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Lit the Stove

Post in 'It's a Gas!' started by firecracker_77, Sep 20, 2012.

  1. firecracker_77 Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 16, 2010
    1,052 posts
    NWI office - 2 Heritages; Chicago home - Woodstock
    Woodstock pilot light is going now and won't be extinguished for the next 7 months. Turned the fire on last night and warmed the room very quickly. It's nice to have her going again.
    firecracker_77, Sep 20, 2012
    #1

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    raybonz and pen like this.

  2. DAKSY Super Moderator

    joined: Dec 2, 2008
    4,034 posts
    Averill Park, NY, on Burden Lake II...
    Yeah, the local LP company lit mine over the weekend while I was in the south. I had them move my tanks so I could side the foundation walls, & they locked the tanks when they did the move. They needed to check for leaks & I guess they were antsy to get us burning their product, since they called me three times while I was away...Cold gettin here way too early if you ask me...
    DAKSY, Sep 21, 2012
    #2
    zap and firecracker_77 like this.

  3. firecracker_77 Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 16, 2010
    1,052 posts
    NWI office - 2 Heritages; Chicago home - Woodstock
    Nice to know you're ready for the cold. Seems like you have a bunch of heaters
    firecracker_77, Sep 21, 2012
    #3

  4. DAKSY Super Moderator

    joined: Dec 2, 2008
    4,034 posts
    Averill Park, NY, on Burden Lake II...
    LOL, got a couple...Oil boiler that's mainly DHW for now, & my oilman hates me, darn it. A P61A that keeps the kitchen & most of the downstairs toasty. A Fireplace insert that picks up what the P61A can't handle & a gas fireplace up in the Great Room that's the ONLY heat source on that floor. The P43 keeps my daughter & her boyfriend & dog warm in the studio over my garage...
    DAKSY, Sep 21, 2012
    #4

  5. firecracker_77 Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 16, 2010
    1,052 posts
    NWI office - 2 Heritages; Chicago home - Woodstock
    Sounds good. That is more than a couple. What is the efficiency on the gas fireplace? I had the glass on my Franklin off when lighting the pilot...the draft from the outside was fairly strong, so I imagine if the front wasn't sealed, I'd lose efficiency.
    firecracker_77, Sep 22, 2012
    #5

  6. DAKSY Super Moderator

    joined: Dec 2, 2008
    4,034 posts
    Averill Park, NY, on Burden Lake II...
    I installed it in 2004 & to be honest, I don't remember the efficiency, but it's in the 75% range. With the glass off, you will not only lose efficiency, you may introduce CO into the room & you will screw up the Air-to-fuel mixture...
    DAKSY, Sep 22, 2012
    #6

  7. trafick Member

    joined: Dec 12, 2008
    137 posts
    Lynchburg, VA
    I've got about another 2 weeks before I turn mine on but then she stays lit until 1 April. It's amazing how much heat the pilot puts out.
    trafick, Sep 28, 2012
    #7

  8. firecracker_77 Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 16, 2010
    1,052 posts
    NWI office - 2 Heritages; Chicago home - Woodstock
    Won't be long now till it's running 24/7 on the weekends. Our pilot light does keep the box warm, but not too bad.
    firecracker_77, Sep 28, 2012
    #8

  9. DAKSY Super Moderator

    joined: Dec 2, 2008
    4,034 posts
    Averill Park, NY, on Burden Lake II...
    Just a little to add to this conversation about pilot flames. Most pilot flames will burn about 800 BTU/Hr. Multiply that by 24 hrs & you get 19,200 BTU/day...There are roughly 92000 BTU in a gallon of LP. Divide that by 19,200 & you get 4.79 Gallons/day. In this area, we're at just under $3.00 per gallon. Multiply that times 4.79 Gallons & you get $14.37 per DAY. Multiply that times 30 days & you get $431.25 per MONTH just burning the pilot light. Based on those calculations, my pilot lights are NOT burning full time yet. Out Trx-I has an electronic ignition that Susan knows how to use. The QVI30 has a standing pilot & that is OFF until I can't stand it anymore...
    If you are burning NG, YMMV...(but it's STILL costing you $$$)
    DAKSY, Sep 28, 2012
    #9

  10. ridemgis Member

    joined: Jun 14, 2012
    144 posts
    South Kingstown, Rhode Island
    Whoa, math check. Shouldn't that read 4.79 days per gallon?
    ridemgis, Sep 28, 2012
    #10

  11. DAKSY Super Moderator

    joined: Dec 2, 2008
    4,034 posts
    Averill Park, NY, on Burden Lake II...
    Duh. Yep. The math is good. It's the numbers I have a problem with. Wow. I'm lookin at my numbers & thinkin that don't seem right, but in my ultimate wisdom, I hit send anyway. Make that about 6.25 gallons per month, or about $20...at least round here...
    DAKSY, Sep 28, 2012
    #11

  12. ridemgis Member

    joined: Jun 14, 2012
    144 posts
    South Kingstown, Rhode Island
    No worries. With all the great information you've posted here I can't fault you for a single typo.
    Always a pleasure to learn from you.
    PJ
    ridemgis, Sep 28, 2012
    #12

  13. raybonz Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 5, 2008
    6,033 posts
    Carver, MA.
    I'm in the same boat as you as my boiler is only heating hot water here via a tankless coil and I have been debating whether I would save money going to an electric tank.. The rates are high here but it may be cheaper to use electric over oil with my application..

    Ray
    raybonz, Sep 28, 2012
    #13

  14. firecracker_77 Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 16, 2010
    1,052 posts
    NWI office - 2 Heritages; Chicago home - Woodstock
    I don't think our natural gas is quite that expensive.
    firecracker_77, Sep 28, 2012
    #14

  15. DAKSY Super Moderator

    joined: Dec 2, 2008
    4,034 posts
    Averill Park, NY, on Burden Lake II...
    It's not. But the values can be plugged into the formula. Instead of 92K BTU/Gal, Use 100K BTU/Therm...
    DAKSY, Sep 28, 2012
    #15

  16. 49er Member

    joined: Jan 10, 2011
    33 posts
    Los Gatos, CA
    Thanks for that DAKSY, I had no idea what the gas usage of the pilot might be. Now I know.
    49er, Sep 28, 2012
    #16

  17. FanMan Member

    joined: Mar 4, 2012
    249 posts
    CT stix
    Of course if you're in the heating season, the heat generated by the pilot is helping to warm the house, slightly reducing the stove's on time, no net effect on fuel usage...
    FanMan, Oct 1, 2012
    #17

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