ᐅ User Experiences with Pellet Heating Systems

Vicky Pedia schrieb:

This is a single-family house, built in the 1970s, prefabricated timber frame construction, uninsulated. Approximately 150 m² (1,615 sq ft) of living space. Currently heated with oil. The residents want a new heating system and, for whatever reasons, have decided on pellets. Since I have no experience with this at all (I only know the argument that it’s expensive), I asked around what the pros and cons are.

Often, the motivation is ideological, because of CO2, etc.

Or ignorance. People think it’s cheaper. Here, the price per ton from seven tons onwards is €260 (about $280) + €20 ($22) for blowing in. At a price of €200 (about $215) per ton, wood briquettes become too expensive. One cubic meter of beech firewood weighs about 550 kg (1,213 lbs) and costs roughly €110 ($118) at the hardware store, split and cut — so it would still be cheaper than pellets. The price per cubic meter of coniferous timber logs is about €20 ($22).

A spreadsheet comparing oil, pellets, and firewood can help clarify this.

Regarding pellets: hmm. I quickly googled the CO2 footprint of pellets but mostly found advertisements praising how great pellets are.

I am personally not very enthusiastic about pellets, as they are complex and likely more prone to malfunctions. Since there is no underfloor heating in this case, I tend to prefer gas. I thought some people might write to me saying pellets are the ultimate solution....

It is and remains an unrenovated house, and only the heating system is intended to be modernized with minimal effort.

Hello,

here are some figures from the German Energy Wood and Pellet Association:
Gas 6.31 cents, heating oil 5.99 cents, pellets 5.23 cents, all based on one kWh.
Around 2012, heating oil was also available for just over 9 cents; last year it averaged about 6.6 cents.

When switching from oil or gas heating value to, for example, pellets, a subsidy of up to 45% is possible through BAFA.

For oil and gas, apart from maintenance costs, I also think of things like technical inspections required in water protection areas, basic fees, and so on.

Olli

Thank you for your effort!

I am very satisfied!

schubert79 schrieb:

I am very satisfied!

Prone to issues? Dirt? Etc....