Pellets | The best of 2022
Read also: Pellet stoves | The best of 2022 As it is easy to guess, a good pellet will make the difference both in small, medium and large environments, and that is why you should only buy high quality packaging, also to avoid creating possible malfunctions to the stove, caused by humidity. and its deterioration. In this regard, we often tend to buy the cheapest packages but, as mentioned, this could negatively affect the maintenance of the stove, as well as the real calorific value, which is why we will dedicate this article to what are the best pellets available on the market. , and then discover in the second part how to recognize a good product from a poor one.
The best pellets
Comfort Prime pellets Softwood pellets Schultz pellets Amica Ambiente pellets My Woody pelletsComfort Prime pellets
Comfort Prime pellets will be able to produce your pellet stove maximum calorific value, thanks to the ENPlus A1 certification, the best in terms of fuel for this type of appliance. This certification, in fact, guarantees an ash residue of less than 0.7% and a calorific value of at least 4.6 kWh per kilogram. The characteristics released by the manufacturer for this pellet coincide with those reported above, so we are faced with a product capable of maximizing the potential of your pellet stove during the winter. The high quality allows you to use it also to feed centralized boilers, as it is completely natural and free of contaminants.SEE ON AMAZON SEE ON EBAY
Softwood pellets In this case, we are dealing with pellets whose wood comes from coniferous trees, such as fir, larch or Swiss stone pine. Just like the previous solution, we are talking about ENPlus A1 certified pellets, with a calorific value equal to or greater than 4.6 kWh per kilogram and with an ash residue of less than 0.7%. The manufacturer also declares the humidity supplied by the pellets and this is below 10%, which is really excellent. Like most of the proposals, the single pack is 15kg but, depending on availability, it is also possible to buy packs of 15 or more bags.
SEE ON AMAZON
Pellets Schultz
Other pellet packs that will meet your needs during the coming winter are those from Schultz. Available in both single and non-single packs, this pellet is very ecological and clearly boasts a high calorific value. As with every article reported by us, it has the ENPlus A1 certification, which makes it perfect for ensuring that the pellet stove emits maximum heat, as well as an almost non-existent ash residue. This pellet is made of the highest quality fir wood and comes exclusively from forests considered sustainable.
SEE ON AMAZON
Pellet Amica Ambiente
If you are looking for other valid alternatives, then you should consider the packaging of Amica Ambiente pellets, which are proposed by the seller in bags of 10, 20, 40 and 70, each of 15kg. Also in this case, we are talking about high quality pellets, with ENPlus A1 certification and a high calorific value. The wood of this product comes from the forests of the Czech Republic, but not from any forests, but from those controlled and regenerated periodically. In short, a 100% natural and well-made pellet, perfect for making your stove work well.
SEE ON AMAZON
Pellet My Woody
Among the best pellets for your stove we also recommend the Woody solution, which offers its 100% beech and fir wood certified EnPlus A1. Also in this case we are dealing with a pellet with a calorific value very close to 5 kWh per kilogram, which means that the pallet stove will work at full capacity. Like almost all packs of this material, this is also offered in a 15kg bag.
SEE ON AMAZON SEE ON EBAY
How to choose pellets
As mentioned in the initial stages, buying a good pellet means not only allowing the stove to work at full capacity and increase the calorific value, but also to decrease its maintenance, and this is why it is essential to know how to recognize a good pellet from a poor one. In this regard, we at sportsgaming.win will try to show you the right path to follow and we anticipate that getting an excellent pellet will be a breeze, since the quality depends almost exclusively on the certification of the latter.
What are pellet certifications?
As mentioned above, certification is the first and perhaps only factor that determines whether a specific pellet is of high, mediocre or poor quality. If you intend to buy the best, you will have to check that the pellets have the EnPlus A1 certification, the most renowned both in Europe and in the rest of the world. This certification, therefore, will give you proof that you are dealing with a high quality pellet, able to release the highest calorific value and, at the same time, create a negligible amount of ash.
