Wood Pellet Heating | WoodPellets.com Blog

Heating Oil and Pellet Fuel Cost Comparison

September 28th, 2023 Cost Savings, Pellet Stoves, Wood Pellet Heating

Oil Heat Cost per Heating Season VS Pellet Fuel (Based on data from 2022/23 Heating Season)

Based on the data from 2022/23’s heating season, choosing pellets over oil would save you nearly $3,000!

Daily Fuel Cost Comparison*
(Average Cost per Unit) x (Number of Units per Season) / 182

Oil = $24/day
Pellets = $7.69/day

Cost Comparison by Heat Output*
(Fuel Cost per Unit) / (Heat Content per Unit) x 1,000,000

Oil = $35 per million BTUs
Pellets = $20 per million BTUs

*All calculations are based on the following:

Oil has 138,500 BTUs per gallon at an average of $4.80/gallon with an average use of 910 gallons in a heating season
Pellets have 17,200,000 BTUs per ton at an average of $350/ton with an average use of 4 tons in a heating season
There are 182 days in a heating season

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

A Winter of Shakes, Shivers and Shoveling Ahead According to the Farmers’ Almanac 2022-23 Weather Forecast

August 22nd, 2022 Convenient Delivery, The Green Team, Weather, Wood Pellet Heating

According to the new Farmers’ Almanac Extended Winter Forecast, frigid temperatures should flow into many areas nationwide with some places getting record-breaking cold temperatures of 40 degrees below zero!

Not only will winter be arriving earlier than usual this year, this newest addition of the Farmers’ Almanac forecast has warnings of a season full of “shakes, shivers and shoveling” thanks to plenty of snow, rain and mush in addition to extreme cold.

To learn more about what’s to come this winter, check out the Farmers’ Almanac website.

To secure your wood pellet fuel now for free driveway delivery in the month of your choice, visit Woodpellets.com or call 1-800-PELLETS to speak to an expert today!

Woodpellets.com Offsets Carbon Emissions by Planting a Tree for Every Delivery

May 17th, 2022 Renewable Energy Public Policy, The Green Team, WoodPellets.com

Woodpellets.com Offsetting Carbon by Planting One Tree for Every Wood PelletDelivery

As the next step in our sustainability journey, we’re proud to announce WoodPellets.com has partnered with Ecodrive to plant 1 tree for every delivery! Trees have a natural ability to capture and store carbon dioxide, making them important assets in the fight against climate change. Our wood pellets are created from the waste of the lumber and other wood industries or standing dead trees to provide clean, green heat to homeowners. We understand the value that trees provide to people and the environment, so we think that planting trees is the best way to do our part in the fight against climate change. We look forward to doing our part to make our planet healthier and the future brighter!

Our new partner, Ecodrive, plants mangrove trees on protected land in Madagascar. Mangroves can capture and store more carbon than almost any other tree on the planet. Each tree can sequester about 680 pounds of carbon in its lifetime.

Mangroves also create habitat for hundreds of animal species, including those that are endangered or only exist in Madagascar. They also protect shorelines from erosion and storm surges, keeping ecosystems and the people who live there safe. As mangroves take in water they filter out any pollutants before releasing water vapor back into the air. When you place an order for delivery you will receive the same high-quality pellets you’ve come to expect, but with the added bonus of having a tree with amazing ecological benefits planted for you!

In addition to this initiative’s ecological benefits, it also alleviates poverty in the nearby community by employing local villagers to plant and manage the trees. For every 100 trees planted, one full work day is created for a villager in need. We love that with the help of our customers we can create employment for people who need it, while healing the earth in the process.

We believe in the responsible use of our natural resources. Staggering quantities of wood “waste” (sawdust, wood chips, shavings, etc.) is generated through the production of lumber, flooring, cabinetry, millwork and furniture. We turn this waste into wood pellets to be used as renewable fuel, preventing it from ending up in a landfill and releasing greenhouse gasses as it decomposes. Burning one ton of wood pellets eliminates 1,500 pounds of carbon emissions compared to heating oil. While our wood pellets already provide a renewable heating source to so many families, we wanted to take our sustainability to the next level by partnering with Ecodrive to make every delivery climate positive.

We look forward to discovering the positive impact we can make by planting trees with the help of our wonderful customers and our new friends at Ecodrive!

Wood Pellets: 3 Reasons to Consider This Low-Carbon Renewable Fuel for Home Heating

January 11th, 2022 About Wood Pellets, Renewable Energy Public Policy, The Green Team, Wood Pellet Heating

Renewable Across the Board

Wood pellets manufactured from carbon-neutral wood fiber is an innovative utilization of wood waste generated by the manufacturing of other products.

