Pellets FAQ:

Do hardwood pellets last longer than softwood?: No, pellets with the greatest BTU's per pound last longest. This mistaken belief stems from the fact that softwood always burnt fastest in the cordwood stoves that used to be commonplace (as well as burning a lot dirtier). This impression has followed over into the pellet stove era. Pellets are densified during manufacture to a standard density whether hardwood or softwood so in terms of heat output hardwood vs. softwood is a non-issue.
Do softwood pellets burn dirtier than hardwood?: Maybe, depending on your stove and the pellet being burned. We have heard this comment from our customers often.
Do pellets produce creosote?: In most normal circumstances, pellets should not produce creosote. In any high quality stove, pellets are burnt with a much greater efficiency than in cordwood stoves. When pellet stoves do produce creosote it is usually a malfunction of some sort in the airflow or attempting to burn damp pellets.
Will standard grade pellets burn in my stove?: In our experience, a higher ash pellet burns well only in Harman brand stoves or other stoves which are fed from the bottom. Top fed stoves do not generally burn standard grade pellets well as they tend to clog up the burn pot quickly.
Can I burn corn in my pellet stove?: Consult your manufacturer. Some stoves are specifically made to burn corn, other stoves can burn some percentage of corn or other grains mixed with pellets. Corn has a high sugar content and burns with a greater corrosiveness. How this affects your stove or venting depends on the make and model.
Can I store my pellets outside?: Yes, it is usually not a problem, but if they get wet they will turn to sawdust. We recommend stacking them sufficiently off the ground so that melting snow cannot get the bottom rows wet. We also recommend an additional tarp over and around the pellets.
How long can I store my pellets?: Indefinitely as long as they don't get wet. Keep in mind that they will absorb ambient moisture (in basements etc.) even where there is no visible moisture. Dust content of the bag will increase with exposure to ambient moisture over time. As a general rule, we recommend buying 1 season's supply of pellets in the spring or early summer as the availability is high and the price is probably lower than in-season.
What is Squier's best brand of pellet?: Our best brand of pellet is the brand that works best in your stove and which is most cost-effective. We offer many brands so that you, the customer, can pick the brand that works best in your stove.

Brands usually available

The following brands are usually available through Squier & Company. Click any brand to view the manufacturer's website.

Pellets:

Coal:

Blaschak Anthracite Coal

Pellet Test Results

We provide pellet testing data from our manufacturers to assist our customer in choosing the correct pellet for them. A word about pellet testing data: We display the "best" data available from each of our manufacturers and require them to provide this information once per year. We retain the actual test results here at our store. Please note that there can be substantial variation in test results particularly with standard grade products. Also, different labs test differently and report in different manners resulting in some data not being available (n/a). Most important results for the consumer are BTU content which measures the amount of heat available in the product; ash content which measures how dirty the product burns and chloride content. A high chloride content affects the melting point of the ash (it lowers it) and will result in more "clinkers" in the burn pot. All results are based on "dry basis" measurements which assumes a pellet with no moisture content.

Manufacturer	Fines	Density	BTU	Ash	Chloride
	% by weight	lbs per cu. ft.	Content BTU's per lb.	Content % by wgt.	Content mg/Kg
Pellet Fuel Institute standard Premium Grade Fuel	0.5% Max	40lbs/cu. ft.	8200 min.	1.0% max	300
Pellet Fuel Institute standard Standard Grade Fuel	0.5% Max	40lbs/cu. ft.	8200 min.	3.0% max	300
New England Wood Pellets Premium Grade Hardwood	n/a	n/a	8027	0.37%	n/a
Quality brand Premium Grade Softwood	0.30%	41	8770	0.30%	34
New England Wood Pellets Standard Grade Hardwood	n/a	n/a	8470	1.16%	n/a
Allegheny brand Premium Grade Hardwood	n/a	n/a	8465	0.32%	n/a
Wood Pellet Co. brand Premium Grade Hardwood	n/a	n/a	8177	0.43%	n/a
New England Wood Pellets Canadian Premium Softwood	n/a	n/a	8229	0.31%	n/a

Pellet Stacking Service

We can refer you to some ambitious, teenage boys who would be happy to stack your pellets wherever you want for a fee. Details are Zone 1 towns only, $15 per ton and must be within 50' of the pallet. Call or email us and we can get you in touch with them.

Full Truckload Pellet Discounts

Get together with your friends and neighbors and save money on your pellets. Mix and match different brands-your choice. Pickup or we'll deliver for you. Call for current availability and discounts.

Full Truckload Pellet Discount Details:

Our truckload discount quantities are either 14 tons or 22 tons (in some cases single brand discounts are available in larger quantities 23, 24 or 26 tons).

