Today I got our annual summer fill of heating oil. We used 139 gallons. Cost per gallon was 2.92. Without burning wood, we would have used close to 600 gallons for the winter.
In the milder winter south, we have heat pumps. But mine doesn't kick on unless I'm away 24+ hours, so, the electric bill is like fall.
I burn wood for several reasons. 1. That would be for the cost savings. Like others here I am on propane and it would be very expensive to heat with only propane instead of wood. 2. I really like the cozy atmosphere I get when it is -5 * out and I have a fire going in the stove and the house is at 76*. Very nice feeling. 3. It does give me a sense of independence and during those times of power outages I always know I will have heat in my house if nothing else. 4. The exercise and activity I get from using firewood is worth a lot. I am retired and it would be very easy to get sedentary if I did not have a purpose like getting firewood and processing firewood.
Without burning wood we would be between 600-700 gallons per year. Haven't had the need for the oil truck last 2 years. At the rate we go probably can go another 2 years. Yet it still gets u der my skin when I hear the furnace kick on.
We burned less than 1 gallon, just enough to check the oil gun operation. I had 1,000 gallons of capacity when we moved here, but I took two of the tanks out and try to burn 100% wood. By calculation the furst few weeks here, it would be well over 1,000 gallons. Now I burn wood abs it’s a comfortable 70-75 degrees!!!!! Great thread
We used to average 1,300 gallons of LP a year before we burned wood. We have an LP furnace, water heater and clothes drier. Now we use between 125-170 gallons a year. LP furnace pretty much only runs when we are not home.
I enjoy being outdoors making firewood. I enjoy the feeling of connectivity with things larger than I that comes from being in the process. I enjoy the sense of accomplishment. I enjoy being in a warm house full of radiant heat. I enjoy having an outlet where I can channel all my frustrations. I enjoy the cost savings, although all I'm really doing is trading one quantified piece of my time out of my day for another.
I filled my oil tank last fall after 6 seasons. 167 gallons @1.89. I enjoy almost everything to do with cutting and burning wood as well as not having to worry about heat during shaky economic and political times.
The heat pump doesn’t heat our house worth a dam. We were paying a lot of money to be miserable, so It was out of necessity that I started burning wood. I found out that I love making firewood. I find it cathartic and look forward to my next opportunity to add to the hoard.
My house has baseboard electric heat. We also have a propane fireplace in the upper living room, which hasn't been turned on since looking at the house. The wife has been bugging me to get the tanks filled so we can use it. Why, when we have the real thing in the family room downstairs? The family room also had a propane fireplace that got replaced with a woodstove when we bought the house. Otherwise the basement level has no electric heat. Besides all that, here are my reasons I burn wood: - To be self sustaining. Wood can be obtained almost anywhere. Unlike pellets or coal. - Almost free most of the time for me. ( I know it costs fuel and repairs for equipment, that why I said almost free) Nothing like finding a nice score, knowing that each free ( maybe 15 bucks in gas at most) truckload is a month of heat, which otherwise would cost me about 800 bucks. - My area is prone to power outages, so with wood heat, that only goes out if I do. - I can still cook on the woodstove when the power is out. - Having the satisfaction of stacking up years worth of self sustainable heat energy. - That amazing feeling I get finding a great score.
We filled our fuel oil tank about a year ago. It took 200 gals. First time we've taken oil delivery in 4 yrs.
I could list a lot of reasons for burning wood but no matter what, the bottom line is that we all burn wood because we like to stay warm during cold weather.
Yes to all of the above. I don't save as much as some you guys with oil or electric heat do but I save a bit and combined with all of the above its' worth it. Plus we just absolutely love the heat it provides, nothing like it on a bitter cold day/night and your house is 75 degrees.
yes to all things listed- I cut my electric bill by 80% at least in the winter. Add to it, if you have some acreage, you having to cut wood anyhow, from dead-fall and blow down. Now there is a use for that work. Let's not forget- quality time with our fire wood dogs.
Exactly why I started heating with wood. A friend told me of the local orchards owned by Knouse Foods and they were selling permits to cut apple wood for $1. Cut all you want... $1! I ended up w/ 16 cord in no time. That was about 2010 and we've filled the oil tank 3 maybe 4 times since. We were filling it about 2 times a year. Granted it was .69 a gallon when we moved in but it didn't stay that low very long.
Primary reason - I don't like buying liquified dinosaur. We'll have to fill this year, but it's been 4 years since the last fill, so I think we're going pretty well. Secondary reasons - Wood is free, good exercise, get to play with fun tools, starting to teach my kiddo the value of hard work, and less lawn to mow due to wood storage . The Wood Wolverine I wish I was burning wood when Knouse was offering permits. From what I've heard, the orchards don't do this anymore due to people taking advantage of access to the orchards to do things like dump illegally. Sure would like to score a little apple wood, if only for use in the smoker!
It's still available, at least if you know the right person. I made friends with one of the family members of Fetters orchards. He'll let me cut anytime its available, and anyone he knows with orchards he'd vouch for me. I've also see it listed in the Merchandizer recently. I just passed by some pushed over tree's somewhat near the Round Barn.
