light and then went out to look at the cap and saw heat waves and said you’re good to go. We are planning on upgrading for sure but I don’t want to throw away a perfectly good stove though. Next year we are seriously considering it and probably will after next years heat season as they will be a lot easier to fetch a deal. That will be 5 years old and I can easily justify that. Sorry for the diatribe.

Seems like a good deal $1100 to salvage a deal on a house you wanted and a nice heat source on top of that. Not familiar with the Pellet Pro line.
 There were not to many choices around here when I was buying mine. I had installed a free standing cast iron propane fire place, it was a nice upgrade as far as heat but not cheap to operate. Someone suggested a pellet stove and I started looking, not wanting to go to Lowes or a place like that. I found a US Stove and Quadrafire dealer and 3 Harman dealers. I looked at one other brand also, but when I started looking a specs and the clearances i needed, it ruled some out. The dealer I bought from said we could do this or that and they have heat shields. So his willingness to help me figure out how to solve my issues on space won him my business. I left them install it, 2 ton of pellets and I mentioned that cleaning would be difficult for me as low as it was and asked if I could raise it up. There is a lumber company down the road and the stove shop had them make me a custom height pad to set it on. I think i had $4200 in it. I have been very happy with it. the huge ash pan is one of the things I liked as it will hold a tons worth of pellet ash, so less frequent cleanings other than a daily fire pot scrape to keep the carbon deposits under control.

[yorkdude]

The pellet pro line is a big box store brand, it wasn’t our first choice but again for what we paid total we did good best we can tell. We have a higher end spa, pool, stove store nearby and have looked and will eventually probably buy from them but every time we go in there I shudder at the show room and they are not as educated as we feel we are, they always take you to the $8,000 stoves. The show room is quite large and some of the rooms look better than model homes.