Hardwood or Softwood?

Customers ask all the time what should I burn hardwood pellets or softwood pellets?
We always suggest trying a couple bags each of what may be available in your area before purchasing a large quantity of fuel. Pay attention to how they store the fuel they offer, don’t purchase fuel left uncovered to the elements. Pellets can absorb moisture and will not perform well. It is generally true that softwood pellets burn cleaner and hotter but may not be available in your area. How a pellet is made is often more important than the species of wood used or raw material. Pellet stoves are built to burn a processed wood fuel in a pellet form, many raw materials can be processed to burn but performance will vary depending on ash content and moisture content. A low moisture, high BTU, low ash quality certified pellet means a clean, consistent burn with high heating value – and a lot less stove cleaning for you regardless of whether it’s a hard or soft wood pellet! Pellets will vary depending on manufacturer and process they use during production as well as raw material they have available in the area they are located. So, selecting a fuel is more about trying out which specific brand burns well in your stove. This usually depends on the quality of the pellet, rather than the species. Finding the perfect fuel is about striking a balance you’re comfortable with between price and quality.