Every day wood “waste” (sawdust, wood chips, shavings, etc.) is generated in staggering quantities through the production of lumber, flooring, cabinetry, millwork and furniture.

These leftover clean wood residues that would otherwise be considered as “waste” and sent to a landfills is acquired by pellet manufacturers and engineered into an efficient heating fuel.

In 2020 alone, 8.8 million tons of wood product waste was purchased by pellet producers from upstream forest product manufacturing sites.

A Necessary Low-Carbon Option

Rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are in large part a result of burning of fossil-derived fuels for energy. Wood pellet fuel interrupts this cycle by recycling the carbon dioxide emitted during combustion in the regeneration of the forests grown to meet the demand from the forest products industry on which it relies for fiber.

Wood pellet fuel brings a low-carbon alternative to the home heating landscape and displaces demand for fossil-based fuels with higher carbon intensity such as heating oil and propane.

Contributing to the Local Economy

Not only do they create jobs in their facilities, but wood pellet manufacturers generate jobs in trucking, logging and maintenance.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that five hundred million dollars of wood pellet sales for residential heating were generated in 2020 – often for independently owned small business owners.

Want to learn more about the wood pellet industry?

Access the Pellet Fuel Institute’s digital booklet, “Sustainable from the Beginning: 3 Facts About Wood Pellet Manufacturing and Use” here.

Ready to place an order for quality-guaranteed wood pellet fuel to be delivered to your home?

Shop online at Woodpellets.com or simply call 1-800-PELLETS to speak to an expert!

The Economics of Wood Pellet Heating Fuel: Understanding the Key Factors

October 20th, 2021 About Wood Pellets, Wood Pellet Heating

Wood pellet heating has gained popularity as an efficient and eco-friendly alternative to traditional heating fuels such as oil or gas. However, the cost of wood pellets is not immune to fluctuations, just like any other commodity. Several factors contribute to the cost of wood pellet heating fuel, including supply and demand, transportation costs, and production expenses.

One of the key drivers of wood pellet heating fuel prices is the cost of raw materials. The majority of wood pellets are made from sawdust and other wood waste materials. As a result, the price of wood pellets is closely tied to the cost of lumber and other wood products. If the cost of raw materials increases, the cost of producing wood pellets will also increase, which could drive up the price of heating fuel made from these pellets.

Another factor that affects the cost of wood pellet heating fuel is transportation costs. Factors like increases in fuel prices, trucking shortages and DOT regulation changes can make transportation more expensive, which may cause the price of wood pellet heating fuel to rise.

Supply and demand also play a crucial role in the cost of wood pellet heating fuel. The demand for wood pellets has been on the rise due to the increasing popularity of pellet stoves and boilers. However, the supply of wood pellets can be affected by various factors such as weather conditions, production capacity, and distribution channels. If the supply of wood pellets cannot keep up with the demand, the price of the fuel may increase.

Lastly, global factors like crude oil prices can also affect the cost of wood pellet heating fuel. Although wood pellets are not made from crude oil, changes in oil prices can influence the cost of other fuels and cause people to switch to wood pellet heating fuel. This increased demand can result in higher prices for wood pellets.

While these factors can contribute to price fluctuations, wood pellet heating remains an eco-friendly and efficient alternative to traditional heating fuels. It’s essential for consumers to stay informed about market conditions and be mindful of their consumption habits to keep the cost of heating their homes with wood pellets under control.

Ready to speak to an expert about your home heating? Call 1-800-PELLETS or get a free quote online.

It’s Official: Wood Heat Tax Credit for Homeowners Passed by Congress

January 14th, 2021 About Wood Pellets, Pellet Stoves, Renewable Energy Public Policy, The Green Team, Wood Pellet Heating

Recently, parts of The BTU Act (Biomass Thermal Utilization Act) were passed through Congress and signed into law, officially placing wood pellet stoves on a level playing field with other renewables that have been receiving appliance tax credits for a long time.

What does this mean for residential wood pellet heating?

A three-year investment tax credit (ITC) for high-efficiency wood-fired home heating equipment is now official!

The credit applies to the installed cost of home heating and hot water systems that utilize wood pellets, chips and cordwood at efficiencies greater than 75 percent high heat value.

The tax credit is for 26 percent in 2021 and phases down to 22 percent in 2022 and 2023.

For example, a wood pellet stove that costs $4,000 to install in 2021 will result in a savings of approximately $1,000 when applied to the homeowner’s 2021 tax return.

