I burn for heat not so much to save $$$$

[Watchguy]

I like to save money as well. But i like the comfort of wood almost better. Our other source is propane and feel cold at 75deg.

 

[brad wilton]

I burn to heat but won't save that much but the house is warm and comfy

 

[I am therefore I burn]

Hello - I have spent many an early morning, perusing this site. Now a member. The wit and wisdom is perfect, the information coming from all the experience is critical. I bought my first stove at 15 years of age and plumbed it into my fathers garage when he went to Florida. 5 stoves later, including a Brick, Russian FP / Stove, (which worked so well, I was not always allowed to use it). We now run a CB6048 - alas I am now falling apart so new plans have to be made.

In this home, the CB is piped to a manifold which feeds a slab w/ radiant, then an oak floor with radiant - then feeds all the hot water. Warm on warm on warm.

First thing I do each day is visit the CB and the last thing I do is visit the CB. Me and the dog.

My oldest child burns firewood, the middle burns pellets, the youngest still pays ..

The burning of wood is an ancient ritual, for most of this group, passion and pragmatism comingle, we enjoy the heat, the ritual, the saving of money, the independence.

Personally I do it for multiple reasons, but being of Irish, independent descent - I really like sticking to the "Man". having a lower property tax bill, I love buying a lot of adult male toys, spending time out doors, being physically exhausted, burning deadwood, having a neat woodlot, watching the wood pile dry in the summer, having the hottest house around, saving some money ... the list is long.

I thank almost every tree I cut, except those that get hung up. I could go on, but time to head outside. Thanks to the Heart forum and its members. H

 

[Wolves1]

I usually burn about 4 cords and bit every year last year I had 4 cords and bit. The winter was much colder so I ran out of wood had to turn on the oil heating. My wife would say its warm but not the same heat, so this year she made sure we had 6 cords.

 

[jigger47]

I burn for the warmth and exercise for wood css. I crunched some numbers after buying our stove and it will take between 5-8 years to recoup the cost of the stove and chimney. I have a high eff NG furnace and NG is fairly cheap. But we are addicted to that wood heat. After being at a cold arena for the kids hockey practice and getting chilled to the core. Then coming home standing in front of a nice fire can't beat that.

 

[begreen]

We heat with wood because we like FIRE! Since we installed the heatpump system wood heat is really a backup for really cold days and power outages. So far this winter it never has been too cold for the heat pump to carry the load. That said, the heat pump has stayed silent if the temps are below 45F because we just like the warmth, mesmerizing flames and coziness of a good fire. It helps brighten grey days and it's great for a quick warm up after working outdoors.

As I get older I'll have to buy wood and locally that is not cheap. Typically it is now $300/cord. That means it is cheaper to heat with the heat pump. But these ole bones like the warmth of a stove too much to quit using the stove.

 

[Wolves1]

We heat with wood because we like FIRE! Since we installed the heatpump system wood heat is really a backup for really cold days and power outages. So far this winter it never has been too cold for the heat pump to carry the load. That said, the heat pump has stayed silent if the temps are below 45F because we just like the warmth, mesmerizing flames and coziness of a good fire. It helps brighten grey days and it's great for a quick warm up after working outdoors.

As I get older I'll have to buy wood and locally that is not cheap. Typically it is now $300/cord. That means it is cheaper to heat with the heat pump. But these ole bones like the warmth of a stove too much to quit using the stove.

The heat pump is that geothermal with the pipes underground?

 

[begreen]

No, it's a high-efficiency air to air unit.

 

[Wolves1]

Yes I know what it is. I was thinking of having it also installed someday it also cools in the summer right. For heating I get my wood for $140 a cord and running the numbers the wood is cheaper. That said I do have solar panels but if I add a heat pump the panels wouldn't give enough electricity. Still there's nothing like wood heat.

 

[MN nice n warm]

I'm new to wood burning but part of my satisfaction is not hearing the furnace kick on all day, and of course enjoying an ice cold beer, in a tank top and shorts on a January afternoon! I'm already plotting the addition of a second wood stove on our upper level.

 

[begreen]

For a moment there I thought you were plotting for a condo in Florida.

 

[saskwoodburner]

Bought a wood stove this fall with no real expectations, figured before hand I'd run it for what it's worth, and see how much of a dent I could make in the oil bill. I forgot how nice wood heat feels, and being a firebug, tending the fire and all that goes with doesn't bother me. Was a pleasant surprise to learn I could blow us down with heat once the ole stove is pulling for what she's worth.

We just got fuel delivered today, not because we're out but because it's so cheap (compared to normal) and with my luck it'd go up about the time we really needed it.. It's $3.91/gallon here with taxes today. I'll still keep burning right along how I have been. Wood stove as primary, oil heat over night.

With oil heat it seems even when you crank it, it's not "warm" warm.

 

[tomc585]

I burn wood because it's free and I couldn't afford to burn the amount of oil to stay as toasty. NG is 225 feet away, 25 feet over the free run which they want $9,500 to run it. If I had NG I wouldn't burn so much wood if at all. It's a pain in the ash, I don't mind the work but it gets old around mid march. The exercise is good too but the 6-8 cords I keep ready takes a lot of space on my little .23 acre lot. I only burn about 150 gal of oil between domestic hot water and the few times a zone kicks in if I'm not home to tend the fire.

 

[Osagebndr]

I just started my overnight fire . Apple, cherry, oak and elm. The summit is really coming into it ( or I am) . I love the warmth and the fire view with secondaries is beautiful, I believe it's called a labor of love

 

[ailanthus]

Remember, too, that a penny saved is actually more than a penny earned. I can save $2000/yr heating with wood...but in order to pay for $2000 worth of heating oil if I weren't burning , I'd have to earn almost $3000.