How many splits per day are you going through
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It's very weather and split size dependant. Right now it's hovering around 0 degrees; so in a 24 hr period, I'll cycle through a dozen good size splits. If the temp is around 30 degrees, I'll burn half that or less.
Since split sizes vary, I tried to quantify the wood burnage in "pounds" of reasonably dry (1 year seasoned) wood.
In 0-10 degree days, I go through 160 pounds a day in my Lopi Freedom insert and the furnace kicks in occasionally to keep temps in my house above 67.
When the temp is 20-30 degrees, I go through 120 pounds a day, and the furnace never kicks in.
Mike
In 0-10 degree days, I go through 160 pounds a day in my Lopi Freedom insert and the furnace kicks in occasionally to keep temps in my house above 67.
When the temp is 20-30 degrees, I go through 120 pounds a day, and the furnace never kicks in.
Mike
Sen. John Blutarsky said:
That's right where I'm at. When I started burning a few years ago, my father-in-law told me to figure on one (medium-sized split) per hour on average during cold weather. I think that's about on the money.
What type of wood? What size splits? What stove? What outside temp? What inside temp? What if I told you I was going through 14 splits in a 12-hour period...what would that mean to you? Some of us (the members here) burn only hardwoods, while some of us burn only softwoods. Big difference. Some folks like their splits fairly small, while others prefer them heftier. Big difference. You might want to think about framing your question more specifically. The way your question reads right now, you could get answers anywhere from like "4" to "48". What would that tell you? Rick
I go through a face cord in about 10 days in really cold weather. How many splits in a face cord? Divide that by ten and that's how many I use a day.
Most of the time, I put it in as fast as the stove will eat it. In updraft mode (internal damper open and secondary air closed), I leave the primary air 1/2 to 3/4 open and keep about 4-5 splits burning. Every hour or so, I toss in a couple more in about the 4-5" size. In the evening, I fill it with about 3-4 large splits and let it die down. Then about an hour before I go to bed, I fill it to the top with 5-6 very large splits packed as tight as I can get them, open up the primary all the way until it's roaring, let it burn that way for about 20 minutes and then shut it down for the night. So maybe 20 or so decent splits and several small ones when needed. I bring in a big hand cart full every afternoon to replace what I burned the day before. The indoor wood stack keeps getting smaller, so more than a hand cart a day right now in this bitter cold weather.
This new stove eats a lot more wood than my old one, but temps inside are at least 5º warmer than I've ever been able to get them, so I'm not complaining. I'll probably go through five cords instead of my usual four, but no more sub-sixties mornings like with the old one. In fact, even though the stove is in the basement, temp was 69º on the first floor when I awoke, even though outside temps dipped to near 0ºF. No other heat source.
Maybe next year I'll think about buying one of the new EPA stoves you all are raving about here. I can see me being very happy with that Jotul Oslo if it truly gets more heat out of the same amount of wood, and less creosote wouldn't sadden me in the least.
Most of the time, I put it in as fast as the stove will eat it. In updraft mode (internal damper open and secondary air closed), I leave the primary air 1/2 to 3/4 open and keep about 4-5 splits burning. Every hour or so, I toss in a couple more in about the 4-5" size. In the evening, I fill it with about 3-4 large splits and let it die down. Then about an hour before I go to bed, I fill it to the top with 5-6 very large splits packed as tight as I can get them, open up the primary all the way until it's roaring, let it burn that way for about 20 minutes and then shut it down for the night. So maybe 20 or so decent splits and several small ones when needed. I bring in a big hand cart full every afternoon to replace what I burned the day before. The indoor wood stack keeps getting smaller, so more than a hand cart a day right now in this bitter cold weather.
This new stove eats a lot more wood than my old one, but temps inside are at least 5º warmer than I've ever been able to get them, so I'm not complaining. I'll probably go through five cords instead of my usual four, but no more sub-sixties mornings like with the old one. In fact, even though the stove is in the basement, temp was 69º on the first floor when I awoke, even though outside temps dipped to near 0ºF. No other heat source.
Maybe next year I'll think about buying one of the new EPA stoves you all are raving about here. I can see me being very happy with that Jotul Oslo if it truly gets more heat out of the same amount of wood, and less creosote wouldn't sadden me in the least.
