For Big Homes and multiple heat sources - Replace with wood or Pellet?

[Lake Girl]

My energy audit came back with a quote of over $7k in sealing and insulation. But they could not tell me how much wood it would save me. Ugh...

Can you knock out some of the insulating and sealing yourself to help reduce your BTU requirement? What age is your house? Windows and doors?

 

[NE Poultry Supply]

Do the math on the BTU usage based on $10k in conventional heating costs per year ($7k oil + $2k electric + $1k propane), and I'll think you'll find it impractical to heat 100% with wood even with a boiler. Not saying no wood-fired boiler could do it, but you'll be ordering and storing your firewood by the semi load.

That is what I want to avoid. I like the idea of doing a wood boiler because I can see wood around me everyware. I don't want to be buying and storing it by the semi load.

I looked at my lines in from the boiler today with an installer. He said the 1" lines are only carrying 50k btus in from my outdoor boiler. That may be something I upgrade first. My boiler should be able to send in 130K btus.

 

[begreen]

Check in to the boiler room here. You will get more targeted responses from folks experienced with a wide variety of boiler installations.

 

[maple1]

Do the math on the BTU usage based on $10k in conventional heating costs per year ($7k oil + $2k electric + $1k propane), and I'll think you'll find it impractical to heat 100% with wood even with a boiler. Not saying no wood-fired boiler could do it, but you'll be ordering and storing your firewood by the semi load.

I think if you did do the math, it would turn out quite practical, dollar wise. As you also mentioned, Every stick of wood burned means a few less dollars spent on oil and electrons.

But I can totally relate to not wanting to put the time into chasing wood and everything that goes with it in order to do 100% wood, depending on the situation. And heating big spaces with multiple stoves is likely one of those situations - which having one nice big boiler that you could load up twice a day would help with. It does get old after a while, and I even do that with respect to DHW - I could heat that year round with wood if I wanted, but not bothering with it this summer. But all of our heat is via wood with a boiler - except for one day over the holidays when we are away. We don't have near the heat load you have, but our boiler isn't that big and it only burns about 6 hours a day.

Certainly no one size fits all in this wood burning thing....

 

[Ashful]

For me, it's more about the enjoyment of having a fire in the living room and family room, than heating dollars. I've spent so much on equipment and stoves that I doubt I really saved much money over these first four years. If I figure the money I could have made working or better managing my investments with the time I've spent processing firewood and tending stoves, I'd be financially much better off not burning wood, but not spiritually. So, my aversion to the boiler comes from the thinking that if I am going to put all this time and expense into processing wood, I want to sit by a real fire in my den each evening.

 

[Lake Girl]

I'd be financially much better off not burning wood, but not spiritually.

There are the physical benefits to collecting, splitting, stacking, carrying wood that you would lose ... sitting at a computer managing portfolios would only help financially and likely become an obsession. Better, for mental and physical health, to have an obsession with gathering wood

 

[Ashful]

Agreed! I need you to speak with my wife. :lol