Wood Only

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My situation, my wife and I both work so we are not home during the day. All water lines are in the basement they have never froze basement stays around 52Degrees. Main living area is usualy around 80F with the coldest it has been in two years at 66F. If I have to leave town for my job the wife would take care of the stove. My backup plan is some 220V baseboard heaters that I need to install but have not yet, but could be done pretty easily if needed.
 
Ratman said:
I would really like to hear the detailed stories (truth) of the wood only from a woodstove only house with running water in a non-southern location.
Sorry, I can't believe until I truly understand how without one exception and alternative, including solar, geo thermal or any second source was not used once.
Oh ya, having your neighbors, employees or non-resident co-workers assistance is not permitted.
My guess is that there are some substantiated claims mainly from people with large families all of which are primary residents.

Blast away!
Click to expand...

Wow Ratman, what makes you think you are not reading truth on this forum? And I'm sure most of us do have running water and because we heat with wood, most of us are in a northern location.

Our case: We have running water and we put the well in ourselves almost 40 years ago. We used to have some problems with water line freezing but not since we've got our Fireview stove.

If we have to be away for a time in the winter then we can easily blow out the water lines and just close up the house but so far the only time we've done that was when we wintered in Arizona a few years.

One other time we went away for several days around Christmas and thought we'd try getting a neighbor to keep the stove going. It was pretty cold in the house when we got home and the water pump was froze (it is in the barn and not in the house) but I had that going in about 2-3 minutes.

So except for these 2 times, I'm sorry to inform you truthfully that indeed wood is our only heat scource. Our family consists of my wife and I and we stay nice and warm.
 
SolarAndWood said:
Slow1 said:
If you don't have backup heat it sort of motivates you I'm sure!
Click to expand...

That is an understatement. It is kind of cool though. We are in the middle of a major rebuild of the house and I can instantly feel the benefit of 2 hours and $50 of spray foam and insulation. That instant return would probably get lost in a fuel bill. With our old stove we were tied to the loading schedule, but now we have a lot more flexibility.
Click to expand...


what did you do?
 
We used the furnace a couple of times this year because the house dropped below the set temp of 68. Wife and I don't like it lower than that. We have a woodfurnace and so far this year we have averaged 72-74 in the house. Not bad considering my parents would go through a 500 gallon tank of LP every 2 months in the winter. If it runs I don't panic, but we are burn wood 24/7.
 
my gas bill is on a budget 29.00 a month, we burn 24/7 from oct-april
 
We fired up the boiler at the start of the winter, got it up to temp for about 15 mins, then it idled for a week. Now, I'm a little frugal (cheap) so didnt want to have the pilot light waste of propane, so shut it down. Fired it up again for two days when we had some -10 degree nights. then sut it down again.
 
Only used the propane furnace a few days around Thanksgiving when I was in St. Louis. Will have to run it again for a week during Christmas while I'm in Tennessee. After that it will be next year. We'll wake up to 54 sometimes when its real cold but there is no way I'm burning propane.
 
Fins59,
another wood heat only household here. I turned off the gas and power to the wall furnace 2 years ago, and though my wife would like to have it turned on as a backup, I don't want to. However, this morning, I heard the blower turn off about 5:30, and decided not to get up to tend the fire. Finally got up at 7:00, and the house temp had dropped to 58*. :ahhh: I'm beginning to think the wife may be right. We need a backup, since I've been getting up anywhere from 2:00-5:00am most days to feed the beast.
I just REALLY hate to burn the NG. I spent the money on a log load (20 cord) back in May, so I don't want to spend money on gas when I have all this cool wood to burn (no, not burning that wood this year).
 
iceman said:
SolarAndWood said:
That is an understatement. It is kind of cool though. We are in the middle of a major rebuild of the house and I can instantly feel the benefit of 2 hours and $50 of spray foam and insulation. That instant return would probably get lost in a fuel bill. With our old stove we were tied to the loading schedule, but now we have a lot more flexibility.
Click to expand...


what did you do?
Click to expand...

I excavated the lower side of the house last winter. Then, picked the house up and put a 2x8 wall of windows there. 2 weeks ago during that cold windy blast, I stuffed unfaced R30 in the stud bays and at that end of the floor joists after blasting a little foam around. Made a huge difference.
 