The EnPlus certification is divided into 3 categories; A1, A2 and B. As you will have understood, the highest quality is obtained with the products declared A1, but in many cases you can also rely on A2 solutions, above all for a matter of savings. Class B, on the other hand, should be excluded because it is designed for non-domestic use, with a very high ash residue that could ruin some components of the pellet stove earlier than expected. Below we leave you the main characteristics of the 3 classes of EnPlus A1 pellets:
A1: residual ash less than 0.7% A2: residual ash less than 1.5% B: residual ash less than 3.5 % How much humidity should the pellets have?
Although this is a factor related to certification, it is advisable to check the humidity declared by the manufacturer. If the pellet is wet, in fact, its calorific value will not be the best, as part of the latter will concentrate on evaporating the humidity and this will also negatively impact the combustion chamber, which will tend to get dirty with more. Basically, a good pellet should not have a humidity higher than 12%, but lower than 8%.
What calorific value should the pellet have?
As you have noticed, in the paragraphs previous we have often mentioned the calorific value because this is what allows the stove to heat the environment. If this is low, the stove will not be able to work as it should, or rather, it will not reach the performance for which it was designed, making the heating of the house slower or ineffective. Having said that, we could say that the calorific value also goes hand in hand with the certification of the pellets, as with the EnPlus A1 you are guaranteed to have a calorific value of at least 4.7 kWh / kg. In this regard, however, it must be said that the values higher than the one reported could be untrue, given that producers tend to measure it in the anhydrous state, how much more logical it would be to check it taking into account the water content.
With which wood are pellets produced?
As you know, pellets are not all the same but they are made of various types of wood. Among these we point out the fir, beech, ash and poplar but there are many others. Usually, the first two are the best, although it is worth pointing out that a small role can also be played by the pellet stove, which may behave better with a specific wood rather than another. If we go into details, it turns out that beech tends to have a higher yield and heat more, but produces higher amounts of ash. Fir, on the other hand, is the opposite, as it produces less ash residues but also a lower calorific value. It is therefore up to you to find the right compromise, which could be found in the so-called soft and hard woods. Below is a list of the best known:
Hard:
Beech Ash Oak Birch Maple Robinia Chestnut Sweets:
White fir Larch Spruce Alder Poplar Maritime pine How much can you save with pellets?
If we compare pellets to other heating systems, this is the winner, at least from a purely economic point of view. The savings come from the fact that the materials are not very dense and with low transport costs. On average, a 15kg package tends to last a couple of days and it has been calculated that with a pellet stove you can save up to 70% compared to GAS, up to 40% compared to diesel and 20% compared to methane. Furthermore, you could save even more if you buy pellets in the summer. Indeed, between May and July, the price of pellets tends to be lower than in the winter months, for questions relating to supply and demand.
How to recognize the quality of pellets by eye
Although the certification described above is the main factor to take into consideration, there are several "tricks" that you can put into practice to understand if the pellet you have purchased is of high or poor quality. An easy way is to see if there is sawdust in the package or not. If present in large quantities and in the form of dust, it means that the quality of the pellets is poor, to the point that it becomes very likely to run into malfunctions. On the other hand, if the wood is totally intact and full, it means that the product is very good. Another way to check the quality is to dip a handful of pellets into a glass of water. In this case, you will be faced with a good pellet if the latter sinks and the water does not become cloudy.
How are pellets created?
Pellets consist of a variety organic materials, such as wood chips, bark, sawdust and other by-products of wood grinding. Even soft woods, i.e. those not suitable for construction, can be used to create the pellet. However, manufacturers often use waste wood or by-products from other manufacturing processes to produce the pellets, such as corn stalks, straw and similar agricultural materials. Whatever the material, it is ground by a hammer mill and pressed to ensure that the size, shape and density are uniform. During this process, the temperature of the product rises. Once cooled, the humidity is reduced to around 4-8% and the product hardens. The low moisture content allows a longer combustion and a constant heat, with minimal particulate emissions.
