A few weeks ago I hit the end of my dry firewood. Since then I've been over the stacks of damp stuff more than once, tapping everywhere with a ball peen hammer and listening for the few dryish splits -- generally either ash or poplar slabwood, or something that was standing dead when it was cut. I've scavenged hardwood lumber scraps from my shop and managed a few more fires for ambiance, but my first wood heating season is effectively over. I've learned a lot along the way.
Most of the wood I burned this season was low-rent stuff, all bought too late. I got ripped off by a dishonest seller in September, then bought too little from an honest guy who had run out of the better stuff by the time I tried to get more later in the season. So, what went in the stove had MC's often in the high 20s or low 30s, much of it low-end species or punky. I had to clean my clogged cap twice, and brushed the whole chimney once mid-season. I went through a little less than 2 cords, and made a significant dent in my natural gas bills; I haven't tried to calculate that amount, but my next bill will be almost twice the January bill despite much warmer recent temperatures.
I've learned that wood is, in my area, surprisingly easy to scrounge. I've brought home a couple of cords of black locust, mulberry, cherry, oak, ash, elm, juniper, soft and hard maple. I enjoy the finding and cutting and splitting enough that I have to restrain myself from acquiring more wood than I can possibly store. I feel like volunteering to cut wood for other people, just for the fun of running my chainsaw and swinging the axe. Actually, I did just that the other day -- saw a neighbor splitting wood, pullled on my gloves, picked up the Fiskars, walked over, introduced myself and helped out for an hour or so. My stacks are more than full and my secondhand Husky 350 runs fine, yet I find myself watching for scrounges I have nowhere to put and shopping the classifieds for chainsaws I don't really need.
My plans for the summer include insulating above my block-off plate (an oversight that I think wasted a lot of heat this year), and building larger outdoor wood racks so I can keep about 2 years' worth on hand, which is probably the most I can hope for where I live. I also hope to improve the attic insulation; though I am enjoying the game of firewood acquisition and management, I dislike waste, and having to find and carry and split and shelter and carry again and clean up after every BTU makes me more aware of my energy consumption than I ever was when the most tangible indicator I had was a monthly statement from the gas or power company.
For the first time ever, I am looking forward to next winter even as the current one is ending.
Most of the wood I burned this season was low-rent stuff, all bought too late. I got ripped off by a dishonest seller in September, then bought too little from an honest guy who had run out of the better stuff by the time I tried to get more later in the season. So, what went in the stove had MC's often in the high 20s or low 30s, much of it low-end species or punky. I had to clean my clogged cap twice, and brushed the whole chimney once mid-season. I went through a little less than 2 cords, and made a significant dent in my natural gas bills; I haven't tried to calculate that amount, but my next bill will be almost twice the January bill despite much warmer recent temperatures.
I've learned that wood is, in my area, surprisingly easy to scrounge. I've brought home a couple of cords of black locust, mulberry, cherry, oak, ash, elm, juniper, soft and hard maple. I enjoy the finding and cutting and splitting enough that I have to restrain myself from acquiring more wood than I can possibly store. I feel like volunteering to cut wood for other people, just for the fun of running my chainsaw and swinging the axe. Actually, I did just that the other day -- saw a neighbor splitting wood, pullled on my gloves, picked up the Fiskars, walked over, introduced myself and helped out for an hour or so. My stacks are more than full and my secondhand Husky 350 runs fine, yet I find myself watching for scrounges I have nowhere to put and shopping the classifieds for chainsaws I don't really need.
My plans for the summer include insulating above my block-off plate (an oversight that I think wasted a lot of heat this year), and building larger outdoor wood racks so I can keep about 2 years' worth on hand, which is probably the most I can hope for where I live. I also hope to improve the attic insulation; though I am enjoying the game of firewood acquisition and management, I dislike waste, and having to find and carry and split and shelter and carry again and clean up after every BTU makes me more aware of my energy consumption than I ever was when the most tangible indicator I had was a monthly statement from the gas or power company.
For the first time ever, I am looking forward to next winter even as the current one is ending.
Savvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
