How much wood are you really using?

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Yarzy

Member
Dec 27, 2010
40
Chalfont, PA
My wife and I were talking tonight about how much wood we have gone through since we got out wood stove (Jotul Oslo) installed 2 weeks ago. I think we are putting right around 20 logs per day and we are not burning overnight. Now, I must confess that we are not burning the dryest wood out there (25-29%) so I know that it coming into play, but with sub 20% moisture logs, how much are you using? Also, how many cords should I really be burning throughout the season? I thought 3 would be about right, but I am starting to think I might be way off. Can someone elighten me on what I should expect once I get my wood moisture content under control? Thanks so much!
 
How big of an area are you heating, square footage. Insulation will play a factor in how well your house holds the heat. I don't know anything about your Jotul's and how big a firebox you have. At the moisture content your wood currently has, 20 splits doesn't sound too excessive. I have a small firebox, 1.3 cubic feet I believe. I probably go through 16-20 splits a day and that includes overnight burns. I use it a garage though. It is insulated but the large bay door is a little drafty.
 
I think a good average for most mid sized stoves burning 24/7 is around 4 cords give or take a cord. I go through 3 cords per year and am right on schedule again this year.
 
I burn 24/7 in my englander stove here in NorthEast Pa and I go through about 4 full cords of well seasoned hardwoods.

With my old fisher stove that I had to plan on about 5.5 full cord.

Whatever you do, I'd be buying the wood you plan on using this coming year right now so that it's ready. What a world of difference once you can stay at least a year ahead on your wood.

pen
 
The thing is more of your burning under control than moisture under control. I have said it before and will say it again. You will burn close to a cord more in the first year that you own a new stove than you ever will again. Experimenting and getting your burning habits down eats wood.

Climate, house considerations and lots of other things control but I heat a 2,500 sq. ft. center hall colonial with right at + or - three cords of hardwood a year as the sole heat source. Months of under 32 degrees every day use about 3/4 cord of wood or a little less. We ain't in Antarctica but it gets a little chilly around here. Especially this year.

The first year with this stove I went through four cords and it was the least cold winter since then.

Let the nay saying begin. :coolsmirk:
 
Depends on a lot of things. How big is your house, how warm do you like it to be, how drafty is your house. Mileage will vary. My house is 900sft, we've been burning nights and weekends since october. Early in the season we just have 1 fire at night to take the chill off. After November we set the furnace t-stat at 62 and have 2 fires a night, one at four and reload at nine. Keeps the furnace off for a solid 12 to 15 hours. Weekends same thing, perhaps throwing the first load in earlier. Either way the furnace is only used about 50% of the time or less. So far we've been through a little over a cord. My stove holds 2 cft of wood and after November I pack it full on most loads. Hope this gives you some perspective.

Btw, most of the time stove room mid to upper 70's low 80's, rest of the house around 70-72.

Al
 
I've used about 2 cords so far this season. Last year I used 4 cords and it looks like I'll be using 4 cords this season. Burn full time Dec-Feb, lighter Nov and Mar.
 
I burn about 6 cords a year. 24/7 in the Summit with no other heat source. The wood makes a difference. I don't burn a lot of hardwood.

Also, I have an insert, and I'm convinced they aren't nearly as efficient as free standing stoves.

Just keep telling yourself as cheap as natural gas is now, you're still knocking a few dollars off your gas bill every time you fill the stove.
 
brotherbart is so right. learn your stove. the stove will burn as much wood as you throw into it. period. lots of variables also...drafty; insulation; etc. but....the stove only knows one thing: to burn what it's fed. i'll bet next year will be less? perhaps you are already using less now, then back in nov?
 
I am right around 5 cords for a season.
 
I burn 24/7 here in Mass. and use between 2-3 cords heating 1632 sq. ft.. I use an old epa phase 1 cat stove.. From what I read here it appears cat stoves are a bit more efficient than secondary burn but they have a better fire display..

Ray
 
raybonz said:
I burn 24/7 here in Mass. and use between 2-3 cords heating 1632 sq. ft.. I use an old epa phase 1 cat stove.. From what I read here it appears cat stoves are a bit more efficient than secondary burn but they have a better fire display..

Ray

BB grins and walks aimlessly away.
 
Our December hurt our woodpile pretty good. Average temps were 7 degrees below last year, and 9 degrees below "normal" setting a new all time "coldest December" record. Burned about a full cord, or about 30% more than planned.

January has been closer to normal, so we should burn a cord or so for this month, and a bit more then a cord in Feb-Mar. We had our first "fire for heat" February 1 last year, and burned about a cord between then and spring. If we stay about the same temps this year we will just squeak by on 3 1/2 cords.
 
I'm usually right around the 5 cord mark of 24/7 burning from late oct. to late march. All hardwood, no soft.
 
