Who burns with no backup heat source?

[rdust]

We have a furnace and always will in some fashion. I have family out of state and travel over the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays at minimum during the winter. I don't think I can convince my local family to come over every evening and reload the stove for me. It would stink to be unable to leave the house all winter long for a long weekend or otherwise due to having to feed the stove. I'd imagine most insurance companies want some type of traditional heat source even if you heat with wood.

I have a 30 year old furnace and always keep the pilot going. I've been told by multiple HVAC guys that it keeps condensation at bay. No idea if it helps or not but the cost of running the pilot is next to nothing.

 

[Bster13]

Just found this, good read for NG users:

http://physics.ucsd.edu/do-the-math/2012/03/pilot-lights-are-evil/

I'm not an expert, but I've heard that a "typical" NG pilot is about 6 therms/month. YMMV as always.

On a safety issue, does your pilot have a shutoff valve? That is, I'm told that some older systems may leak gas if the pilot goes out.

 

[webby3650]

We do have electric base boards, but, hopefully this year, they won't get the chance to heat up. Maybe for a half hour to make sure they work, but, that would be it. We also have a pellet stove, but, doubt that will be turned on this year. No Nat. Gas hooked up to the house at all.

With a BK I don't think the Pellet stove will ever be needed! Good Choice.

 

[RockyMtnHigh]

In my state it is actually code to have a "traditional heat source" whether it be water baseboard, electric baseboard, forced air etc. We get a lot of flack from people that call and claim their disabled pellet stove is their "only source of heat" during the winter when we are out a month on service calls and scheduled to the hilt. A second source of heat is always a necessity. I have only seen about 2 homes in 500 that don't have a traditional source of heat, they just usually don't want to use their main source because its $$$$$$$$$$$

 

[BrotherBart]

Most insurance companies won't insure a house without a backup heat source and in most cases it has to be central heat. I just never told them when the heat pump died years ago and now I don't have a mortgage company for them to threaten to tattle to.

 

[webby3650]

In my state it is actually code to have a "traditional heat source" whether it be water baseboard, electric baseboard, forced air etc. We get a lot of flack from people that call and claim their disabled pellet stove is their "only source of heat" during the winter when we are out a month on service calls and scheduled to the hilt. A second source of heat is always a necessity. I have only seen about 2 homes in 500 that don't have a traditional source of heat, they just usually don't want to use their main source because its $$$$$$$$$$$

First of all, a pellet stove isn't much of a heat source. I couldn't imagine this being my only heat!

I think most people that are chiming in have, or had another heat source. Most don't want to use them, some like me, have a disabled central heat source that isn't cost effective to repair or operate. And Happen to love wood heat!

 

[BrotherBart]

First of all, a pellet stove isn't much of a heat source. I couldn't imagine this being my only heat!

A pellet stove on the main floor of this barn would get it done just fine. In fact one may be doing that in a couple of years. And yeah, it gets cold sometimes in the Tropics of Virginia.

 

[webby3650]

A pellet stove on the main floor of this barn would get it done just fine. In fact one may be doing that in a couple of years. And yeah, it gets cold sometimes in the Tropics of Virginia.

Have you had one? I won't have another because of a few issues.
The heat output seems disappointing to me.
The amount of maintenance that is required.
The cost of fuel!! Natural gas is cheaper to run than pellets!
I hate the idea that you are at a pellet manufacturers mercy and that a simple blower motor could shut you down for a week or more in the dead of winter. It's not for me!

 

[BrotherBart]

Have you had one? I won't have another because of a few issues.
The heat output seems disappointing to me.
The amount of maintenance that is required.
The cost of fuel!! Natural gas is cheaper to run than pellets!
I hate the idea that you are at a pellet manufacturers mercy and that a simple blower motor could shut you down for a week or more in the dead of winter. It's not for me!

I have the one in my sig in the basement. Heat output is consistent, around the clock. Yeah more maintenance. Natural gas isn't available in the entire county. Not being able to cut trees anymore could shut me down for the rest of my life.

 

[Bster13]

Delivered wood w/ current stove cheaper than delivered pellets, new pellet stove and pellet install?