Summary on how to choose the pellet
If you prefer not to delve into the various aspects of the pellet and you want to go straight to the point, here is a brief summary of the fundamental aspects relating to the choice of this material.
Check the certification: if you have read the previous paragraphs, you know that certification is the factor that summarizes the quality of the pellets in a single label. This is easy to read and if you are looking for the best for your pellet stove you will have to rely on EnPlus A1 certified packages. Check the brand / company: although the aforementioned certification is sufficient to understand what type of pellets we are dealing with, it is good to do an in-depth research on the brand or company that sells the pellets, in order to find out how the checks are carried out. of quality, traceability and transparency. Quick tests: If you have the opportunity, ask for a sample of pellets so that you can assess the quality for yourself. Most of the time a simple close look will be enough to understand the properties of the pellet, even simply looking at the package without the need to open it. In this regard, check that there is no sawdust in the package, which is usually a sign of poor quality.
SEE ON AMAZON
Pellets Schultz
Other pellet packs that will meet your needs during the coming winter are those from Schultz. Available in both single and non-single packs, this pellet is very ecological and clearly boasts a high calorific value. As with every article reported by us, it has the ENPlus A1 certification, which makes it perfect for ensuring that the pellet stove emits maximum heat, as well as an almost non-existent ash residue. This pellet is made of the highest quality fir wood and comes exclusively from forests considered sustainable.SEE ON AMAZON
Pellet Amica Ambiente
If you are looking for other valid alternatives, then you should consider the packaging of Amica Ambiente pellets, which are proposed by the seller in bags of 10, 20, 40 and 70, each of 15kg. Also in this case, we are talking about high quality pellets, with ENPlus A1 certification and a high calorific value. The wood of this product comes from the forests of the Czech Republic, but not from any forests, but from those controlled and regenerated periodically. In short, a 100% natural and well-made pellet, perfect for making your stove work well.SEE ON AMAZON
Pellet My Woody
Among the best pellets for your stove we also recommend the Woody solution, which offers its 100% beech and fir wood certified EnPlus A1. Also in this case we are dealing with a pellet with a calorific value very close to 5 kWh per kilogram, which means that the pallet stove will work at full capacity. Like almost all packs of this material, this is also offered in a 15kg bag.SEE ON AMAZON SEE ON EBAY
How to choose pellets
As mentioned in the initial stages, buying a good pellet means not only allowing the stove to work at full capacity and increase the calorific value, but also to decrease its maintenance, and this is why it is essential to know how to recognize a good pellet from a poor one. In this regard, we at sportsgaming.win will try to show you the right path to follow and we anticipate that getting an excellent pellet will be a breeze, since the quality depends almost exclusively on the certification of the latter.What are pellet certifications?
As mentioned above, certification is the first and perhaps only factor that determines whether a specific pellet is of high, mediocre or poor quality. If you intend to buy the best, you will have to check that the pellets have the EnPlus A1 certification, the most renowned both in Europe and in the rest of the world. This certification, therefore, will give you proof that you are dealing with a high quality pellet, able to release the highest calorific value and, at the same time, create a negligible amount of ash.The EnPlus certification is divided into 3 categories; A1, A2 and B. As you will have understood, the highest quality is obtained with the products declared A1, but in many cases you can also rely on A2 solutions, above all for a matter of savings. Class B, on the other hand, should be excluded because it is designed for non-domestic use, with a very high ash residue that could ruin some components of the pellet stove earlier than expected. Below we leave you the main characteristics of the 3 classes of EnPlus A1 pellets:
A1: residual ash less than 0.7% A2: residual ash less than 1.5% B: residual ash less than 3.5 %
How much humidity should the pellets have?
Although this is a factor related to certification, it is advisable to check the humidity declared by the manufacturer. If the pellet is wet, in fact, its calorific value will not be the best, as part of the latter will concentrate on evaporating the humidity and this will also negatively impact the combustion chamber, which will tend to get dirty with more. Basically, a good pellet should not have a humidity higher than 12%, but lower than 8%.What calorific value should the pellet have?
