No fire here yesterday and the house stayed at 68 till night time. Lite a fire this morning to warm things up again then let it go out. Temps to go down to the teens again tonight so I will crank it up for the night and morning.
Our first 24 hours without a fire. Mid 60's in Northern Kentucky. I will build a fire before bedtime tonight (Thursday) because it was only 62 in the house this morning after going to bed at 71. After a winter of waking to 74+, 62 is too cold to support life!
Do most of you guys totally replace your non wood heat all winter with firewood? Assuming you have another source of heat. My general rule of thumb is I will burn when the outdoor temperature drops below 30*. Heat pumps are pretty efficient down to that temperature and I simply don't have the space to store enough wood to completely replace my heat pump at this time and location. Using that system my electric bill was $108.94 last month. That also provides hot water, lighting, ect.... So given that utility bill I'm not sure investing further time and money into firewood accomplishes much more than a diminishing return, for me at least. Granted a lot of my firewood expenses are fixed I suppose it's mostly my time in question here. I love burning wood and I enjoy getting outside in the spring and fall to cut and split wood. I just like to try and be as economical about it as possible. If any of you have any guidance as to the best way to drill down into that further I would enjoy discussing that. Sorry for the hijack.
I purchased and installed a Buck 80 insert for my fireplace 3 years ago and the propane furnace has non been on at all those years, except for the time we are gone for a week. It is our primary source of heat and with all the EAB infested trees on my property, I won't be using propane to heat my house anytime soon. Quite honestly, I don't think I will live long enough to burn all the ash I will cut over the next few years.
We lived near Plymouth for a couple years and yes, the counties just to our west always went with Chicago time but it is easy to see why. Actually part of MI goes with the same time as Wisconsin and it makes sense where they do it. However, like you, I'd rather not have dst. Leave the clocks alone; one way or the other is fine with me but don't like the changing.
I've got a heat pump with electric backup. I normally wait until the highs reach the low 50's before I start burning wood. But once I do, I heat 100% with wood until the temps warm up about the same. I'll normally burn in the spring until highs reach the 60's, past that and I lose more heat from my boiler to the basement, than actually heating the house.
It is amazing reading about the 50's and 60's. We are forecast to hit our first 50 degree day tomorrow but then back to the 40's for highs. Freezing nights so great for making maple syrup. We have been lighting a fire at night then just letting it go out.
We just had an odd warming spell. There hasn't been a day above freezing for weeks, and then out of nowhere it's climbed to the 60's in a few days. Last week traffic was bad because of the snow. This week traffic is bad because of floods and mudslides.
Mud slides? Must have been Columbia Parkway. I'm just across and down the river a ways from you. I'm near Rabbit Hash.
Yeah that's it! I normally take 471 home but there must have been a wreck, because I sat in traffic for 20 minutes downtown trying to get onto the highway. So I pulled a u-turn to go Columbia Parkway and ran into that!!
Turned off the mini-splits the day my wood stove became operational and have heated with only wood since. I do use the mini-splits for A/C in summer. My house is well insulated and has concrete floors and walls. The thermal mass is very high. Combined with the insulation (6 in polyurethane walls, 12 inch polystyrene ceiling) it holds temperature very well, so I don't bother with backup heat when I'm away; I just come home to a cool (60s) house if I've been gone a week.
I couldn't stand it any longer (not because of the temp mind you) so I started a fire in the Myriad last night Oldspark style, or log cabin style for the new foks! It was down to 73 in the house when I started it, back up to 81 by the time I went to bed, and a comfortable 78 when I woke up at 615. Something comforting about being able to make the house whatever temperature a person wants it. I forgot to mention SWMBO was away on business so I didn't get in trouble for "overheating" the joint!
50's here in central ohio. Just looked at weather forcast. Next weekend 40 and freezing mix. Saving last f my wood for then
SWMBO has her own internal heater ever since menopause. She doesn't get hot flashes, she gets power surges. In our house a temperature of over 67ºF is considered a reason to complain about it being too hot. I learned to wear lots of sweaters during the winter. I am shivering at 67.
Lucky you. My wife is complaining if the inside temp goes below 76f. I don't get to wear sweaters or long pants inside.
My wife is somewhat the same way but my rule still stands. I will be warm in my house! But then, there is a medical reason for it too.
