The best pellets - 7 rules
The Bulgarian market currently has a huge variety of brands, types and quality of pellets. But how do you make the right choice to stay satisfied and have the best pellets? And since every manufacturer or trader promises that his product is the best on the market, we have prepared seven simple rules to help you make the right choice when buying pellets.
Rule no.1: Pay attention to the diameter of the pellets
According to international standards for quality pellets, their diameter should be either 6mm or 8mm. The most common ones for domestic use are those with a diameter of 6mm, which are also those of “Schneider Pellets”. This size aids combustion efficiency. Pellet stoves, boilers, burners and fireplaces are designed to burn standard pellets. If the fuel you are using is not the correct size, it will create a problem. Each machine for this type of heating is labelled with the diameter of the pellets required for optimum combustion.
Rule 2: Less powder = better quality
When the pellets are made from quality cellulose, they leave a minimum amount of dust. However, if there are more dust impurities, there will certainly be residual material in the bag, which is a clear sign of poor quality. Another scenario where dust may accumulate among the pellets is when they are stored without being bagged. The only way you can tell if there is dust in the bag you buy is by turning it over and seeing if and how much dust remains on the bottom;
Rule 3: Pellets should not be fragile
The third rule by which you can determine the quality of a type of pellet is its brittleness. They must be mechanically durable and not easily brittle. The smooth surface that quality pellets have should ensure that if you manage to break one by hand, there will be no jagged pieces left.
Rule 4: Check how they dissolve in water
One of the easiest ways to check quality is by immersing them in a container of water. You can take a cup and drop a few pellets inside. The best pellets will sink instantly to the bottom. However, if they have any problem, they will begin to float to the surface, or sink slowly, bubbling air out at the same time. The second test you can do as an extension of the first is to see how long it takes them to start dissolving. With well made pellets this happens after not very long. This type of fuel logically does not interact well with water and it is not long before it starts to blow out and lose its shape. If this doesn’t happen, then the manufacturer has almost certainly used different types of chemicals to glue it together during manufacture. Good quality pellets use lignin, which is found in cellulose, as the “glue”. The use of chemicals largely spoils their quality.
Rule 5: Quality pellets are easily recognized by their smooth surface
This type of heating fuel is made from pressed wood, which means that their surface must be smooth. If there are no cracks or protrusions on the surface of the pellets, this is a guarantee that they will burn efficiently. However, it is important to mention here that it is very important what raw material the pellets are made of. If it is mostly bran, which is a very small fraction, then the pellets will have a smooth and shiny surface. However, they will be too compacted, and this will make combustion extremely difficult as there will not be enough oxygen between the particles.
Rule 6: Quality can be determined by smell
The production of pellets depends very much on the quality of the pulp that is used. Colour may not be a guarantee of quality, but pearliness can. A1 grade pellets (the best pellets) have a light and delicate aroma of the wood from which they are made. If it smells like anything other than wood, it means that the fuel has been stored for too long and has absorbed moisture and odor from the room.
Правило 7: Цветът все пак има значение и може да ви помогне
The colour of the pellets largely depends on the type of cellulose from which they are made. In this way you can find out not only the raw material, but also the way they are stored. However, there is one clear rule – if the pellets are greyish, avoid buying them. This colour indicates that the product has sat too long in a damp place and has absorbed moisture, and this means only one thing – low quality. To burn completely, the pellets must be dry. As well as moisture, grey-coloured pellets can also have mould, so stay away from them.
In conclusion, we can say that great care should be taken when choosing pellets. We at Schneider Pellets guarantee the quality of our pellets and prove it with a certificate EN Plus A1. This document is issued by the Italian official certification body ENAMAgroenergie, which we received on 24.06.2019.
“Axel Trade 2009 Ltd. continues to develop its product catalog and in order to care and protect nature, we have created eco-pressed wood pallets. Pressed wood pallets are produced by a process in which dry sawdust is
glued together with resin and then formed from steel moulds under high pressure and high temperature. More about our product you can learn from this article.
And why softwood pellets are the most looked-for product for home heating you can find out from this article.