As you have noticed, in the paragraphs previous we have often mentioned the calorific value because this is what allows the stove to heat the environment. If this is low, the stove will not be able to work as it should, or rather, it will not reach the performance for which it was designed, making the heating of the house slower or ineffective. Having said that, we could say that the calorific value also goes hand in hand with the certification of the pellets, as with the EnPlus A1 you are guaranteed to have a calorific value of at least 4.7 kWh / kg. In this regard, however, it must be said that the values higher than the one reported could be untrue, given that producers tend to measure it in the anhydrous state, how much more logical it would be to check it taking into account the water content.With which wood are pellets produced?
As you know, pellets are not all the same but they are made of various types of wood. Among these we point out the fir, beech, ash and poplar but there are many others. Usually, the first two are the best, although it is worth pointing out that a small role can also be played by the pellet stove, which may behave better with a specific wood rather than another. If we go into details, it turns out that beech tends to have a higher yield and heat more, but produces higher amounts of ash. Fir, on the other hand, is the opposite, as it produces less ash residues but also a lower calorific value. It is therefore up to you to find the right compromise, which could be found in the so-called soft and hard woods. Below is a list of the best known:Hard:
Beech Ash Oak Birch Maple Robinia ChestnutSweets:
White fir Larch Spruce Alder Poplar Maritime pineHow much can you save with pellets?
If we compare pellets to other heating systems, this is the winner, at least from a purely economic point of view. The savings come from the fact that the materials are not very dense and with low transport costs. On average, a 15kg package tends to last a couple of days and it has been calculated that with a pellet stove you can save up to 70% compared to GAS, up to 40% compared to diesel and 20% compared to methane. Furthermore, you could save even more if you buy pellets in the summer. Indeed, between May and July, the price of pellets tends to be lower than in the winter months, for questions relating to supply and demand.How to recognize the quality of pellets by eye
Although the certification described above is the main factor to take into consideration, there are several "tricks" that you can put into practice to understand if the pellet you have purchased is of high or poor quality. An easy way is to see if there is sawdust in the package or not. If present in large quantities and in the form of dust, it means that the quality of the pellets is poor, to the point that it becomes very likely to run into malfunctions. On the other hand, if the wood is totally intact and full, it means that the product is very good. Another way to check the quality is to dip a handful of pellets into a glass of water. In this case, you will be faced with a good pellet if the latter sinks and the water does not become cloudy.How are pellets created?
Pellets consist of a variety organic materials, such as wood chips, bark, sawdust and other by-products of wood grinding. Even soft woods, i.e. those not suitable for construction, can be used to create the pellet. However, manufacturers often use waste wood or by-products from other manufacturing processes to produce the pellets, such as corn stalks, straw and similar agricultural materials. Whatever the material, it is ground by a hammer mill and pressed to ensure that the size, shape and density are uniform. During this process, the temperature of the product rises. Once cooled, the humidity is reduced to around 4-8% and the product hardens. The low moisture content allows a longer combustion and a constant heat, with minimal particulate emissions.Summary on how to choose the pellet
If you prefer not to delve into the various aspects of the pellet and you want to go straight to the point, here is a brief summary of the fundamental aspects relating to the choice of this material.Check the certification: if you have read the previous paragraphs, you know that certification is the factor that summarizes the quality of the pellets in a single label. This is easy to read and if you are looking for the best for your pellet stove you will have to rely on EnPlus A1 certified packages. Check the brand / company: although the aforementioned certification is sufficient to understand what type of pellets we are dealing with, it is good to do an in-depth research on the brand or company that sells the pellets, in order to find out how the checks are carried out. of quality, traceability and transparency. Quick tests: If you have the opportunity, ask for a sample of pellets so that you can assess the quality for yourself. Most of the time a simple close look will be enough to understand the properties of the pellet, even simply looking at the package without the need to open it. In this regard, check that there is no sawdust in the package, which is usually a sign of poor quality.