Wood Only here.

Lost my job on Dec 4, layoff, along with others. Plan on not turning on the furnace.

When I worked out of the house, never needed the furnace. When i worked at an office, came home for lunch on only the
coldest days.
My routine:

5 am- load
8 am- load
3 pm- load
7 pm- load
9 pm- load

Only when it gets below 0 degrees do I have to get up at night,
That load would be around 2 am.

I am using a small stove. CFM 240007 from lowes. If I had a better stove, less time loading.
 
I Believe, I Believe!
Remember my initial reply mentioned I bet there are some substantiated claims also.
I respect your determination, discipline and mad wood tender skills.

I work with former DOD Special Forces individuals that are less focused than some of you guys.
Consider taking the WifeUnit somewhere nice overnight once in your life during the winter.
I bet there are some bears that get out more than some of you guys.

I now better understand the volume of Wood Only woodburners.
Congrats to you guys who can pull it off.
Great job.
 
I'd have no issue using only wood to heat the two upper floors and a space heater in the section of finished basement I have. Oil furnace only comes on to heat water. I'm amazed how well my house (built in the 70's) holds heat. It's been down into the teens and windy and so far all i need is an overnight/morning burn to bring the place up to 80. The temp drops steadily throughout the day after the fires out to about 69 by evening, at which point I fire the stove again. It's actually a little annoying, all the cold starts.
 
heffergm said:
I'd have no issue using only wood to heat the two upper floors and a space heater in the section of finished basement I have. Oil furnace only comes on to heat water. I'm amazed how well my house (built in the 70's) holds heat. It's been down into the teens and windy and so far all i need is an overnight/morning burn to bring the place up to 80. The temp drops steadily throughout the day after the fires out to about 69 by evening, at which point I fire the stove again. It's actually a little annoying, all the cold starts.
Click to expand...

Yup, its been cold in NE lately; and you guys got more snow than us down there which is not typical.
I've been contemplating replacing my carpeted stairs with hardwood. I was concerned if the great new look would compensate for the expense, slipperiness and cold feet.
 
njtomatoguy said:
Wood Only here.

Lost my job on Dec 4, layoff, along with others. Plan on not turning on the furnace.

When I worked out of the house, never needed the furnace. When i worked at an office, came home for lunch on only the
coldest days.
My routine:

5 am- load
8 am- load
3 pm- load
7 pm- load
9 pm- load

Only when it gets below 0 degrees do I have to get up at night,
That load would be around 2 am.

I am using a small stove. CFM 240007 from lowes. If I had a better stove, less time loading.
Click to expand...

Hope you find work soon and your schedule dicipline is impressive.
 
PapaDave said:
Fins59,
another wood heat only household here. I turned off the gas and power to the wall furnace 2 years ago, and though my wife would like to have it turned on as a backup, I don't want to. However, this morning, I heard the blower turn off about 5:30, and decided not to get up to tend the fire. Finally got up at 7:00, and the house temp had dropped to 58*. :ahhh: I'm beginning to think the wife may be right. We need a backup, since I've been getting up anywhere from 2:00-5:00am most days to feed the beast.
I just REALLY hate to burn the NG. I spent the money on a log load (20 cord) back in May, so I don't want to spend money on gas when I have all this cool wood to burn (no, not burning that wood this year).
Click to expand...

2 years no NG.
Awesome!
Great job!
 
Backwoods Savage said:
Ratman said:
I would really like to hear the detailed stories (truth) of the wood only from a woodstove only house with running water in a non-southern location.
Sorry, I can't believe until I truly understand how without one exception and alternative, including solar, geo thermal or any second source was not used once.
Oh ya, having your neighbors, employees or non-resident co-workers assistance is not permitted.
My guess is that there are some substantiated claims mainly from people with large families all of which are primary residents.

Blast away!
Click to expand...

Wow Ratman, what makes you think you are not reading truth on this forum? And I'm sure most of us do have running water and because we heat with wood, most of us are in a northern location.

Our case: We have running water and we put the well in ourselves almost 40 years ago. We used to have some problems with water line freezing but not since we've got our Fireview stove.

