How Much Wood Woulda...

[hockeybum27]

This is a question I was going to actually post as a question for help, but I'll try this thread 1st.
I go through about a cord of wood a month (24/7) here in coastal Maine. I heat about 1800sf with it, house temp 67-70 (63 at night)

I called a wood supplier who seemed surprised I burn that much wood. Of course he couldn't tell me what is normal (there is no such thing w/so many variables).

My wood is reasonably seasoned (split last fall or earlier; 1st load I got was June and that was partially seaoned then)

I try and keep stovetop temp 350-450; I get about 8 or 9 hours w/ a full box on my VC Vigilant (1970s or 80s non-cat; not an insert but a damper converstion). This leaves me w/ stove top temp of around 300 or so and a strong bed of coals (though more unconsumed fuel under/in the ashes - i.e., less complete burning)

Questions:
1) is the above reasonable?
2) what is more efficient from a fuel consumption standpoint- a) burning like the above (I get about 3 fireboxes full/day), b) start w/full and properly-temped firebox and let burn down to nothing (200 stovetop temp) and rebuild, or c) just continually feed throughout the day and do the full bank at night?

Thanks,

HockeyBum

 

[Bugboy]

A friend of mine here in central Kansas goes through about 12 cords of osage-orange per season in his outdoor furnace.
100+ y.o. farm house, poor insulation.

 

[dtabor]

When I was looking at those outdoor burners, I was told by a few sources that I could plan on burning about double the wood that I would in a normal indoor wood stove per year. Not sure on that as I dont personally know anyone who owns one.