I know there is a lot of talk on this forum about wood burning, wood heat, etc. I too have made the switch over to an all-wood heating system. I have been heating this way for 5 years now, and my house is nice and warm in the winter. There are, however, some serious side effects of wood burning that I have experienced. If you are not willing to deal with the following side effects, please, please, please, continue to burn fossil fuels or use expensive electricity to heat your house:
Here they are, not in any specific order:
1. I have had to cancel my gym membership. That's right, the exercise I get cutting, splitting, and stacking wood provides a great deal of exercise for me, and I have experience the side effect of actually feeling healthier.
2. I have had to endure the purchase of a new refrigerator. That's right, my old one went bad, and I happened to have enough money saved up to buy a new one since I wasn't having to pay such high heating bills during winter months.
3. Isolation...you heard me....isolation. I find that I spend an awful lot of time in the woods...with my sons....cutting and hauling wood, enjoying the outdoors, watching deer, and spending quality time together...how horrible.
4. Cleaner woods. I can actually walk through the woods around my house without tripping over limbs and other debris...because I have gasified it all. How dare I do something like that.
5. Jealous neighbors. While they are paying $500 monthly electric bills, I am paying $100...for an all-electric house. I have ruined my reputation in my neighborhood.
6. A wood burning smell emanating from my house....especially when burning cherry wood. Who actually likes that?
7. Neglect. I hate to admit it, but I have neglected my TV. During burning season, I would rather watch the gasification chamber of my EKO than watch TV....unless football is on....
8. I have also had the unfortunate experience of having the chance to teach my sons about various tree species, wildlife, etc. They have actually learned something while working in the woods, and a good work ethic is at the top of that list. Terrible.
9. Hoarding. I am a hoarder. I stockpile wood all year long, and I refuse to get rid of any of it...it just keeps accumulating. Maybe they will make a TV show about people like me....not that I would watch it anyway....I'll be starring at the gasification chamber.
10. I get into hot water a lot. Every day, actually. The boiler heats my domestic water for free, and I use it at will and never run out.
Again, these side effects are serious and may cause a change in your lifestyle. If you cannot handle them, please do not heat with wood....
Feel free to add any other "side effects" that you may have experienced to this thread.
Here they are, not in any specific order:
1. I have had to cancel my gym membership. That's right, the exercise I get cutting, splitting, and stacking wood provides a great deal of exercise for me, and I have experience the side effect of actually feeling healthier.
2. I have had to endure the purchase of a new refrigerator. That's right, my old one went bad, and I happened to have enough money saved up to buy a new one since I wasn't having to pay such high heating bills during winter months.
3. Isolation...you heard me....isolation. I find that I spend an awful lot of time in the woods...with my sons....cutting and hauling wood, enjoying the outdoors, watching deer, and spending quality time together...how horrible.
4. Cleaner woods. I can actually walk through the woods around my house without tripping over limbs and other debris...because I have gasified it all. How dare I do something like that.
5. Jealous neighbors. While they are paying $500 monthly electric bills, I am paying $100...for an all-electric house. I have ruined my reputation in my neighborhood.
6. A wood burning smell emanating from my house....especially when burning cherry wood. Who actually likes that?
7. Neglect. I hate to admit it, but I have neglected my TV. During burning season, I would rather watch the gasification chamber of my EKO than watch TV....unless football is on....
8. I have also had the unfortunate experience of having the chance to teach my sons about various tree species, wildlife, etc. They have actually learned something while working in the woods, and a good work ethic is at the top of that list. Terrible.
9. Hoarding. I am a hoarder. I stockpile wood all year long, and I refuse to get rid of any of it...it just keeps accumulating. Maybe they will make a TV show about people like me....not that I would watch it anyway....I'll be starring at the gasification chamber.
10. I get into hot water a lot. Every day, actually. The boiler heats my domestic water for free, and I use it at will and never run out.
Again, these side effects are serious and may cause a change in your lifestyle. If you cannot handle them, please do not heat with wood....
Feel free to add any other "side effects" that you may have experienced to this thread.
