I keep reading "shoulder season" and was wondering what people's definitions are for shoulder season vs heating season?
Define "shoulder season"
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above 40F during the day below 30 at night, we light the stove for the night only, then let it go out for the day
heating season is below 40 all day for weeks
heating season is below 40 all day for weeks
I can tell you definitively what it's not, and that's now. 3 degrees when I woke up this morning!
It's going to be different for everybody, but I think it is basically when you don't require heat all day and all night. At least, that's how I think of it. So, maybe you ahve a fire a night and let it go out, or a fire in the morning and let it go out.
It's going to be different for everybody, but I think it is basically when you don't require heat all day and all night. At least, that's how I think of it. So, maybe you ahve a fire a night and let it go out, or a fire in the morning and let it go out.
For me shoulder season is when stove is not running 24/7 vs Heating Season when it is.
During the shoulder season might make a in the evening, and load it up before bed, but not reload it for morning becasue the temperatures are warming up.
It's also when less BTUs are needed so using lower btu species, smaller "chunks" that prevent loading the woodbox to capacity etc are common.
During the shoulder season might make a in the evening, and load it up before bed, but not reload it for morning becasue the temperatures are warming up.
It's also when less BTUs are needed so using lower btu species, smaller "chunks" that prevent loading the woodbox to capacity etc are common.
That's what I figured. The temperature here has been a damn yo-yo so far this year: 59 F yesterday morning and 26 today.
You Michigan fellows get the Lake effect snow that hits Ontario and NY? I realize you're on "the other side" of the lake, but I am curious about its effect/reach. Last weekend some parts in the Great Lakes got about 24" of snow overnight.
You Michigan fellows get the Lake effect snow that hits Ontario and NY? I realize you're on "the other side" of the lake, but I am curious about its effect/reach. Last weekend some parts in the Great Lakes got about 24" of snow overnight.
It depends on where you are in Michigan. The east side of the state doesn't really get it. I assume by other side of the lake you mean Eerie and Huron? I don't think we get any lake effect from those lakes since the weathers goes west to east. But, on the west side of the state like I am, we can get a lot of lake effect from Lake Michigan. We have gotten quite a bit already. There's probably a foot and a half at my house at least.
I suppose I was thinking of Huron/Erie when I wrote other side, referencing Ontario. I was there for a while and those snow squalls are crazy! Over here on the coast it is more moderate, we get a few storms but a lot of warmer days, so snow accumulation isn't too bad here. Makes great conditions for ice though...
Yeah, I here you on the ice. I lived in SE Michigan for many years. Not much snow to speak of, but plently of slush and ice. I prefer snow anyday.
Here shoulder season start end of Sept to Mid October, depends on the weather temps, and then again in end of March to Mid April, again depends on temps.
Shoulder season to me is "to take the chill off night & days". Not cold enough to burn 24/7, but need/want for a fire here and there on the nights it dips cooler than usual.
Best time of year to burn up the bastage pieces of wood especially when not needing a packed full & tight firebox.
In short, the beginning and the end of burning season.
Shoulder season to me is "to take the chill off night & days". Not cold enough to burn 24/7, but need/want for a fire here and there on the nights it dips cooler than usual.
Best time of year to burn up the bastage pieces of wood especially when not needing a packed full & tight firebox.
In short, the beginning and the end of burning season.
Out here we can have what seem like eternal shoulder seasons. For some they can go from Sept. through Nov. and Feb through May. Our winters are generally not too harsh and rarely blip into the teens or lower.
Shoulder season is different for everyone. Depends on how much sun your house gets and how it holds the heat, where you live and the outside temp. For us shoulder season is when the solar gain can heat my house during the day and I just have to build a fire at night and then let it go out. When the sun can no longer heat my house due to outside temps and I have to keep the stove going 24/7 then shoulder season is over.
eclecticcottage
Minister of Fire
:O We got like 2" here!
To me shoulder season is when it's above 40. We have to run smaller fires and don't run more than 1/4 load at night as well as letting the fire burn out frequently. Once heating season hits, the fire starters and matches get put away!
Burning season that begins "before" & persists "after" winter. Those dates this year are Dec. 21 & Mar. 19.
RockyMtnHigh
Feeling the Heat
In Colorado shoulder season is a couple days a week then off a couple days a week then on a couple days a week. Not really a season at all when it comes right down to it, just depends on the day.....
D8Chumley
Minister of Fire
I've been burning 24/7 for a few weeks now. My shoulder season was around mid October this year and last, basically I live kinda close to you. I also wondered what shoulder season was and this is pretty much what I figured.
Early Fall and late Spring . . . pretty much when I'm burning occasionally and not burning 24/7.
D8Chumley
Minister of Fire
red oak
Minister of Fire
Exactly! Small fire to take the chill off, can let it go out at night. Typically October - early November and late March to April where I am. Usually Dec Jan Feb I have to burn mostly 24-7.
I've actually expanded the use of the term shoulder season to mean any period of time when I can comfortably heat my home with just small branches of 1 to 3 inches in diameter, and one split at night. In other words, until I need to keep to keep substantial fires going with my main stack of wood, I consider the time shoulder season. Often, I am heating 24/7...but small fires.
Theres no real science behind it. Its spring and fall when you dont burn as much and usually let the stove burn out after a loaded cycle or two.
This morning it was 26 outside but warmed up to 45 and sunny I built a fire this AM and left the stove alone the rest of the day. Between stove and sun and insulation the house ran 75 degrees all day... about time for another fire in a little bit.
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