 

[RockyMtnHigh]

Agreed Webby, and usually when we get that service call we show up and the house is cranking hot with electric space heaters or their electric baseboard. They just don't want to pay the dues. We do a lot of work in rural mountain communities in smaller-ish homes so a Quad 1200 will likely heat damn near the entire house..... It's just a cry for help to save on electricity which I understand but were it me, I'd learn how to fix it on my own. We always have parts in stock.....

 

[webby3650]

Not being able to cut trees anymore could shut me down for the rest of my life.

Ya, that's a good reason.
I suppose that if the only way I could burn was with pellets, I would do it. I like fire!

 

[Woody Stover]

My backup heat is a backup stove.

 

[Papa-Yankee-Romeo-Oscar]

Other than a couple little space heaters collecting dust in a closet it's strictly wood heat in this house. Our propane furnace crapped out 8-10years ago and we haven't looked back.

 

[STIHLY DAN]

I have no other option than the wood furnace. I pulled out the boiler last year. It's not a good feeling, as soon as I can get a good deal on a 90 +, I will get it. I don't want to use it, but I want it there.

 

[rdust]

I have no other option than the wood furnace. I pulled out the boiler last year. It's not a good feeling, as soon as I can get a good deal on a 90 +, I will get it. I don't want to use it, but I want it there.

If my 30 year old furnace died tomorrow I wouldn't run out tomorrow to replace it but I'm with you I want it there just don't want to use it. The plus is it would get me out of traveling for the holidays for a year or two until it was replaced!

 

[weatherguy]

Delivered wood w/ current stove cheaper than delivered pellets, new pellet stove and pellet install?

Yeah, a wood stove is generally cheaper than a pellet stove and wood is generally cheaper than pellets especially if you're getting it for free.
I had a pellet stove and was disappointed in the output and was surprised at the maintenance involved, had to clean the damn thing twice a week and sometimes the pellets would jam up and I'd wake up to a cold stove.

 

[jharkin]

The thing I always wondered for folks with nothing but a stove... How do you travel in the winter? And keep your pipes from freezing when you are not there to load the stove for days or weeks?

 

[eclecticcottage]

The thing I always wondered for folks with nothing but a stove... How do you travel in the winter?

We just don't travel. We would like to put in splits or some sort of backup though in case we need to.

 

[BoilerMan]

I have a wood boiler (see sig) and also a Quad 4300 wood stove in the LR incase something fails with the boiler/controls and I can't get parts right away. No other backup heat, I did have to have some kind of backup for homeowners insurance to be happy. I put in ONE 2000W 8' piece of electric baseboard and a thermostat. A good thing about electric heat is that there is no flat fee/month and zero maint, and a cheap install.

TS

 

[STIHLY DAN]

If my 30 year old furnace died tomorrow I wouldn't run out tomorrow to replace it but I'm with you I want it there just don't want to use it. The plus is it would get me out of traveling for the holidays for a year or two until it was replaced!

I am going down to Louisiana this winter for some wild boar hunting. That means the wife is in charge of the wood furnace. House may stay at 90* the whole week. This is one reason I love my Kuuma, last time I left for a few days and had the stove for heat. Man it was like a nuke bomb went off ih there. I know she will be safe and warm with the furnace.

 

[tom dee]

Back up hell no plenty of wood and matches once started the stove runs till spring ,Doh never further than hour or two away from home and my 13 yr old daughter is a minister of fire to.. what would i do with a back up ? takes up space . Oh Oh i lied theres a few heated throws somewhere ..

 

[STIHLY DAN]

Back up hell no plenty of wood and matches once started the stove runs till spring ,Doh never further than hour or two away from home and my 13 yr old daughter is a minister of fire to.. what would i do with a back up ? takes up space . Oh Oh i lied theres a few heated throws somewhere ..

If your heat is down for a week in January, will your pipes freeze?

 

[tom dee]

heat down ? how like my legs broke and cant bring wood in ? or? if wa case i just turn water off (switch off pump) undo lil screw cap let water lines drain cant freeze.. or if lazy switch off pump open farthest faucet and closest water can expand without bursting anything ..

 

[rdust]

The thing I always wondered for folks with nothing but a stove... How do you travel in the winter? And keep your pipes from freezing when you are not there to load the stove for days or weeks?

I assume they don't travel or have to winterize the place before leaving.