Most pellet stoves today are built to burn hardwood or softwood pellets.
Hardwood vs softwood pellets.
This usually depends on the quality of the pellet rather than the species.
Plenty of customers looking for the best option for their home choose wood pellets the same way they select wood for a wood stove.
So selecting a fuel is more about trying out which specific brand burns well in your stove.
Hardwood pellets are often sold as premium pellets for a higher price than softwood.
Making the right choice here can go a long way in setting you up for effective heating affordable prices and minimal stove maintenance.
Depending on the species and other factors softwood pellets actually have 10 20 more btu per weight than hardwood pellets because softwoods have resins in them that have a higher heating value than wood fibre.
People naturally think that since hardwood firewood has a higher btu and burns longer in a wood stove it must also be the same with pellets.
But when the wood is made into a pellet it is compressed so the density between hardwood vs softwood pellets is about the same.
The type of wood you use in a traditional wood stove determines safety ease of use and temperature.
Many people will argue that only hardwood pellets should be burned in their stove and conversely some people will argue that softwood pellets are the only way to go.
Softwood pellets the great debate.