Yarzy said:
My wife and I were talking tonight about how much wood we have gone through since we got out wood stove (Jotul Oslo) installed 2 weeks ago. I think we are putting right around 20 logs per day and we are not burning overnight. Now, I must confess that we are not burning the dryest wood out there (25-29%) so I know that it coming into play, but with sub 20% moisture logs, how much are you using? Also, how many cords should I really be burning throughout the season? I thought 3 would be about right, but I am starting to think I might be way off. Can someone elighten me on what I should expect once I get my wood moisture content under control? Thanks so much!


Old house.
Not an open floor plan.
Drafty.
Three Stoves.
Same location as you.
8 cords per year.
 
Ok, I guess I will have to just wait and see where we are at the end of the year. Our house is a 3000sqf 1740 farmhouse, so yes, drafts are going to come into play. We started burning when the stove was installed on new years eve, so I guess if we go throuh that, 4 cords should be the total. Also, I am glad to hear that this year may be the "worst" year since I am learning the stove. Thanks everyone for the information!
 
BrowningBAR said:
Yarzy said:
My wife and I were talking tonight about how much wood we have gone through since we got out wood stove (Jotul Oslo) installed 2 weeks ago. I think we are putting right around 20 logs per day and we are not burning overnight. Now, I must confess that we are not burning the dryest wood out there (25-29%) so I know that it coming into play, but with sub 20% moisture logs, how much are you using? Also, how many cords should I really be burning throughout the season? I thought 3 would be about right, but I am starting to think I might be way off. Can someone elighten me on what I should expect once I get my wood moisture content under control? Thanks so much!


Old house.
Not an open floor plan.
Drafty.
Three Stoves.
Same location as you.
8 cords per year.

Ouch, 8 cords? Where do you get your wood from?
 
Yarzy said:
BrowningBAR said:
Yarzy said:
My wife and I were talking tonight about how much wood we have gone through since we got out wood stove (Jotul Oslo) installed 2 weeks ago. I think we are putting right around 20 logs per day and we are not burning overnight. Now, I must confess that we are not burning the dryest wood out there (25-29%) so I know that it coming into play, but with sub 20% moisture logs, how much are you using? Also, how many cords should I really be burning throughout the season? I thought 3 would be about right, but I am starting to think I might be way off. Can someone elighten me on what I should expect once I get my wood moisture content under control? Thanks so much!


Old house.
Not an open floor plan.
Drafty.
Three Stoves.
Same location as you.
8 cords per year.

Ouch, 8 cords? Where do you get your wood from?

I'm still working that process out. A guy down the road from me cleared out his property to put in a vineyard. So I snagged that. I've also been speaking with the local lumber yard which will deliver 8 cords of uncut logs to your property for $700. And I've been speaking with some of the local wood suppliers about buying in bulk.
 
I have an old 1800's house, right at 2500 sq ft. I burn two stoves and so far this heating season have burned almost 4 cords( will reach that this weekend) I am burning all hardwoods and just seem to be going through lots of wood this year. I process everything myself and am constantly looking for new places to cut trees. Word of mouth mostly where I will get calls from folks who need trees removed or have had trees cut and offer me the wood. Right now I am working a 10 acre woodlot about 20 minutes from my house. I work at it alot right now to prepare for next year. Getting ahead of the game by at least 1 year is key. Most folks like to be 2 years ahead but that is really hard for me to do with how much wood I seem to be burning. I always wonder if I am doing something wrong burning so much wood in my medium sized Heritage and small Jotul.
 
joshlaugh said:
I always wonder if I am doing something wrong burning so much wood in my medium sized Heritage and small Jotul.

Not if the joint is warm.
 
Simple answer, too much.

Well i shouldnt say that out right. Enough that me and the family are warm.

But I get a little upset seeing the wood pile 'vanish' it just looked so nice sitting there.
 
Stump_Branch said:
Simple answer, too much.

Well i shouldnt say that out right. Enough that me and the family are warm.

But I get a little upset seeing the wood pile 'vanish' it just looked so nice sitting there.

A problem that happens every year for all of us. Watching all of that work go away...
 
Its a lot better than the sound of the propane man showing up.
 
SolarAndWood said:
Its a lot better than the sound of the propane man showing up.

I get the simple pleasure of hearing the backup alert bell on the guy next door's propane truck backing up his driveway. Way too often.

One day he asked me " Oh you burn wood?". I asked him how that propane was working out. "Oh it is fine. Kinda expensive."

When they built the house they thought they would get us all to campaign the gas company to bring in gas service. None of us wanted it so that back up bell rings a lot.
 
After this week I'll have my first cord of my better hardwood burned up,(ash) I've also burned just over cord of silver maple. That puts me about 2 cords in for the season so far. I started burning the last week of September.
 
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