- Sep 1, 2012
- 11
i was just wondering how much wood will i burn in a given winter. i live in northern ohio, use electric baseboard heat but want to supplement that with a wood stove. how much do you all use per season?
how much wood?
- Thread starter georgewobbecke
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Hard question. The first answer is that with a stove that is new to you, you will burn more the first season than you ever will again getting the knack of it. In your neck of the woods I wouldn't jump into winter with less than four cord. If for some reason you don't burn it this year, it will wait patiently and keep getting better to burn, until next season.
Now if you have wood that isn't around 20% moisture content or less then get ready for headaches, heartaches and burning a bunch of it.
Now if you have wood that isn't around 20% moisture content or less then get ready for headaches, heartaches and burning a bunch of it.
I'm with BB in having 4 cord on hand this winter, more if you can do it for the seasoning factor that he mentioned.
Not sure if you are processing your own firewood or buying it, but to be forewarned, the vast majority of folks selling "Seasoned firewood" are selling wood that is not ready to burn. If you are buying, or processing wood yourself, you will save wood, have a cleaner chimney, and get better burns if you keep at least 2 years worth of wood on hand at all times as many species take at least 1 full year of being cut, split, stacked in an airy location to be good fuel. Some fuels like OAK may take 2 or more years to be ready.
You won't know how much you'll need until you burn a year, so the 4 cords would get you pretty much secure on a year's worth of wood for your location since you are OK with still using some electric (considering there are a TON of variables). If you burn in an average size home, w/ a decent sized stove with moderate insulation and use some electric, I see 4 cord as giving you some wiggle room.
I live in the northeast part of Pennsylvania which I think sees about the same conditions you have, and have been running a modern stove for 3 years. The first year with the stove I went through about 4.5 to 5 cord (that's heating 24/7 all winter, no oil except for the day or 2 we were out of town). The next winter I went through about 4 cord (wasn't a warmer winter, just learned how to use the stove better with a year's experience). Last winter wasn't as cold as we are used to, and I only went through about 3.5 cord.
Set yourself up with more wood than you think you'll need this year. As BB said, if you don't use it, it'll be even better next year for you. But, if the wood isn't as dry as it should be, you'll need more wood to compensate for the waste in burning off excess moisture. Plus, we've seen many burners come through here hoping to burn part time who end up getting hooked on not writing that big check in the winter months to pay for other heat sources and end up going 24/7. With modern stoves that burn as cleanly and long as many do, it's really not hard with the right setup to simply heat with wood. On the coldest day's, my stove gets a full load of wood at 5am; a 1/2 load at 4:30pm, and a full load at 9-9:30pm.
pen
Not sure if you are processing your own firewood or buying it, but to be forewarned, the vast majority of folks selling "Seasoned firewood" are selling wood that is not ready to burn. If you are buying, or processing wood yourself, you will save wood, have a cleaner chimney, and get better burns if you keep at least 2 years worth of wood on hand at all times as many species take at least 1 full year of being cut, split, stacked in an airy location to be good fuel. Some fuels like OAK may take 2 or more years to be ready.
You won't know how much you'll need until you burn a year, so the 4 cords would get you pretty much secure on a year's worth of wood for your location since you are OK with still using some electric (considering there are a TON of variables). If you burn in an average size home, w/ a decent sized stove with moderate insulation and use some electric, I see 4 cord as giving you some wiggle room.
I live in the northeast part of Pennsylvania which I think sees about the same conditions you have, and have been running a modern stove for 3 years. The first year with the stove I went through about 4.5 to 5 cord (that's heating 24/7 all winter, no oil except for the day or 2 we were out of town). The next winter I went through about 4 cord (wasn't a warmer winter, just learned how to use the stove better with a year's experience). Last winter wasn't as cold as we are used to, and I only went through about 3.5 cord.
Set yourself up with more wood than you think you'll need this year. As BB said, if you don't use it, it'll be even better next year for you. But, if the wood isn't as dry as it should be, you'll need more wood to compensate for the waste in burning off excess moisture. Plus, we've seen many burners come through here hoping to burn part time who end up getting hooked on not writing that big check in the winter months to pay for other heat sources and end up going 24/7. With modern stoves that burn as cleanly and long as many do, it's really not hard with the right setup to simply heat with wood. On the coldest day's, my stove gets a full load of wood at 5am; a 1/2 load at 4:30pm, and a full load at 9-9:30pm.
pen
- Sep 1, 2012
- 11
thanks for your replies. i cut about 3 cords of ash wood last year. was thinking that would be plenty, maybe not. 
cut another 2 cords c/s/s this year( not seasoned yet).
cut another 2 cords c/s/s this year( not seasoned yet).
thanks for your replies. i cut about 3 cords of ash wood last year. was thinking that would be plenty, maybe not.
That info makes me think you are ahead of the normal learning curve. Well done, but keep cutting for next year
pen
- Sep 1, 2012
- 11
when i was growing up my dad converted a 55gal metal drum into a wood stove, so i learned abit from him
I still burn in a double barrel wood stove at a buddies cabin. That sucker throws heat, but the wood we put into it daily would feed my stove for 2-3 days, and provide just as many total btu's.
Burning in any appliance definitely helps to build experience, but even an experienced burner feels like a newbie when they get a new stove as each have their own learning curve.
Can't wait to see what you wind up changing to and how you make out. I love my current stove, but it's fun experimenting with a new one.
pen
Burning in any appliance definitely helps to build experience, but even an experienced burner feels like a newbie when they get a new stove as each have their own learning curve.
Can't wait to see what you wind up changing to and how you make out. I love my current stove, but it's fun experimenting with a new one.
pen
red oak
Minister of Fire
The ash should be really good to burn, it burns fairly fast. 4 cords is a good estimate I agree, especially if you're supplementing with baseboard heat. I usually burn around 4 cords with wood as my sole source of heat.
fireview2788
Minister of Fire
Here in SW Ohio I burned through 3 cords last year. I expect to be about the same this year since last year was a learning year with the new stove.
fv
fv
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
thanks for your replies. i cut about 3 cords of ash wood last year. was thinking that would be plenty, maybe not.
George, I hope you also split that ash last year. If so, you are in great condition. We've burned mostly ash for the past umteen years and usually burn 3 cord. Last winter was just a tad over 2 cord.
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
I've never sat down and figured out the exact figure . . . but I would guess between 5-6 cords a year . . . but I'm in Maine . . . 1970s vintage house . . . and I would guess wood heat is 95% of my total heating needs.
Hey George- I live in Southern Maine. I bought a 2 family and converted it to a single. There was an extra chimney flue in the basement. I bought a used Fisher Papa Bear with the thoughts of emergency/suplemental heat. The thing works so well that now I heat the main part of my home all winter long with just that. Keeps the house at around 67-70, which the wife loves. I have cut my heating bill drastically. Very happy all around. For about a 2400 sq/ft home, I go through 5-6 cords in a season. But here in Maine the season is proabable about a month longer than OH. Figure if you are running the stove all day/all night, you will go through about a cord a month. I would just get a couple of cord and see how well it works and how much you like stacking and keeping the stove fed all winter. If you dont like that, you will drive yourself nuts. Goodluck!
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