Wood pellet - outdoor storage tank/bin?

brendan_donegal

Need some help making a decision:

indoor or outdoor storage tank/bin?

Has anyone installed an outdoor bin and not had any issues?

I've been told galvanised steel bins are much better than plastic or any other type of insulating material.
I have also been told if you keep a bit of air flow in and out to avoid stagnation, keep temp inside and out similar and seal all contact points during assembly you won't have a problem?

Any thoughts?

No6

I have an outdoor, metal one, lots of bits and joints, not very good in my opinion, damp gets in and makes a ball out of the pellets and jams up the augur and its a very messy job to clear it!!

In my opinon the only way to store pellets in Ireland is indoors

brendan_donegal

Yes, this seems to be the response I am getting, although I have a guy selling indoor and outdoor, no difference in price and he says the outside one is just as good, although I asked for a guaratee against moisture and he hasn't replied yet....!!

There must be someone out there who uses an external bin successfully?

brendan_donegal

Not much action on this topic, I have to assume not many people have external bins?

No6

Brendan, you need to do your research on these pellets, I unfortunately believed what I was told by the supplier and am living to regret it now. The only way to store pellets is indoor and in my opinion the best way to store them indoors is at high level using a storage bag (can't think of the corrrect name for these at the mo) at high level with a steel frame supporting it. I have found that the bits that are the most unreliable ar the auger motors so if they break or get jammed if the pellets are stored above the boiler you can use gravity!! that at least will always work!!:D

Park Royal

I'm not interested in grants, was thinking I could just buy bagged pellets and store them in the house......( not too many as I believe there is a problem with combustion of pellets due to build up of heat?)....

but just to store a few bags to do the weekly burn.......

any comments on this idea....

No6

Park Royal wrote: »

I'm not interested in grants, was thinking I could just buy bagged pellets and store them in the house......( not too many as I believe there is a problem with combustion of pellets due to build up of heat?)....

but just to store a few bags to do the weekly burn.......

any comments on this idea....

There is no grants for wood pellets at the moment, they were scrapped, there is grant for high efficiency oil or gas boilers though, figure that out if you can. The price of bagged pellets is about twice that of bulk pellets so its generally cost prohibitive to used bagged pellets unless you need very little!!

dahamsta

Sorry for butting in, but I need advice on what kind of shed to use for bagged pellet storage. Indoor storage isn't an option, and I need to buy by the pallet, buying 10s and 20s is too expensive.

I have a 6x6 Keter plastic shed already, and I want to replace it with something that'll fit the contents of that and a pallet of bagged pellets.

Would I be better off with wood, steel or plastic again?

recedite

Bagged pellets can be stored in any kind of shed, but they are slightly dearer to buy than bulk loose pellets. The storage issues only apply to bulk pellets with auto feed augers that easily get jammed.

dahamsta

Isn't there still a risk of dampness via condensation?

EHP

dahamsta wrote: »

Isn't there still a risk of dampness via condensation?

Pellets stored outdoors in a JFC silo or one from woodpelletstorage.ie will not have an issue with condensation if installed properly, I have experience with both silos. I store bags on a pallet on an open basement floor just inside the door (No actual door) and have never had damp pellets. To keep bagged pellets all you have to do is keep them dry no special sheds etc required.