If we have to be away for a time in the winter then we can easily blow out the water lines and just close up the house but so far the only time we've done that was when we wintered in Arizona a few years.

One other time we went away for several days around Christmas and thought we'd try getting a neighbor to keep the stove going. It was pretty cold in the house when we got home and the water pump was froze (it is in the barn and not in the house) but I had that going in about 2-3 minutes.

So except for these 2 times, I'm sorry to inform you truthfully that indeed wood is our only heat scource. Our family consists of my wife and I and we stay nice and warm.
Click to expand...

Great disciple and focus.
Keep up the good work.
 
quads said:
Ratman said:
I would really like to hear the detailed stories (truth) of the wood only from a woodstove only house with running water in a non-southern location.
Sorry, I can't believe until I truly understand how without one exception and alternative, including solar, geo thermal or any second source was not used once.
Oh ya, having your neighbors, employees or non-resident co-workers assistance is not permitted.
My guess is that there are some substantiated claims mainly from people with large families all of which are primary residents.

Blast away!
Click to expand...
What's not to believe? What details do you want?

I do have a forced air furnace in case of emergency, but other than an annual Fall 5 minute test run, it has not been used in a very long time.

I am the only one in my house that touches the woodstove (also the only one that makes the firewood). I have not been away from home overnight during heating season since ....... I can't remember. I had heart surgery several years ago in March, but I did not let them keep me overnight. I came home after surgery, in an icestorm, 70 miles, at 1:00am, and stoked the fire back up again. (It was not open heart surgery.)

Perhaps the reason you don't believe is you're not as dedicated to wood heat as some of the others here? It's not hard for me to understand at all. I'm just another generation in a long line of a wood heat only family.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear you fully recovered.
I work with former DOD Special Forces personnel that are less focused and determined than you quads.
I am glad you had a full recovery and I can't beat the story.
Well the closest thing I got is my elite mountain biker buddy way back rode about 90 miles in the winter in a snowstorm at night to visit a friends father whom had just had heart surgery. Same guy rode 11 consecutive centurys that year on his rollers.

I've learned a lot more about you guys.
I underestimated the determination of some of you folks.
 
Ratman said:
quads said:
Ratman said:
I would really like to hear the detailed stories (truth) of the wood only from a woodstove only house with running water in a non-southern location.
Sorry, I can't believe until I truly understand how without one exception and alternative, including solar, geo thermal or any second source was not used once.
Oh ya, having your neighbors, employees or non-resident co-workers assistance is not permitted.
My guess is that there are some substantiated claims mainly from people with large families all of which are primary residents.

Blast away!
Click to expand...
What's not to believe? What details do you want?

I do have a forced air furnace in case of emergency, but other than an annual Fall 5 minute test run, it has not been used in a very long time.

I am the only one in my house that touches the woodstove (also the only one that makes the firewood). I have not been away from home overnight during heating season since ....... I can't remember. I had heart surgery several years ago in March, but I did not let them keep me overnight. I came home after surgery, in an icestorm, 70 miles, at 1:00am, and stoked the fire back up again. (It was not open heart surgery.)

Perhaps the reason you don't believe is you're not as dedicated to wood heat as some of the others here? It's not hard for me to understand at all. I'm just another generation in a long line of a wood heat only family.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear you fully recovered.
I work with former DOD Special Forces personnel that are less focused and determined than you quads.
I am glad you had a full recovery and I can't beat the story.
Well the closest thing I got is my elite mountain biker buddy way back rode about 90 miles in the winter in a snowstorm at night to visit a friends father whom had just had heart surgery. Same guy rode 11 consecutive centurys that year on his rollers.

I've learned a lot more about you guys.
I underestimated the determination of some of you folks.
Click to expand...
Thank you!

I also like to ride bicycle, but I'm not nearly as dedicated to that!
 
Ratman said:
Backwoods Savage said:
Ratman said:
I would really like to hear the detailed stories (truth) of the wood only from a woodstove only house with running water in a non-southern location.
Sorry, I can't believe until I truly understand how without one exception and alternative, including solar, geo thermal or any second source was not used once.
Oh ya, having your neighbors, employees or non-resident co-workers assistance is not permitted.
My guess is that there are some substantiated claims mainly from people with large families all of which are primary residents.

