How many tons did you go through last winter?

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
2 1/2 tons of pellets and 165 gallons of oil. Heating 2000 square feet.
I keep the thermostat at 65F.
 
The responses should also list the AVG inside temperature commanded. The difference in keeping room temperature at 72-74*, can use up to 30% more fuel than keeping a home at 66-68*. Even more so when the temperature differential increases when the temperature outside drops significantly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pete Zahria and cecil_archer
We burned 4 ton last year, our first year burning pellets, in our 25-PDVC. Our house is 1000 sq ft, very open and not extremely well insulate with a dirt floor crawl space. Our average inside temp was 72-74. I was also still trying to figure out how to heat the house and probably burned more than I should have. I think I'll burn less this year.

We used to keep the house at 66-68 when burning oil. I'll still burn pellets over oil this year because I like the wood heat and ambiance.
 
Let's see. Far northern Maine, 2235 sq.ft. House is a 4-square, 2 storey, well insulated and well weatherized.

As for temps, let me relate to you this incident that occurs at the beginning of the year. Some time in January, around the 19th or 20th, the low temp was somewhere around 30 below. We (me) left the upstairs pellet stove on during the night. The better half woke me up before dawn and said that the house was hot and to do something. So I turned off the upstairs pellet stove. As a lark, I checked the thermometer in the room, the one farthest from the pellet stove. 79 degrees. So I checked downstairs; it was 77 degrees.

For the most part, we keep the house, both upstairs and down, at anywhere between 69 and 71 degrees. Oh and we use a little over 6 tons. And no oil.
 
4 tons heating about 1850 sq. ft. split level. I've burned about 10 bags so far this year just burning at night so far, but it looks like that could change for at least one day this weekend.
 
St_Earl said:
i was shocked to have used nearly 5 1/2 tons last year. 925 sq. feet single story and 925 sq. foot basement. i send warm air down to the basement and keep it at an average of 50f even in the dead of winter.
first year here we used a few bags over 4 tons.
it was very cold for long stretches last winter. houses all over town had their street to house water lines freezing. the water bureau put a no read meter in our basement and ran a hose from our house to the neighbor's because they simply had to wait to thaw the main supply line. they tried to thaw it, but failed.
but also, heating season stretched 3 days into july. we were just burning once in awhile, but still, a 9 month heating season takes its toll.

and to think i was shocked a few years back when someone here on the forum (with a much bigger house) reported he had used 6 tons.
Click to expand...

We were in Sullivan for a couple of weeks last July --- Used the heater every night. Thought we would take a break from Wells -- BIG mistake. It was warmer in Wells end of Sept than it was in Sullivan in July.

Sister lived there for a few years -- Now I know why she moved.
 
  • Like
Reactions: St_Earl
This will be the first year for pellets. switched from wood to pellets and anxious to see the difference. Burned 5 cords of wood from basement to the second floor, < 100 gal. oil used in our 2000 sq. ft. house. Got 4 tons waiting to burn.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bogieb
4 tons of barefoot pellets. House is about 3800ft. Was told by the previous owners they used 3 ton last year so being a rookie I got 4 to be safe. If I heat a home this large for 1000 bucks I'll be very pleased.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bogieb
6 tons, 3400 SF, on all day with about a 6 degree setback at night. 2 stoves, and just outside Philadelphia. Using far less so far this year due to warm temps. Very cold last year.
 
11 tons last year, 3000+ sq.ft. 2 stoves. 9 ton the year before. Start burning in September. Have used almost a ton already this year, always keep the house 72-74.
 
Last year was my first year burning pellets, I burned 7 tons with our P68 starting in October and finishing early April. We used it for primary heat in a 1900 colonial with 3 stories about 3500 sq ft.

I've got 7 tons in the barn again for this year, but so far we have burned way less. BUT i just picked up another pellet stove for a great price and plan to use it on opposite end of house to even out the heat....
 
  • Like
Reactions: bogieb
Hobokenkitchen said:
Interested in how many tons you used and how many sqft you heat with your pellet stove.
Also how it compares usage wise with the years prior.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
We burned 161 bags 2 years ago and 140 last year. Last November we burned 21 bags and so far this November we are still on bag 1. 2350 square ft home and I have never tuned on the heat pump.
 
Redlightning said:
4 tons of barefoot pellets. House is about 3800ft. Was told by the previous owners they used 3 ton last year so being a rookie I got 4 to be safe. If I heat a home this large for 1000 bucks I'll be very pleased.
Click to expand...

I would say there is a better shot of Santa Claus being real than anyone heating an almost 4000 square foot home with 3 ton of pellets! In fact, I would say if it's going to be your primary heat source, and you plan on burning 24/7, you'll burn at least twice as much than what that previous owners claimed, assuming it was their primary heat source, and they were burning 24/7.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bogieb
wait, santa isn't real? :(
 
For the last 12 months here, the total energy for the house was 16 300 kW + 80 bags of pellets. No gaz, no oil, A/C in the summer.
 
Hobokenkitchen said:
Interested in how many tons you used and how many sqft you heat with your pellet stove.
Also how it compares usage wise with the years prior.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Last year went through 5.5 tons. This year is going to be about 1 ton less the way things have been ..
 
Wilbur Feral said:
6 tons, 3400 SF, on all day with about a 6 degree setback at night. 2 stoves, and just outside Philadelphia. Using far less so far this year due to warm temps. Very cold last year.
Click to expand...
I am already thinking I may need 1 more ton. Which I'd still be happy with my heating cost.
 
The picnic of warmer than usual weather is coming to an end at least for the one week forecast. Local ski hills are opening and the cold weather will boost clothing sales, and batteries for cars. Really a good start for the Thanksgiving holiday if it wasn't for the snow just to the south.
 
Chester County
 
Used 5.7 tons last winter, winter before that I used 3.6 ish tons. Last winter I also used $100 in oil to help the stove with the colder nights.

Used about 25 bags since last week of October for this season. Got 2 tons in the cellar, 34 bags in stove stock room, will have to get more, should be about a 3 or 4 ton season if all goes well, but you can never tell.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
How has everyone's pellets been burning this year?
Replies
27
Views
2K
The Pellet Mill - Pellet and Multifuel Stoves
Cincinnati Kid
C
A
Astoria Bay Pellet Insert Won’t Ignite
Replies
3
Views
383
The Pellet Mill - Pellet and Multifuel Stoves
johneh
johneh
M
Pellets not going in burn pot
Replies
0
Views
403
The Pellet Mill - Pellet and Multifuel Stoves
Mkb
M
mtnbiker727
Energy price comparison
Replies
8
Views
939
The Pellet Mill - Pellet and Multifuel Stoves
bogieb
bogieb
Q
Right size stove for low long output
Replies
7
Views
242
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Newbie78
N
Top Bottom
Back