Got a suprise today

[Vg3200p]

Little backstopry. Bought house October last year. Had 60yr old furnace that didn't work. But had 70% propane left in tank. So I install new furnace myself. Also build hearth and build chimney and install our stove myself. We used the new furnace to supplement for maybe 2 weeks last year. Just to keep basement pipes from freezing. So needless to say we never had to fill the tank. And wouldnt need to filll it again this year as its just an emergency backup at this point. Get a call at work today and gas company says hey you have to buy 800 gallons of propane a year to keep the tank. So I declined. And by the time I got home the tank was already gone. So we are officially 100% wood heat now

 

[stoveliker]

Well, easier mowing

I quite dislike the "we only fill our own tanks", especially if it's combined with "you gotta buy xx gallons to keep our tank".
Extortion, imo.

 

[Vg3200p]

Yes. Not a bad thing that it happened. This was the eventual goal for me anyway. But I was figuring on that propane safety net for at least a few more years. Oh well. Looks like it's time to take that money the propane would've cost and spend on more insulation I guess

 

[GrumpyDad]

I hope they gave you money for what they will extract from that? If not I would consider legal action.

 

[bholler]

Yes. Not a bad thing that it happened. This was the eventual goal for me anyway. But I was figuring on that propane safety net for at least a few more years. Oh well. Looks like it's time to take that money the propane would've cost and spend on more insulation I guess

You have a new furnace I would personally get a 100 lb tank and hook it up as a backup. Just take it and get it topped off at the end of the year.

 

[stoveliker]

Yeah, grumpy is right: the propane in there was yours. They gotta pay.

 

[begreen]

Yes, I bought my own tank years ago when we remodeled and pulled the propane furnace. It just feeds the cooktop, but I could run the generator on it in a pinch. Now I can choose who fills it and when.

 

[brenndatomu]

So we are officially 100% wood heat now

Hope you have enough truly dry wood in inventory...

 

[Vg3200p]

Grumpy dad I didn't even think of that. Just called and they said they will mail a check. Thanks

I hope they gave you money for what they will extract from that? If not I would consider legal action.

 

[Vg3200p]

You have a new furnace I would personally get a 100 lb tank and hook it up as a backup. Just take it and get it topped off at the end of the year.

That may happen. It depends on what the Mrs(theboss) decides what to cold is lol

 

[begreen]

That may happen. It depends on what the Mrs(theboss) decides what to cold is lol

It's an insurance policy in case you both get sick or want to take a winter vacation.

 

[Vg3200p]

Hope you have enough truly dry wood in inventory...

Have about 10 cords in my pile. Would say over 50% of that is under 20% moisture. As of now. 1st coubple loads ive pulled off the pile have had some single digit mc. I'm figuring on 5 to 6 cord usage so should be about right.

 

[ericm979]

Wow they were fast. Propane companies here will leave a tank on your property for months.

Look into buying a tank. From what I hear they got expensive during the pandemic but prices may be down some now. But first check that the local suppliers will fill customer owned tanks. Some won't, or require the tank be recertified.

 

[peakbagger]

If you have mortgage, the bank would really like you to have a backup.

 

[Vg3200p]

Wow they were fast. Propane companies here will leave a tank on your property for months.

Look into buying a tank. From what I hear they got expensive during the pandemic but prices may be down some now. But first check that the local suppliers will fill customer owned tanks. Some won't, or require the tank be recertified.

Yeah I wasn't expecting it to be gone. The lady on the phone quoted high tank prices as the reason they needed it back if I wasn't buying gas. So I'm guessing they are still high

 

[Vg3200p]

If you have mortgage, the bank would really like you to have a backup.

I do have a mortgage. But we always pay on time and we pay ahead. So no disrespect. But I don't care what the bank likes. My install on the wood stove is up to code. The house is 100 yrs old.The house was bought as is with an inoperational furnace so i don't see how they can require one. Again no disrespect meant to you

 

[stoveliker]

I don't think it's the mortgage holder that matters. It's the (required because of mortgage) insurance on the house that often requires it. They don't want to pay for frozen pipes, and the response "I heat with wood" does not often sway them.

Then again, your home, your (well, the boss's... ;-) ) choices.

