Heating Pellet Quality
Heating pellets are a natural, efficient and economical way to heat a home. Unlike many types of heating fuel, pellets are also easy to use, safer to handle and produce a cleaner burn. While their advantages are clear, not all pellets are made the same. Depending on the producer and the processes they use, heating pellet quality can be either standard or premium grade.
Learn more about the differences between these two grades, as well as what makes a good heating pellet.
What Makes a Quality Heating Pellet?
The most efficient heating pellets are those that are uniform in size, contain little to no binding agent, produce low levels of ash, contain little moisture and produce a minimal amount of excess dust:
- Size: If you’re concerned about heating pellet burn times, pellets that are uniform in size and density produce the most consistent heating. The diameter of a heating pellet typically measures 6 to 8 millimeters, and the pellet’s total length is about three or four times that number.
- Moisture content: Wood heating pellets rely on low moisture levels for a warm, long-lasting burn. Most have a moisture content between 5% and 10%. Too much moisture can lead to several problems, including excess dust and poor burn quality.
- Ash content: Low ash heating pellets are ideal because they produce the cleanest burn. Look for pellets with 0.7% ash or less. Most pellet stoves also require low ash wood pellets to operate at maximum efficiency.
- Excess dust: If your bag of heating pellets is full of dust, you might be working with low-quality fuel. Too much dust can cause problems in your heating stove, and it’s a mess to handle. A 40-pound bag of pellets should have no more than 1/2 cup of dust at the bottom.
- Binding agents: Binding agents are an optional pellet additive, and many producers do not need them. For the cleanest burning pellets, choose one free of unnecessary additives. If a binding agent is used, the type and amount added should be visibly declared on the package.
How to Determine Heating Pellet Quality
The easiest way to test your heating pellets for quality is to look for the Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI) Quality Mark on the front lower third of the bag. This mark is only given to producers who are a part of the PFI Standards Program. This rigorous third-party accreditation program conducts regular, stringent tests and audits to ensure consistently high quality in residential and commercial heating pellets.
The PFI Standards Program is the only American standard for heating pellets approved by the EPA. Energex was the first pellet producer to attain PFI certification in Canada and was among the first in the United States. When you see the PFI Quality Mark on our packages, you can be confident you are receiving the very best product available.
In addition to a PFI certification, you can identify a high-quality pellet with a quick examination. If you want to test wood pellets for quality, check that the following conditions are met:
- All pellets in a single bag are uniform in size, with little to no inconsistencies.
- The listed ash and moisture percentages listed on the bag meet or exceed industry standards. Ash content should always be 0.7% or less, but standard and premium grade pellets usually produce less. Moisture levels should not exceed 10%.
- Use your hand to stir the contents of your pellet bag. If you notice a lot of excess dust throughout the mixture or at the bottom of the bag, the quality is not as good as it could be.
To maintain the quality and integrity of your wood heating pellets, remember to store them correctly. If storing indoors, this means keeping them sealed in a dry area. If you’re storing your pellets outdoors, be sure to keep them off the ground and safe from the elements.
Standard vs. Premium Quality Heating Pellets
Wood heating pellets are rated as either standard or premium in quality. The most significant difference between these two grades is the listed ash content:
- Standard quality pellets: Manufacturers often produce standard quality heating pellets using waste from the forestry industry. The ash production for standard pellets is 0.5% or higher.
- Premium quality pellets: Premium quality pellets produce less ash and contain less moisture than standard quality pellets, and are more durable as a result. Premium pellets produce less than 0.5% of ash, and producers do not typically include tree bark in the production process.
Please note, a heating pellet labeled as premium is not automatically a part of the PFI Standards Program. For a truly premium pellet, look for a premium graded product that also has the PFI Standards Quality Mark on the bag.
At Energex, we offer premium grade softwood and hardwood heating pellets. Choose from one of four top-quality, PFI Certified products:
- Premium Softwood Blend: Get the best of hardwood and softwood with our Premium Softwood Blend. These pellets are 60% softwood and 40% hardwood, which produces between 0.5% and 0.6% ash.
- 100% Softwood Premium: Like the name implies, our 100% Softwood Premium pellets contain nothing but the best softwood, producing less than 0.5% ash.
- Hardwood Premium: We are dedicated to delivering top-quality pellets, which is why our Hardwood Premium pellets go through a strict production process, eliminating any pellet with an ash content 1% or higher.
- Hardwood Super Premium: When you need the best, our Hardwood Super Premium heating pellets are there to answer the call, complete with an ash content under 0.5%.
We source all our heating pellets from the raw materials harvested from sawmills, hardwood lumber and other soft and hardwood processing.
Get Guaranteed Quality With Energex Wood Pellets
Energex is proud to offer the best heating pellets in the industry, backed by our PFI Certification and premium grade products. Every bag of our softwood and hardwood heating pellets undergoes rigorous testing and adheres to our high quality standards before ever leaving the factory. By choosing Energex, you are doing your part to promote a cleaner world, while keeping your stove safe and your home efficiently heated.
If you’re ready to experience the Energex Standard, find a dealer near you. Are you interested in carrying our premium grade heating pellets? Contact us today to learn how.