Frequently Asked Questions

The Boiler/Burner

How long should I expect a pellet boiler to last?
The design life of a OkoFEN pellet boiler is 25 years, however, it is conceivable that it will last longer.

Who will install and maintain my pellet boiler system?
Your system will be installed by a MESys trained and certified, plumbing and heating contractor from your region. That contractor will also service and maintain your system. A number of such installers are listed under Certified Contractors on our website. MESys has trained over 300 contractors from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Northwest Territory, Canada.

What maintenance will my pellet boiler require?
Your system will require annual cleaning and maintenance from your heating contractor and/or you. You will need to empty the ash bin, at intervals determined by the characteristics and volume of the pellets burned; with high quality premium pellets uncontaminated with non-combustible inorganics like silica, you should have to empty your ash bin once every two and a half to three tons of pellets burned. This is an easy task and the ash is a good fertilizer for your garden/lawn. The core of the boiler should be brushed free of ash periodically; the frequency will depend upon the ash content of the pellets you burn. MESys purchases only pellets which manufacturers' test show to have ash contents of 1%, or less to reduce the need for cleaning.

How do I get an official estimate for a system in my home?
Over 300 heating contractors have been trained and certified for regions throughout the State of Maine and the Northeast. If you are a new customer, we suggest you call one of the contractors on the certified contractors page to arrange for a site visit and estimate.

Does the boiler heat domestic hot water as well?
Yes, an indirect hot water tank with the system is recommended. A minimum of a 32-gallon tank is customarily used with this system; it holds 180 degree water, which gives you ready access to plenty of domestic hot water. This very hot water is mixed with cold water to the desired temperature for distribution to domestic hot water supply points.

Is there a battery back-up available for use when the power goes out?
It would be a simple matter to keep the boiler going during a power outage with a simple back battery unit for a computer system, however, there would be no way to circulate that heated water to your house, as the pumps required for circulation require substantially more power than a simple back-up would provide.

Who will I call if I need repair or maintenance to my pellet boiler system?
The installing contractor will be your "go to" person for repair and maintenance needs, just as is the case with oil burners. Maine Energy Systems' technical support will stand behind your local contractor as the need arises.

Is there anyone in Maine or New Hampshire who currently has one of your pellet heating systems that I can call for a reference?
Yes, there are a number of systems in active use in the Northeastern US and in Canada. Systems are available for viewing in the MESys Building at 8 Airport Road in Bethel, Maine, during normal business hours, and in private homes in the Bethel area by appointment.

Pellet Supply

How will I get pellets for my system?
Pellets are delivered pnuemetically by Maine Energy System to a storage bin at your home. That bin can be in the basement or outdoors, depending on your needs and preferences. The pellets are delivered in bulk, not in bags, and are fed directly into the burner under the direction of the burner's microprocess control system. You won’t have to touch the pellets. Pellets for home delivery are currently available.

Am I required to purchase pellets from MESys, or can I get pellets from other sources?
You can buy pellets whereever you like. MESys makes bulk deliveries, which you'll likely find useful. The systems we sell have computer controls which allow them to be set to give optimum efficiency based on the characteristics of the pellets being burned; so, you'll get the most efficiency from your system if you adjust your system to the characteristics of the pellets you choose. It is recommended that you use premium pellets. MESys, and its licensees, distribute such pellets.

How many pellets will I need?
Well, that depends upon a lot of things. Use the cost calculator's pellet/oil equivalents function to estimate the volume of pellets you'll need for your house based upon your current oil consumption patterns.
If you know how many gallons of oil you typically burn in a year, divide that number by 120, the approximate number of gallons with the same heat equivalence of a ton of pellets. So, for example, a house that burns 960 gallons of oil a year, will consume roughly 8 tons of pellets year.

How much volume does a ton of pellets occupy?
At about 40 lbs/cubic foot, one ton of pellets occupies 50 cubic feet. A bin 4’ x 4’ x 6’ would hold nearly a ton. MESys will provide a 4 ton bin that is a 7’ cube and can arrange for large capacity outdoor storage if homeowners prefer. The “average” Maine house will use between 7 and 8 tons of pellets during the “average” Maine year

How far can the pellet storage location be from boiler?
For and auger fed system it should be 10 feet or less. A vacuum fed system can be up to 60 feet away. Longer distances can be achieved through custom design.

How stable is the pellet supply? 
There are plenty of pellets for our customers.

What do you expect pellets to cost this next heating season?
Bulk pellets delivered to your residence within 25 miles of our distribution sites will be available at the current prices listed below and are expected to remain stable throughout the fall and winter:
• $235/ton
• If we are asked to deliver pellets beyond that 25 mile radius, there will be a fuel surcharge/ton for that delivery. (Prices are subject to change without notice.)

Where do the pellets you're distributing come from?
Our pellets come from Geneva Wood Fuels in Strong, Maine, and Corinth Wood Pellets in Corinth, Maine. We are happy to be distributing pellets made by Maine pellet producers. We are intent on ensuring that pellet prices remain affordable, stable, and predictable.

Will my wet basement create a problem with my pellets?
Pellets must be kept dry. If your basement is occasionally wet, ask the installer to insure careful sealing of the seams on the storage bin when it is installed, or install an outdoor silo for pellet storage. If pellets become wet, they are ruined, and they can dry into a cement-like aggregate.

Chimney

Do I need a chimney flue to install a pellet boiler system?
Yes, and that flue must be lined as it must be for any new boiler in Maine. In the future it will be possible to vent the OkoFEN system with a power vent through the house wall if a chimney flue is not available, but a chimney is a better installation.

I know my chimney doesn't have a tile or steel lining, will bank financing include lining the chimney as part of the purchase and installation of a pellet boiler?
Yes, the bank financing package will cover all costs associated with purchase and installation of the pellet boiler system.

MESys region

In what geographic regions will pellet boilers be available?
Since fuel distribution is the key to the success of this fuel transformation initiative, we prefer to install units near our distribution centers. However, lots of people have found the MESys systems desirable, so our distribution region now extends as far west and north was Yellowknife, Northwest Territory and as far south as Pennsylvania. It is critical that installations outside our geographic region be done by duly licensed heating contractors who have been to MESys training to become familiar with the installation and operation of the burner. It is also best if bulk delivery of pellets is available for those installations.