I love my wood stove

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uptrapper

New Member
Sep 28, 2008
48
sault ste. marie, MI
Loaded the stove pretty full about 9PM last night woke up at 7AM and looked at the outside temp -18, looked at the inside temp 69. Walked down to the wood stove to find a large bed of coals and stove top temp of about 275 ish. Grabbed an arm load of wood and threw it in the top of the stove, turned the air on full. Came back down about 15 minutes later closed the damper and its 73 in the house now and still only 3 outside. It just can't get much better than that. When I decided to buy a wood stove last fall (didn't start burning until this fall because the stove dealer said I would never be able to get dry enough wood) everyone told me how I would be tied to the stove constantly walking up and down the stairs to check on it, adding wood and such, how much easier could it get. The only thing I'm mad about is that I didn't do this 8 years ago when I bought the house. Wasted alot of money on oil heat, and spent years covered in blankets becasue I was too cheap to turn the heat up. I paid $850 for 10 full cords and even if I burn it all (probably won't burn half that) its still less than half the cost of oil, lost 15lbs using the saw and the maul to boot. I looked over last years electric bills and my bill had gone down about $30/ month, must be from not having to run the dehumidifier in the basement because the stove has dried it out a bit (could be some savings from not having to run the water pump on the boiler too not sure). I will say it again, thanks to all the guys and gals on here for the advice, and support. I did have a bit of trouble figureing out how to run the stove in the beginning but with all the advice I recieved I was an expert in short order. Even my wife who was dead against burning wood becasue of all the "work" and "safty issues" said she would never want to heat with oil again.

Mike
 
I know just how you feel- I am seriously in love with mine, too.
We moved up from South Florida and like all weather wimps were worried about the winters.
I can honestly say I have been warmer here than anywhere else!

And as much as I love spring, the one sore spot is always letting the fire go out that last time.
It's like losing a friend.
 
uptrapper said:
Loaded the stove pretty full ... last night woke up at 7AM ... Walked down to the wood stove to find a large bed of coals
Same story, only different. :coolsmirk:
It was past midnight when I stoked it and the only reason I still had a large bed of coals is that the stove fairy (wife) added another piece after me. Without the stove fairy, I'm usually up an hour ealier and still scrounging up a few coals to coax the fire back to life. Still, gotta love it (both the wife and the stove). :)
 
It is difficult to imagine life without a wood stove!
 
Backwoods Savage said:
It is difficult to imagine life without a wood stove!
Yea I just love opening my gas bill every month.......
 
Great story. Same feelings here. I couldn't imagine living without a wood stove any longer.

pen
 
I love mine too...... till I tried to plant a big one on the glass and my lips stuck... Now I look like Tammy Faye Bakker :kiss:
 
we feel exactly the same way. I can't believe it took us so long to invest in this appliance. We signed an automatic delivery contract with an oil company in our area, they stopped bothering to swing by and top us up! Putting 35 gallons into our tank wasn't worth driving the truck out to our house, I think they are just waiting for us to call them if we need oil. Which we will not.

Here in CT we just got about 8 inches of snow yesterday, it's a wonderful feeling to go outside and look on the roof and see no snow on the chimney cap, and no smoke either, but also look on the cap for the furnace chimney and see 8 inches of unmelted snow on it because the furnace never kicks on. It's a great sight.

Our house has never been warmer or cozier. This is truly the way it's supposed to be done. SWMBO found floor chairs online that fold up for easy storage, we take the out and set them up in front of the stove with a glass of wine and just loose ourselves in the flames. Who needs TV?

It was a little strange at first, but now we have the swing of things and the process is quickly becoming second nature for us. The house rarely seems temps below 70 degrees even when it's in the teens outside. We are very, very happy.
 
Not sure if I want to get the gas bill every day or go with oil as I do. I really don't see my savings on the monthly basis, but I can tell you its nice to not have the furnace kicking on. Great stuff.
 
I agree. What a great tool, and yet so simple. Work, swork, it's fun (usually).

I'm pleased too because all the nickel and dime insulation work I've done seems to be paying off. Last year my stove couldn't keep up under 20 F. This year 15 F seems more accurate. Next year I'll get a bigger stove, though.
 
It's interesting that when I reach for the furnace thermostat, I think about what it will cost me on my gas bill but when I reach for a split to throw on the fire, I think of what it's saving me, not what it cost me for the wood.
 
We are really keen on our stove as well. However, we scrounge and cut up all of our own wood. Sometimes I get a little concerned that I will never get all the wood split, there seem to be mountains of it. So if you don't buy your wood it IS a lot more work. Our house is so much warmer in the winter, now, and I love watching the fire. I also find that I read more, because curling up on the couch by the fire with a book is SO nice. Also I was able to drop my health club membership since I work out as a lumberjack now. :)
 
I have noticed since ive been cutting wood alot more my body is really getting toned up, biceps are larger and i have that burely masculine look to me now and women have definitly noticed this i na good way ,i find it has drasticly increased my romantic life ,actually none of that is true as im still built like Mr. Furely from threes company.... but i have been staying very warm however
 
2007 - Every 5 weeks last winter about 450 in propane to refill the tank. House at 68, furnace running all the time, everyone complaining about it being cold in house.
2008 - Never hear the furnace kick in, house is at 74 or so most of the time, no complaining, so far NO propane bill, although sooner or later will have to shell out about 500 for the hot water - for the whole year.
It's 3 out now, I let the house get down to 68 earlier, should of gotten up earlier, but it's 71 now, on it's way to 74, and still the propane furnace has not kicked in.
How could this not bring a smile to my face and my checkbook, even if I have to miss a little sleep?
 
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