When buying wood pellets for your pellet stove, there are several factors that have to be known, to be able to buy the best, and correct fuel at the best prices.

The Different Grades of Wood Pellets

There is not simple one type of wood pellet, each raw material used to produce wood pellets produces a fuel pellet which generates different amounts of ash and heat. For example if the wood used has a high bark content, this will result in a higher ash content than a wood pellet produced with no bark at all. Generally pellets which contain no bark at all are referred to as premium pellet fuels. Premium pellet fuels produce the least amount of ash, the greatest levels of heat and also require the least maintenance. Obviously if less ash is generated, the ash draw on the pellet stove has to be emptied less often. The main disadvantage of premium pellets is their premium price and unstable price. For example the material used are not the most abundant, and other economic factors can affect the availability and price of the resources. For example within the last few years due to the recession and decline in the number of new homes being built. There was less wood residue available to produce premium pellets. This lead to an increase in the price of premium pellets, past that of even oil prices. However many other cheaper and more available wood residues can be used to produce fuel pellets. However not all pellets stoves can burn them. As many are designed to burn purely premium grade pellets.

Lower Grade Wood and Biomass Pellets

Other more abundant wood and biomass residues can be processed into fuel pellets, and at PelHeat we actively promote the use of these pellets as there are more sustainable option compared to premium wood pellets. However the biggest issue is to make people aware of the differences in the fuel pellets. And to encourage people to purchase more flexible pellet stoves and boilers. The main key difference between different types of fuel pellets is the change in ash content. This is the main issue some pellet stoves and boilers cannot overcome. For some pellet stoves an increase in ash content will cause the stove to fail. The Pellet Stove and Boiler Guide highlights the features to look out for when buying a pellet stove or boiler to acquire a more fuel flexible unit.

Pellet Mills and Pellet Production Tools

Many people today are interested in producing their own fuel pellets, for their own use or to start a small business. Local pellet production and consumption is more sustainable that large scale production due to the reduction in fuel transportation. We also encourage pellet production, and we provide a free consultation service to help people acquire pellet production equipment for small and large scale pellet production. This includes pellet mills, hammer mills, dryers and also complete pellet plants. To learn more and to browse the range of equipment, please click our PelHeat logo at the top of the page. To learn more about the basic principles of pellet production.

The Wood Pellet Production Guide © PelHeat Ltd - Wood Pellets For Pellet Stove