Somebody told me yesterday that burning firewood really doesn’t make any sense.

[Itslay90]

Somebody told me yesterday that burning firewood really doesn’t make any sense. You have to cut the wood, split the wood, stack the wood, bring it into the house, clean the stove, throw the ashes out, and you have to keep doing this over and over and over and over again.

 

[djlew]

I think the opposite - it heats you multiple times! Way more efficient! :D

 

[stoveliker]

Me working for my heat does make good sense to me.

I can either do that with my job, get paid good dollars and buy oil to heat.
Or I can do that by bucking, swinging an axe, wheelbarrow transport, stacking, wheelbarrow back, stack in the garage, put it in a bag, carry it to the stove, put it in a rack there,.and put it in the stove.

I prefer the latter so I can do other things with the dollars from the former.
And my job doesn't make enough use of my body (and sometimes too much of my brain) so the wood stuff is healthy too for me.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Somebody told me yesterday that burning firewood really doesn’t make any sense. You have to cut the wood, split the wood, stack the wood, bring it into the house, clean the stove, throw the ashes out, and you have to keep doing this over and over and over and over again.

It's buried deep in our DNA to burn wood for light, safety, heat and cooking. Why fight it? I like the woods, and it's good to spend time there (except for bugs). I am past the point in my life where I heat with wood, but enjoy my pellet stove every day. I have a nice steel custom made outdoor stove and a gas and electric chainsaw.

 

[Turbo89]

It’s a lot of work, and equipment, so I’m sure for some folks they could convince themselves they’re saving money by working a few more hours of overtime to pay for oil, gas or electric heat.

I enjoy the process and playing with tools/saws/axes, so if I weren’t doing this I’d be spending that time and money on other tools, toys, etc, so for me I think it does save money and make sense.

 

[Whitenuckler]

It’s a lot of work, and equipment, so I’m sure for some folks they could convince themselves they’re saving money by working a few more hours of overtime to pay for oil, gas or electric heat.

I enjoy the process and playing with tools/saws/axes, so if I weren’t doing this I’d be spending that time and money on other tools, toys, etc, so for me I think it does save money and make sense.

I had to break down and get a 2001 Honda Shadow 750 this summer so I could have more things to fix

 

[fvhowler]

"You have to cut the wood, split the wood, stack the wood, bring it into the house, clean the stove, throw the ashes out, and you have to keep doing this over and over and over and over again."

I know...isn't it great!

 

[EncoreInMass]

We only switched to pellets because the Mrs. had enough of the 'dirty' side of wood heat. The hunting for wood, cutting, stacking was my job...she had no issues with that

 

[GG Woody]

Doing firewood / wood stoves, makes perfect sense to me, burning fuel to keep our family warm... Paying for a gym membership to repeatedly lift things that don't need to be lifted does not make sense to me...

 

[Eman85]

Somebody told me yesterday that burning firewood really doesn’t make any sense. You have to cut the wood, split the wood, stack the wood, bring it into the house, clean the stove, throw the ashes out, and you have to keep doing this over and over and over and over again.

It's the same as growing a garden vs buying your vegetables. If you don't get joy from it don't do it. We're in a society where things are a choice unlike years ago where your life was occupied with survival. We turn the faucet on for water instead of hauling it from a spring and we don't wash our clothes on the rocks, but it's good to know how if you needed to.

 

[brenndatomu]

Somebody told me yesterday that burning firewood really doesn’t make any sense

Yeah, well they be lazy.
What doesn't make sense to me is paying for your heat...then turn right around and pay for a gym membership to walk/run on a "gerbil wheel"
Firewooding is my heat and "free" gym membership

 

[JRHAWK9]

I enjoy the process and playing with tools/saws/axes,

yep! As a kid my toys were mostly confined to the sand box and around our small residential yard and the local park. As an adult my "sandbox" is now the woods and my toys are my chainsaws/ATV/splitter, etc. So to me, I consider them toys more than tools. This is how I justify paying to have my saws ported. As now that toy becomes even more fun to play with! When I'm out cutting, I'm literally like a kid outside playing with my toys.

What doesn't make sense to me is paying for your heat...then turn right around and pay for a gym membership to walk/run on a "gerbil wheel"
Firewooding is my heat and "free" gym membership

yep!! I actually gain weight in the summer and lose it in the winter. Completely opposite of most people. I'm more active in winter than I am in summer.

 

[Dataman]

Switched from Wood in 2018 to Harmon XXV. Nice not to mess with wood. But Pellets costs are unreal now. $400 per ton with more for delivery. I plan on ordering 5 tons next year. Burned 3 Gas last year vs 3 Tons. Have 1 Ton on Back Porch still. Replaced Heat Pump with Extreme Cold Weather Heat Pump. Using 97kw daily right now with temps down to 24f. With pellets I would use 1/2 to 1 bag this time of year. Most of my Electric costs is not Heat Pump, but Two 20 Sq Upright Freezers. One 20qf Garage Fridge and 22qf House Fridge, plus 2 5k heaters in Garage and Small 200sq ft shop, plus two 5k heaters in 600 sq ft shop. Last time I turned off everything heat pump was using 20kw or $1.20 per day this time of year (.006 kq). Madea G3 Evox has been great (Same as Carrier - 38MU). Downside it's too quiet and can't hear it outside my Bathroom Windows like old unit. Inside even less fan noise. I like to know when it's running. Unit will not run fan all the time to stop blowing cold air on you except in AC Mode. Plan on using up my pellets on back porch. Need that space next year for Floor Remodel to put things.

 

[andym]

Somebody told me yesterday that burning firewood really doesn’t make any sense. You have to cut the wood, split the wood, stack the wood, bring it into the house, clean the stove, throw the ashes out, and you have to keep doing this over and over and over

It makes more sense than a lot of hobbies people have. It provides exercise, time in the great outdoors, excuses to buy and operate power tools etc. Oh, and if you get creative with the accounting method you can even save some money.

 

[stoveliker]

Lol.
I have a $350 saw and a $80 or so x-27.
I surely am saving money.

 

[ewgny]

Somebody told me yesterday that burning firewood really doesn’t make any sense. You have to cut the wood, split the wood, stack the wood, bring it into the house, clean the stove, throw the ashes out, and you have to keep doing this over and over and over and over again.

Not to mention the fun chain saw and log splitter maintenance (and it is fun almost as fun as firearm maintenance), peaceful alone time, being off the honey do list and excellent exercise. And a as the old saying goes, "A man that heats his house with wood is twice warmed" !