Blast away!
Click to expand...

Wow Ratman, what makes you think you are not reading truth on this forum? And I'm sure most of us do have running water and because we heat with wood, most of us are in a northern location.

Our case: We have running water and we put the well in ourselves almost 40 years ago. We used to have some problems with water line freezing but not since we've got our Fireview stove.

If we have to be away for a time in the winter then we can easily blow out the water lines and just close up the house but so far the only time we've done that was when we wintered in Arizona a few years.

One other time we went away for several days around Christmas and thought we'd try getting a neighbor to keep the stove going. It was pretty cold in the house when we got home and the water pump was froze (it is in the barn and not in the house) but I had that going in about 2-3 minutes.

So except for these 2 times, I'm sorry to inform you truthfully that indeed wood is our only heat scource. Our family consists of my wife and I and we stay nice and warm.
Click to expand...

Great disciple and focus.
Keep up the good work.
Click to expand...


OH OH OOOOH what about me Ratman. I guess it doesn't count for me as it doesn't get cold here.
Just wanted your approval too. :roll:
 
Ratman said:
PapaDave said:
Fins59,
another wood heat only household here. I turned off the gas and power to the wall furnace 2 years ago, and though my wife would like to have it turned on as a backup, I don't want to. However, this morning, I heard the blower turn off about 5:30, and decided not to get up to tend the fire. Finally got up at 7:00, and the house temp had dropped to 58*. :ahhh: I'm beginning to think the wife may be right. We need a backup, since I've been getting up anywhere from 2:00-5:00am most days to feed the beast.
I just REALLY hate to burn the NG. I spent the money on a log load (20 cord) back in May, so I don't want to spend money on gas when I have all this cool wood to burn (no, not burning that wood this year).
Click to expand...

2 years no NG.
Awesome!
Great job!
Click to expand...

Golly gee, thanks. %-P
Wasn't really looking for a pat on the back, it's just the way it is.
I'm not even sure what my gas bill would be, but I use, on average, 2/3's cord every month. Total cost for ME, is about $55-60. Pretty sure the cost of running the furnace would be substantially higher than that.
Since I'm retired, I can do the routine a lot easier than some of these other guys that have to go to work every morning.
The n/g is on for the water heater.
 
24/7 burner, Have not turned on furnace (or used space heaters) since we bought the stove in Jan 08. Wife has been trained to toss in a couple of logs, EVEN rake the coals Properly if I am late at work to make re-fire easy on me upon my return (she would just love this if she saw it ;-) ). Lowest was 64* in the morning when it was 4* outside (slept in). Highest was 79* when I got carried away before going to work (important to know the forcasted temps for that day BEFORE loading in the morning ) :red: Usually waking temps are between 68 and 73.
 
Thus far i have only used the furnace once. Not bad for the Hudson Valley in NY since its been rather cold in the month of December. November was relatively mild but this month has been cold. I turn on the furnace maybe once a week for about 5 minutes just to make sure its still working. I have plenty of wood this year; I joined this forum in early September and really got the itch to start scrounging and making trades for wood. Traded a computer for 2 cords of oak.
 
I turned off the furnace at the end of Nov. No need for it to be on unless I go away for awhile. The coldest it's been in the upstairs living room at 69. I work 1st shift and wife works 2nd shift so someone is always here to load the stove. When I do my mid season sweep I need to cool down the stove and let the furnace take over, but I guess I could just wait til the end of the burning season since the stove burns so clean. Hey, they did it in the old days and the houses of old were way less insulated. We also have Amish folks here who's sole heat is wood.
 
I'm gonna be the big disappointment here. Normally I heat the house with the stove and the days are clear enough to heat the house via solar and I keep the fire going when I get home. But this year my folks went to Chicago for Christma and I have to hold down the fort(s). We are in the midst of single digit nights right now with some snow gleefully on the way. So day B4 yesterday I did the unthinkable and lit the pilot on the forced air furnace as I don't know when I'll be home and figured a few bucks in gas is better than frozen/ broken water pipes..............
 
2 years ago my oil furnace's pump died, oil was at 4 something a gallon, went out and bought a jotul stove and never fixed the furnace, been that way ever since.
 
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