Winter Prep Already?!?!

[RCW]

Seems like July 4th was last week.

Have pellet stove torn apart for preventive maintenance stuff. We burn 5 tons per season.

Only use about 20 gallons of heating oil through our boiler and hot water baseboard system.

Igniter blew during power outage April 19-23.

Generator was only running 107-111 volts. Fixed the generator since, but still need to replace igniter.

Hoping it didn’t fry the circuit board too.

Figured I’d change out combustion blower too. Motor feels a little “gritty” and is a couple years old.

Same Harman XXV Pellet stove we’ve had for years. I know a few guys here on OTT have experience with them. Great stoves. I keep most of the parts on hand anymore.

 

[jyoutz]

Better to do this now than waiting until it’s snowing and blowing

 

[mcfarmall]

Yup. Closed the pool today and finishing up staining the deck of my equipment trailer tomorrow.

 

[David Page]

10 cord home and finishing garden harvesting the next couple of weeks. Some stuff to do to the house and the chickens coop and hunting (winters meat) is starting soon. Didn't even go swimming or take the canoe out..

 

[D2Cat]

I've got an extra 8' Hiniker snow blade so I'm going to fab up an underslung bracket attached to a SSQA plate for my L4240. Only in the measuring/scrounging phase now.

 

[The Evil Twin]

Better to do this now than waiting until it’s snowing and blowing

But it's so much fun when you're under pressure and can't feel your fingers!

 

[fried1765]

Seems like July 4th was last week.

Have pellet stove torn apart for preventive maintenance stuff. We burn 5 tons per season.

Only use about 20 gallons of heating oil through our boiler and hot water baseboard system.

Igniter blew during power outage April 19-23.

Generator was only running 107-111 volts. Fixed the generator since, but still need to replace igniter.

Hoping it didn’t fry the circuit board too.

Figured I’d change out combustion blower too. Motor feels a little “gritty” and is a couple years old.

Same Harman XXV Pellet stove we’ve had for years. I know a few guys here on OTT have experience with them. Great stoves. I keep most of the parts on hand anymore.

View attachment 87371

Curious: What is the current cost of "5 tons" of pellets?

 

[Freeheeler]

Winter prep? For me that means tuning the skis, putting a fresh battery in the avalanche transceiver, and making sure my winter cloths still fit. I guess I'll put the boat back in the mancave so I don't have to winterize it. Gotta stock up on Gentleman Jack, it's Go Vols time. Winter in TN really isn't something you have to prep for

 

[RCW]

Curious: What is the current cost of "5 tons" of pellets?

Have been $225-250/ton last few years, but at $375 this year. Use about 1.3 +/- bags/day, or about $10 worth.

Last I heard oil was $4.79/gal. When only on oil, use about 5 gal/day, or about $24.

 

[fried1765]

Have been $225-250/ton last few years, but at $375 this year. Use about 1.3 +/- bags/day, or about $10 worth.

Last I heard oil was $4.79/gal. When only on oil, use about 5 gal/day, or about $24.

THAT is certainly a BIG difference!

 

[jkrubi12]

Just ordered oil today, $4.29/gal......

 

[Tughill Tom]

Seems like July 4th was last week.

Have pellet stove torn apart for preventive maintenance stuff. We burn 5 tons per season.

Only use about 20 gallons of heating oil through our boiler and hot water baseboard system.

Igniter blew during power outage April 19-23.

Generator was only running 107-111 volts. Fixed the generator since, but still need to replace igniter.

Hoping it didn’t fry the circuit board too.

Figured I’d change out combustion blower too. Motor feels a little “gritty” and is a couple years old.

Same Harman XXV Pellet stove we’ve had for years. I know a few guys here on OTT have experience with them. Great stoves. I keep most of the parts on hand anymore.

View attachment 87371

I clean the combustion fan blade with Spray-9 and hose off works great on cleaning the glass as well.

 

[DustyRusty]

Talking to a friend that has sold pellets and coal for decades. Told me that the pellets are not being delivered as scheduled and he doesn't believe that this year there will be any coal at all. Usually sells over 100 tons of pellets and 20+ tons of coal. It is going to be a very cold winter for some people that can't afford to pay the higher prices for fuel. My propane supplier isn't offering any contract price and has told me that it will be market priced. I told them that I am going to be looking for another propane supplier. When I started calling other propane dealers, some are not accepting new customers, and the ones that are will not make any commitment to be able to deliver on a reliable basis. Makes me wish that I never got rid of my wood stove!

 

[RCW]

Just ordered oil today, $4.29/gal......

In 30++ years of homeownership, that's the highest I've seen just ahead of heating season. Coworker got 100 gallons month or 2 ago at $4.79.

Stories/rumors of potential shortages, as oil companies were not buying in advance of heating season when prices were crowding $6.

DustyRusty -- I've got almost 5 ton in garage. I'd have 6, but no room. At least that should get me thru late-March or so.

You can bet I'll replenish as I use them early in the season. 20-30 extra bags could go a long way......

I've heard from a couple commercial guys looking to contract/lock motor fuels. Nothing doing. Heating oils could be similar. Just like your propane folks.

 

[dirtydeed]

Have been $225-250/ton last few years, but at $375 this year. Use about 1.3 +/- bags/day, or about $10 worth.

WTF? Sheesh. I was just at TSC earlier today I suppose I should've checked. Same stove as you.

 

[fried1765]

Talking to a friend that has sold pellets and coal for decades. Told me that the pellets are not being delivered as scheduled and he doesn't believe that this year there will be any coal at all. Usually sells over 100 tons of pellets and 20+ tons of coal. It is going to be a very cold winter for some people that can't afford to pay the higher prices for fuel. My propane supplier isn't offering any contract price and has told me that it will be market priced. I told them that I am going to be looking for another propane supplier. When I started calling other propane dealers, some are not accepting new customers, and the ones that are will not make any commitment to be able to deliver on a reliable basis. Makes me wish that I never got rid of my wood stove!

Took my 1,000 gal fibreglas tank out of the ground some years ago when natural gas became available.
This Winter, natural gas will likely have a crazy price too.
The good news for me:
I will spend the 6 months of Winter in South Florida, as I have for the past 25 years.
There is at least one advantage to being old!

BTW: When I buried my 1,000 gal FG tank in '86, I think I paid 59 cents/gal. for oil.
There was a big price break for buying over 500 gal. at one time, and Summer heating oil pricing was the best.

 

[skeets]

You know you guys know how to kill a good summer buzz!

 

[Tughill Tom]

WTF? Sheesh. I was just at TSC earlier today I suppose I should've checked. Same stove as you.

Bought 2 tons in the spring @ $275 and then another in July @ $299.

 

[skeets]

OK now I have a question, a little off subject but here goes. My stove uses a 6 inch flue, every pellet stove I have seen is was smaller maybe 2 inch, and the flue is 40 feet from stove to rain cap. Would one of these stoves work in that flue or is that a whole different can of worms ?

 

[RCW]

Dirtydeed and Tom - I did see some options for pellets at ~$300, so it’s not all doom and gloom.

Most were a hardwood blend, which is fine for my stove.

It’s just since pellets are our primary heat, I’ve tried to stick to a 100% hardwood product. An XXV will burn about any wood pellet. Just had good luck with most hardwood varieties.

What I got are Lowes Green Team. Never used them before, but should be good. Just came with a little sticker shock.

Forgot to mention it earlier, but a couple guys were looking for coal. Prices ranged from $350 to $600, bulk.