If I burned fuel oil the past 7 winters, at 3 bucks a gallon, and say, 600 gallon per year, that'd be 4,200 x 3 bucks, over $12,000. I've bought log length stuff 3 times and that's around $1,200. I have a couple hundred in my chainsaw, some in fuel etc., and my time, if that would all add up to $2,000 then I'd be at a $10,000 savings. Now, if you up the estimated oil usage to 750 gallon per year, and say, $3.50 per gallon, then that number comes out to $18,375, and the savings would be over $16,000 in 7 years. I already had a tractor/splitter etc. Any way you shake it, the savings is well worth the time and effort for me. PLUS, I'm not worried about where the thermostat is set, and I'm not concerned about power outages. BTW, ain't nobody made fun of the size of my woodpile this winter "waddya gonna do with all that wood?", "you expecting a cold winter?", "you goin' into the firewood business?" and similar such smart comments....haha, ain't NOBODY said a word about the vast woodpile I have out back! My wife knows what those stacks mean, and she's grateful, and she also knows there's 3+ years worth out there.....what a great feeling that is eh? I just can't put a price on that
When I bought this house twenty-plus years ago the only heat source was electric base-board and a small Jotul in the living room. I immediately tightened up the windows (old Andersons), shut the breakers off on the electric and put in an AllNighter. For the first few years I was burning about 4-5 cords. Now, after replacing windows and keeping the AllNighter happy, I burn about 3 cords. I generally buy 1 or 2 cords each year and harvest about a cord from blow downs on my property. So, my average cost is about $225 -$450 per season. Due to some winter damage to trees on my property, the 2014-2015 season should be $0.
I think I've saved about $1700 in less than 3 months since installing the Fireview. Thinking now that I might find another wood stove for a first floor addition/enclosed porch. Something I can cook on maybe.
We have an antique cook stove stashed away in a barn. It would make a really cool center piece for the addition, but I'm not sure how efficient it would be.
I just made a lowball offer on a Cookstove not too far from me, a Monarch Malleable. Not sure what I would do with it...
Adam, The Monarchs were decent cook-stoves, small fire-box though. If the top isn't cracked, you might have a gem (provided the price is right). Here's a video, not sure if same model:
At a $2/gal propane average which is what prebuy has been here the last few years I'm gonna guess $3-$4000. I still burn around 150 gals/yr with cookstove and an occasional run of the furnace. shoulder seasons, furnace goes out, extra warm up after out all day in cold, etc. At todays propane price what ever it is ,,,, the savings are staggering.
Looks like a crack on the cook top, owner got dodgey when I asked about it and sent pictures that confidently had that part cropped out-- so I let it be. Don't like dealing with people like that.