Well, I think you know what needs doing, eh Cert? Even if it takes a year, get in the basement and begin an all out assault to get it insulated. Sounds like you're working a lot of hours, or are you leaving doors open again? Sorry, couldn't help myself. It's good your wife is home sometimes to take care of things.
Great conversation......that I can definetly relate to . I am in a family of masons...so Im well aware of how fireplaces work . (they dont ) My uncle told me that a fireplace is only good for getting cozy with your old lady in front of !!! My girlfriends house has an insert with all the fans and stuff . That thing heats the whole house quite efficiently ! Have the same problem of cold floors though
I couldn't sell any of my wood. That would be like cashing in a 401k acct. and getting taxed and penalized. My time and work investment is too much!
My neighbors know I wont sell but will give them a "Demo" either at my house or theirs. Those with wood stoves have had me hired to buck and split and stack for them. Even two who bought wood wanted it stacked "like yours". So a decent movement on my streets, now I have to get them to get ahead. One problem is during and after working for them and being payed, I have to stay for drinks, or dinner, or drinks and dinner...
No one asks me for my firewood, but I can sympathize. It's irritating when the guy is kind of lazy and then wants what you have. Probably would be cheap on his offer if you did agree to sell him some. Just the type that would low ball you on top of it.
Can't say that I would want to sell any of my firewood,'I would have to get one hell of a price for it. I keep my dad stocked for free, I would cover my brother if he got hurt and was unable to cut his own. Everyone else can get in line to kiss my white arse. As for fireplaces, they are for cooking in and for ambiance. Unless you are going to drag the living room set into the fireplace itself, you'll have a tough time keeping warm.
Over time people have asked me for firewood. The answer I give . "Let me know when you want to go out to the woods with the our splitter,and saw,and with your pickup one load for you then one load for woodwidow and self !" Never hear from them again !
I have the same problem except I do not have a basement or crawl space. I am also thinking about a pellet add-on boiler with a big-azz hopper long term for added convenience. Still have the stoves, but use the pellet boiler during colder temps, shoulder season laziness, and long periods being away from the house.
I'll go out of my way to help anyone in need. But show me someone too lazy to help himself, forget it. I'll try to help him learn a lesson but I firmly believe to give to the lazy all your really doing is enabling them. Sometimes, even often, it is hard to separate the needy from the greedy. Then I help and if I'm fooled, I know my heart was in right place and they will one day answer to someone.
Campinspecter, I have told people the same thing. They want to come over mid afternoon and cut wood with me on halves. I explain to them, for two truck loads we start early and end when we end. Nobody wants to cut wood with me. A good friend moved to Cali for work a couple of years ago, he was the best wood cutting partner. He said he needed wood and I offered to help. I picked him up at 0600 and he bought me breakfast at the local dive then we cut all day. He is built like a tank and nothing would slow him down. Everyone else seems to have the pansy gene and doesn't want to do real work
These are the type of people that you really enjoy helping . Local Baptist Church Charity wood cut . Grad fundraiser woodcut.
I run my furnace some. Last night, I let the flame go out so I could have a cooler stove to clean this morning. Natural gas is cheap though. Not like propane or fuel oil. Where would you put this pellet stove?
Those are some good folks there... Looks like a fun time and something that makes you feel good at the same time... Good karma there!
Been there done that, my nieces husband, spent a little money one year helping him out with splitting and cutting, never again, someone needs to light a fire under that guy. I am really glad I helped him the one time though, just not going to happen again.