Hardwood Pellets vs. Softwood Wood Pellets

Okay folks, tis the season to order up your wood pellets. It’s August and things are slow and as cheap as they are going to get at the pellet supplier. I just had the delivery guy in the driveway a few minutes ago and they are working half days and half weeks. Strike while the iron is hot.

I ordered two pallets of softwood pellets. I was told that softwood is cleaner and hotter burning than hardwood pellets. Each pallet has 65 bags on it as opposed to the typical one ton pallets. I don’t know why this is, but I only ordered two of these pallets as opposed to the typical three.

Also, I want to let you know that you can negotiate down the delivery fee. I told the seller that I can come pick these things up myself unless there was a really cheap shipping fee. It would have cost $60, but I got it for $20, so don’t be shy. Everybody needs the business and we need to keep our money.

Okay, back to the topic of this post…which is better, hardwood or softwood pellets? Here are a few quotes I picked up from this website:

“Most people jump to the conclusion that “we have always burned hardwood in our woodstove so hardwood must be better” – Not true with pellets.”

“White Oak 8810 BTU/pound — Yellow Pine 9610 BTU/pound”

I scanned a few more websites and what I have shown above seems to be the consensus. I always wondered why I had so much ash. I think it’s because I always burned hardwood pellets. Hmmm.

One thing everyone really stressed was that whichever type of pellet you choose, they must be premium. They can’t have cheap byproducts in the pellets.

Now, I don’t believe everything I hear or read. I am a suspicious person by nature. I am going to give these pellets a go this season and will surely report back my findings.