Howdy

Yes, 10 cord is a lot. However, as others brought up, does he measure with full cord or are these face cord? If face cord, then for sure that is no problem and in fact, is really a low amount. So, I'm betting he means full cord.

Yes, oil prices are down as of right now but it is still hard to beat heating with wood. Besides, if you heat with wood, you can keep the house warmer.

To reduce wood amounts, insulate, insulate and insulate some more. Even more than is recommended will pay dividends. Also be certain to check every window and every door for air leaks. Just a small one can make a huge difference. I not so fondly recall the first house I ever bought. We bought in the spring, got married in the summer and got cold in the fall. So I went around the house and sealed every crack and every window we had. Then I insulated in the attic. Wow! A tremendous difference that made. That is a lesson I shall never forget (that was 54 years ago!).

I think most of the creosote smell is coming from when he loads the stove. It did smell badly around the boiler when he first got one but not so much now. This, btw, is his third one. The first two had bad welds and had to be replaced. They leaked really bad. One more point is that he now burns at least twice the amount of wood he burned when he had a furnace in the house. Also, whenever I go into his house, I'm always cold. This is a strange phenomenon I've run across with every home I've been in that was heated with an OWB. Why? I do not understand at all unless they put in too small of heat exchanger or else just leave the thermostat turned way down. Bu then we also have to realize that my wife and I keep our home around 80 all winter long and we love it. I sit around with t-shirt on top. If it gets too cool I'll put more wood int he stove so that she begins to remove clothing.

I've seen some folks putting on taller stacks and I do think that does help some but none that I know of are as tall as those on homes. In addition, they don't really need the draft because they are forced air fed. This, of course, is why they can burn green wood but that comes at a price.

btw, the largest chunk of creosote I ever saw came out of an OWB. He (a different fellow) could not get his to run one fall so started taking it apart and found it was totally plugged with creosote. A real mess for sure.

 

I feel the same way! My previous home was hot water baseboard heat (propane not wood) every available wall in that small cabin had baseboards. We added the "recommended" extra baseboards in a large addition to the cabin, no matter how high the thermostat was set, or how high I turned up the temp on the boiler, the larger home was too cold for me. We doubled the linear ft after running like 8 cords through pre epa stove during a bad winter and still not warm enough for me inside. The extra baseboards made a HUGE difference. Same boiler, just needed a lot more baseboards. We went down to 4 cords after that I should add we were exclusively lodgepole pine. During all those years I was in a professional job, I cannot tell you how many times I sooted up the elbows or sleeves on my nice clothes, as stoking the stove was first priority after work at night.

 

I am curious about this too, we ran the old pre epa for almost 2 decades and never had that stink. Here, in our new to us house? The 60 year old fireplace/then slammer/now small insert sometimes smells, I dread when the wind is strong and comes in from at just the right angle to make that part of the house smell.

 

Yes, creosote smell is super strong. I remember going into several homes back in the 70's when so many were putting in wood stoves for the first time. Most did not know much about it and the creosote smell in some homes was terrible. You'd also smell it on the clothing of some folks and you knew right away what the problem was.

 

Big difference. Creosote stink has a stink all of its own. Someone's been near a fire usually just means you smell smoke on him. Not the same.

Many moons ago radiant water heat was a big thing and wonderful with those big old cast iron registers in every room. They took up a lot of space but did a terrific job of heating the home. Nice place to dry wet clothing too and boots. If not too hot, we used to sit right on them when coming in from the cold.

 

x2

MUCH stinkier and pungent than standing around a campfire. Next time you see the house open the door and sniff in firebox. There was a thread here recently on the OWB thread where someone cleaned out the creosote in his OWB.So, how clean is your fire box? | Firewood Hoarders Club

 

Like hot water in the substrate under tile? Or hot water baseboards (look like electric wall radiators)? Or ? Either way, I have a feeling you will be fine

 

Awesome!

 

Ah yes, radiant heat in the floor. You can easily love that!!!!! Wish I had it.