 

[Vg3200p]

I don't think it's the mortgage holder that matters. It's the (required because of mortgage) insurance on the house that often requires it. They don't want to pay for frozen pipes, and the response "I heat with wood" does not often sway them.

Then again, your home, your (well, the boss's... ;-) ) choices.

My insurance company does know tgat I heat with wood they have pictures if that makes a difference. I'm hoping as part of the remodel the I can remedy the frozen pipe problem. There is one room on a crawl instead of the basement. I have no idea why.That was the 1 that froze last year. And that room is being converted from a bathroom to a pantry. So no more need for water there. All water lines need replaced any how I would say that 90% of them are original to 1920.

 

[Dix]

Sounds like Paraco.

I hate Paraco.

 

[Ashful]

Good riddance on the rented tank!

But bholler and begreen have the right idea, IMO. Get a small tank, just enough for 2-3 weeks on the furnace, at the ready in case you get sick, injured, or otherwise leave the house during heating season.

 

[ozarkoak]

We are 100% wood here too. I was slightly nervous about getting insurance with wood as the only source of heat. I really don't think they could care any less. I was pretty surprised at how little they cared. Small town, small town agent and a lot of people that use wood in the area. I know my wife as a born and raised city girl had her doubts but we fixed that when her coworkers were crying about 65 degree houses and $600 heating bills.

 

[peakbagger]

I broke my ankle last November and it didnt get rebuilt until January. My wood boiler is in my basement. I really appreciated having an unattended backup if I really needed it. Turns out I could run the boiler on crutches with a bit of help loading wood into my bulkhead but I expect for most folks less hardcore than I, they would have appreciated being able to turn on the furnace.

 

[Vg3200p]

I broke my ankle last November and it didnt get rebuilt until January. My wood boiler is in my basement. I really appreciated having an unattended backup if I really needed it. Turns out I could run the boiler on crutches with a bit of help loading wood into my bulkhead but I expect for most folks less hardcore than I, they would have appreciated being able to turn on glad your

I broke my ankle last November and it didnt get rebuilt until January. My wood boiler is in my basement. I really appreciated having an unattended backup if I really needed it. Turns out I could run the boiler on crutches with a bit of help loading wood into my bulkhead but I expect for most folks less hardcore than I, they would have appreciated being able to turn on the furnace.

Hopefully you ankle is healed now. We probably will get a small tank at some point. This winter is doubtful for it though. We have alot of money to spend on remodel before our second kid comes. And just found 4 roof leaks lol. Thankfully for the rain though we needed it. I also try to train my family to be hard-core. No ac in summer. Probably upper 40s to low 50s in house last winter. I want my family to be acclimated somewhat to hard times before the true hard times get here. I figure people lived in heat and cold for millions of years. We can handle a little bit of it

 

[kennyp2339]

Not as bad as propane, but I occasionally have a hard time buying home heating oil, most companies around my area want me to sign up as a member, create a user profile and sign for a service plan, I explain that I literally need a 250gal tank filled every other year, a few in the past have said no dice, takes a couple calls to different companies to get the delivery and cheapest price figured out, the other thing that "bugs me" is in the phone book or google, I can get 5 different companies on a quick search, but those same 5 companies are affiliated together as one large company. So after filling the tank, I'm usually happy its done and over with for a while, also nice to have the backup incase I'm gone.

 

[Ashful]

Not as bad as propane, but I occasionally have a hard time buying home heating oil, most companies around my area want me to sign up as a member, create a user profile and sign for a service plan, I explain that I literally need a 250gal tank filled every other year, a few in the past have said no dice, takes a couple calls to different companies to get the delivery and cheapest price figured out, the other thing that "bugs me" is in the phone book or google, I can get 5 different companies on a quick search, but those same 5 companies are affiliated together as one large company. So after filling the tank, I'm usually happy its done and over with for a while, also nice to have the backup incase I'm gone.

Yeah, I have this problem with my buried 500 gal propane tank, which is only filled every 5-8 years. I just let them sign me up for their stupid contract now, to make their system and people happy, and tell them to put me down as “will call” only, no automatic delivery.

Last time this didn’t work, they still showed up for automatic delivery after a month, and could only get 8 gallons into the tank, and wanted to hit me with a delivery fee. I just re-forwarded them the email showing that I was to be “will call”, and they dropped the charges.