Charlie Niebling, a consultant for wood pellet producer Lignetics, has been working to enact the BTU Act for more than a decade. He has called the tax credit plan a “game changer” for residential wood heating.

“Our message to Congress for years has been…don’t pick winners and losers,” explained Niebling. “[Wood heat] deserves the same recognition in the federal tax code that solar and wind do.”

If you’d like details about this bill passing, read more here.

5 Things You Should Know According to a Professional Pellet Stove Tech

February 4th, 2020 About Wood Pellets, Pellet Stove Cleaning, Pellet Stoves, Wood Pellet Heating

1. Read the manual that came with your stove. According to Jason Tardiff of J&L Chimney Works in NH, this is the number one thing stove technicians wish customers would take seriously. He explains; “Most of the time, the answer to the problem lies in the pages of their owner’s manual.” From proper stove maintenance, to best practices and warranty information – the manual is packed with model-specific information, and it’s very often overlooked.

2. Don’t be so quick to blame the pellets. If your stove isn’t igniting, if you have a weak flame, or your pellets won’t stay lit, the fuel shouldn’t be your first thought. When was the last time you had your stove professionally cleaned? If you do it yourself, are you really getting to all the parts that need attention? Your pellet stove works off of pressurized air which is drawn from the exhaust. Have you cleaned all those passages? Is your exhaust clear of debris? Jason describes his years of discoveries: “The exhaust pulls in anything that’s in the air – so pet hair, dander, dust and lint are constantly sucked in. And as far as the auger goes, items left on the stove can fall and work their way in. I’ve found spoons and G.I Joes crammed in there.”

Read more

Wood Pellet Heating 101

December 20th, 2019 About Wood Pellets, Customer Feedback, Wood Pellet Heating, WoodPellets.com

Although over one million homes in the United States use wood pellet fuel as a heating source, there are still many frequent questions and misconceptions about heating with wood pellets. Below, we have compiled a list of the most common inquiries we hear from both new and existing pellet users.

How Many Bags of Pellets Should I Buy?

Woodpellets.com Driveway Delivery The amount of pellets you can expect to burn through in a heating season depends on the quality of the wood pellets and the efficiency of the stove – among other things. However, one bag of quality pellets will commonly provide a full day of good, steady heat.

The average residential wood pellet customer in the Northeast uses 150-200 bags of wood pellets throughout the entire heating season. There are 50 bags in one ton of pellets, so that’s 3-4 tons.

Woodpellets.com Service in Maine via D&J Home & Hearth

September 5th, 2019 About Wood Pellets, Convenient Delivery, Wood Pellet Heating, WoodPellets.com

Wood Pellet Delivery in Maine

In the early 1970’s, Romeo Jr. and Maggie Pimpare moved to Sanford Maine with their three young children and started a car repair business. The business eventually expanded into manufacturing custom made portable buildings, and when wood pellet stoves were added to the shop for sale in 1997, D&J Home & Hearth was born.

In 2015 Wayne, Wendy & Randy bought the thriving business from their parents. Today the company is a leading distributer of Harman, Ecochoice, Vermont Casting, DutchWest, Majestic pellet, wood, gas stoves, inserts and fireplaces.

In order to offer expert wood pellet customer service along with the convenience of ordering premium wood pellets online, D&J has recently partnered with Woodpellets.com.

Now any wood pellet stove owner within D&J Home & Hearth’s pellet delivery service area can now place an order through Woodpellets.com online or by calling 1-800-PELLETS.

Woodpellets.com is excited to partner with a family-run business that values customer service as much as we do!

Woodpellets.com Now Accepting Northwest Wood Pellet Orders via Ziggy’s Home Improvement

September 3rd, 2019 Convenient Delivery, Pellet Stoves, Wood Pellet Heating, WoodPellets.com

It was 1965 when Vern Ziegler established the Ziegler Lumber Company after building hundreds of homes in the Inland Northwest as a general contractor.

Using his vast experience in residential construction, Mr. Ziegler pioneered the do-it-yourself concept with his first store in Spokane Washington. Having been called “Ziggy” much of his life, Vern’s company soon became well known as “Ziggy’s.”

His goal at that time was the same as it is today – to offer the customer the highest quality merchandise at contractor prices, along with excellent service and good advice for the homeowner to do his own projects.

In order to offer expert wood pellet customer service along with the convenience of ordering premium wood pellets online, Ziggy’s recently partnered with Woodpellets.com. Now any wood pellet stove owner within Ziggy’s pellet delivery service area can now place an order through Woodpellets.com online or by calling 1-800-PELLETS.

We’re proud to be working with Ziggy’s and are thrilled to expand our services to the Northwest!