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Pellet boiler

drboom

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 16, 2014
Messages
74
I'm seriously considering installing a pellet boiler to provide heat & (indirect) hot water and reduce our reliance on heating oil. Trying to do my research, I see some threads that are nearly a decade old and it seems that the residential units have substantially changed in that time. The intent is to install the pellet boiler while leaving the existing oil boiler as a backup since it works fine. This is all about saving money given how expensive heating oil is. Personally, I don't see oil staying at these levels but also not dropping far enough that there won't be a large annual cost savings on a fuel basis (my arithmetic suggests easily $2k/yr savings @$4/gal oil).
The pellet boiler + pellet storage have a very large footprint which may result in installing them in a custom shed adjacent to the house.

Our house is large (3800 sqft + a radiant heated garage) and well insulated with a mixture of radiant, baseboard and forced air. I'm currently awaiting bids from local vendors but would like some further
ideas of what to consider. Here in NH, there are some substantial state incentives in addition to the federal tax credit which will collectively offset around 1/2 of the up-front costs.
I'm looking forward to the collective wisdom of GJ.
Thanks
 
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jack stand

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Feb 29, 2012
Messages
3,328
Location
Lakes Region Maine
I'd move as fast as you can on this. This winter is going to be brutal for a whole lot of people.
Both the boiler and (especially) pellets will be in high demand. 👍
 
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drboom

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 16, 2014
Messages
74
I'd move as fast as you can on this. This winter is going to be brutal for a whole lot of people.
Both the boiler and (especially) pellets will be in high demand. 👍
Indeed. If this makes sense to do, I hope to be under contract this month which likely puts the install for Aug/Sep.
 

Jackfre

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Joined
Dec 26, 2010
Messages
4,408
Location
N CA
Check out Maine Energy Systems out of Bethel, ME. Les Otten, an old friend, who is now running the redevelopment of the Balsam’s Resort started this outfit. I would think that in addition to the appliance you will need to build this with a hopper feed. I’ve been out of New England for 12 yrs now so do not know the delivery options for pellets. Trying to do this thru the season with 40# bags would drive you nuts. Please keep us posted on your progress.
 

fitter30

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Joined
Jun 23, 2019
Messages
2,968
Location
Peace Valley,mo
Pellet, wood and coal boilers. Stoking and cleaning the boiler is constant work and mess. Nothing like going out at 0° to stoke the boiler.
 
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drboom

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Joined
Nov 16, 2014
Messages
74
Pellet, wood and coal boilers. Stoking and cleaning the boiler is constant work and mess. Nothing like going out at 0° to stoke the boiler.
That doesn't seem to be a thing for the current generation of pellet boilers. They have massive stores they **** pellets from and only need their ash bins emptied every few weeks in the cold part of winter. Also, the pellet boiler will be installed indoors much like the oil boiler is today. Other than an annual cleaning, the compacted ash removal is all that seems to be required. I haven't yet owned one so perhaps I'm being mislead but that is what the literature, sales team and what I'm seeing on the forums jack stand linked.

I'll post more as we work through our journey on this. We need to validate some size and clearance issues but I think we are going to move forward on this.
 

American Locomotive

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Joined
Jan 8, 2017
Messages
10,947
Location
Rhode Island
In my experience, any pellet-fired appliance is always far more maintenance intensive than the manufacturer leads you to believe. That goes for really any solid-fuel heat source, IMO. You basically trade cost for convenience.

I would also crunch those numbers very carefully. Even Maine's own website seems to suggest that Heat Pumps (operating in Maine) are very cost-competitive with wood pellets. https://www.maine.gov/energy/heating-fuel-prices
 
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