Stove pre-EPA, room at 80°F, outside 0°F and windy, oak splits seasoned 3+ years, 18 inches long, fist diameter, = roughly 15 splits.
All of the above except outside 40°F sunny and calm, = maybe 2 or 3 splits.
All of the above except outside 40°F sunny and calm, = maybe 2 or 3 splits.
Too many variables. That is why it is better to ask how much wood per heating season. Here, it is 3 cords of ash (50%), elm (10%), soft maple (35%) and cherry (5%).
During the week, I usually burn 6 or so splits per load, two loads per day (~7:00am, ~7:00pm).
During the weekend, the reload schedule changes a little but, the but split count stays roughly the same.
I'm not burning super large splits. Probably what most everyone here would consider small and medium sized.
-SF
During the weekend, the reload schedule changes a little but, the but split count stays roughly the same.
I'm not burning super large splits. Probably what most everyone here would consider small and medium sized.
-SF
I have a large tupperware storage tub (looks about the size of a large igloo cooler). I fill it in the morning with 24-30 splits. It will last until the next morning. Roughly 1 average split consumed per hour, although I am not feeding it that way.
Yaron2 said:
With the basement install I would guess about 19.36 (Cherry). I'm guessing that there are about 300 ( correct me if I'm wrong) pieces of wood per face cord and from Dec 1. - Dec. 31 we will have burned 2 face cord.
Zap
Cold day peak 23 splits, warm day didn't even have a fire. General "normal" days it seems I'm running about 16-18/day.
So far for December my average is 15.875 splits/day. I'm averaging 761 splits/cord with what I have carried up to my deck this winter.
I'm burning 'mixed hardwood' with a decent amount of oak and hickory in it. Much of it has some punk on it. It came from so many places that it is hard to say it is uniform in quality or seasoning but it is reasonably well seasoned - all at least 2 years old.
So far for December my average is 15.875 splits/day. I'm averaging 761 splits/cord with what I have carried up to my deck this winter.
I'm burning 'mixed hardwood' with a decent amount of oak and hickory in it. Much of it has some punk on it. It came from so many places that it is hard to say it is uniform in quality or seasoning but it is reasonably well seasoned - all at least 2 years old.
12 hours is too short of a sample time. I could load up the stove and wait 12 hours and 2 minutes to resurrect the fire from coals or load it up twice in 12 hours or just toss in a couple of splits whenever I feel like it.
...nevermind there are guys on here with stoves so big a split is defined as anything smaller than the diameter of a telephone pole.
Never bothered to count . . . too many variables . . . how cold it is inside, how cold it is outside, whether I'm home for the day or if it's during the week and/or if my wife is working on that day or home, size of the splits (small, medium, large), type of wood (softwood which burns up quicker or hardwood), etc.
All I know is I keep adding the splits until the firebox is full . . . repeat when the firebox is down to small to medium sized coals.
All I know is I keep adding the splits until the firebox is full . . . repeat when the firebox is down to small to medium sized coals.
Heating 2900 sq. ft with EQ. Told myself that this year we are not gonna count. Gonna keep the house toasty and not worry about quantity. All I knoe is my gas bill last month was $18.00. I have a gas water heater!! Turned off the gas to the furnace so even the pilot light is off. House is 5 degrees warmer than with last years furnace.
I don't know for sure...whatever it takes, that's what we throw in. If we're in an about the house usually 3 splits in diff burn stages are what's in the stove. Those 3 splits will give us our magic # anywhere between 500°-650°.
There are way to many variables to truly compare, especially when looking at stove size, wood type, location, the space of the house in sq. ft. and volume of the house. I use a large heaping wheelbarrow load everyday when its 30 or below, but I'm trying to heat 2,550 sq. ft. of space with a great room with high ceilings so the same volume as a house of about 3,300 sq. ft. with an insert rated for less than 2,000 sq. ft. Last year I used about 5-6 cords of half seasoned wood and a little oil. The bottom line is we all love this site and its still fun to ask the questions and compare. Wish I used less wood or the wife would have been good with a free standing large stove rather than the insert - but we all know when choosing a stove you get the one approved by the Boss.
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