If we deliver, delivery is one stop at one location. We cannot drop at multiple locations.

Order must be paid in full prior to pickup or delivery.

If picking up, please call ahead to schedule a time and day.

Any time in excess of 1 hour unloading will be charged at a rate of $100 per hour assessed in 15 minute increments. Please be ready to take delivery when we get there.

Any delivered truckloads of 22 tons or more the customer must have a method of unloading the truck i.e. forklift or pallet jack. The van will not be able to be unloaded unless you have means to do so.

Pellet Fuel Guaranty for 2007

Squiers will guaranty at least 3 tons of pellet fuel with every stove purchase for 2006, more if available. Pellets must be invoiced with the stove. Do not buy a pellet stove this year without also buying your complete seasonal supply. Do not buy a pellet stove from any retailer who cannot sell you your complete winter supply. Pellet inventories will be tight for the rest of this year with the situation easing off and much more pellet inventory next year. Get them now with the purchase of your stove.

What Fuel Should I Choose?

Squiers makes a significant effort to match your lifestyle to your stove. Unhappy customers suck the very life-blood from us and chew up resources best spent elsewhere. We prefer to deal with happy people and make every effort to ensure that. We would rather not sell a stove to anyone who has a significant chance of being unhappy with their purchase. To that end your choice of many available options for fuel is important and our assistance in helping you choose the proper fuel for you goes a long way towards making you happy with your stove purchase.

Wood Pellets - Positives: Environmentally friendly and carbon neutral-does not add to greenhouse gas emissions and utilizes a waste product which would only go into our landfills. Pellets are domestically produced, the profits from which remain in North America and do not finance anti-American activities. Pellet stoves can be placed almost anywhere to increase your comfort and efficiency. Wood pellets have a very low ash content (about .5% on average) which means that on most models the ash pan needs emptying once a month. Pellets reduce our dependence on foreign oil and most homeowners can easily store a full year's supply. Wood pellets are currently among, if not the, least expensive option in cost per Btu realized. You will save money.

Wood Pellets - Negatives: Requires more effort than some other options-you will tend your stove at least every few days. Pellet stoves tend to be expensive and complicated. If you wait too long into the season, the fuel can be difficult to obtain.

Corn - Positives: Environmentally friendly, carbon neutral, domestically produced and inexpensive.

Corn - Negatives: Difficult to store-most readily available in bulk. Corn will mold and mildew if the moisture level is too high. Vermin and rodents are attracted to a food supply. Corn is more difficult to burn and consequently the stoves are even more complicated than pellet stoves. Seasonality of corn vastly affects its availability. Higher ash and clinker content means more tending.

Coal - Positives: Domestically produced-we have 400 years supply in this country alone. Hand fired coal stoves are much simpler in design. Coal provides a warm, even heat over a longer period as compared to cordwood. Coal provides a higher Btu per lb resulting in less cost per potential Btu as compared to pellets or gas.

Coal - Negatives: Stoker coal stoves approach the complication and cost of a pellet stove. Hand fired coal stoves require skill and attention to operate and in some cases just will not work in chimneys with little draft. In almost all cases, coal stoves should be vented into a masonry chimney which limits where the stoves can be placed. Coal stoves require more effort-you will tend your coal stove in most cases at least once per day. High ash content (8-11%) means dealing with the ash every day. Due to the relative inefficiency of coal stoves and the need to throw significant amounts of heat up the chimney for draft, the cost per realized Btu of coal tends to be relatively high.

Wood - Positives: Environmentally friendly, carbon neutral, domestically produced and inexpensive-almost cannot heat cheaper than with cordwood if you have your own woodlot and are willing to process trees into firewood.

Wood - Negatives: A lot of effort-splitting, stacking, hauling and frequent tending of the stove. You will tend the stove at least twice a day. Heat output is difficult to regulate. Cordwood heat tends to be messy and attract insects. Having to purchase your cordwood dramatically reduces cost efficiency.

Gas - Positives: Gas stoves are easy to use, have a simple design and are low maintenance.

Gas - Negatives: Very costly to operate, heat output tends to the low end.

To paint with a very broad brush - If you are young with more energy than money and your own woodlot it's hard to beat a cordwood stove. If you are old and tired with more money than energy, a gas stove is for you. If you are somewhere in between, consider a pellet stove or coal stove. In general, we prefer to see coal stoves and wood stoves in the basement because of the potential for mess and vented into a masonry chimney. Pellet or gas stoves could go in either the basement or living areas where they are the most efficient. At the risk of painting with an even broader brush-Gas stoves are white collar, pellet stoves are light blue collar, coal stoves are dark blue collar and wood stoves are no collar, with of course many exceptions to the above generalities. Choose the stove that is right for you and your circumstances. Squiers can help.

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