Roughly, how many tons would I expect to burn in a stove for a for a 7 year old (6") colonial of 2000 ft2 in the Northeast? Just trying to get a ballpark.
What's An Approximate Number of Tons Use for a Year in the Northeast?
- Thread starter velvetfoot
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil. -
Super Cedar firestarters 30% discount Use code Hearth2024 Click here
- Status
Dinger
Burning Hunk
True. When we had a cold winter a couple years ago I used 5 cords of wood. Would that be about 5 tons?
4-5 ton is a good ballpark. What stove are you looking at? Better to go Big and not need it, then to need it (Heat) and not have it 
Using just pellets, i used 4-4.5 ton a yr. Burn some wood now, so use much less now.
B)
Using just pellets, i used 4-4.5 ton a yr. Burn some wood now, so use much less now.
B)
How well insulated, weatherized is the home? Where exactly in the NE is the home? Is the home single or two storey? Does the home have new windows and doors? Lots of questions I know, but these factors can greatly determine your pellet usage.
Curious how gallons of oil consumed compare to switching to pellets and how many tons I would burn.
I'm actually thinking of a boiler like the windhager being advertised here. I imagine the whole house would be more evenly warm, but maybe it'd be a wash as far as usage compared to a stove, since the usual thing is to operate it higher than normal to warm the farther reaches of the house. I think it might be more efficient too.
It's a relatively new conventional house with 6" walls w/fiberglass, and extral fiberglass blown in on top of the r38 or whatever in the ceiling.
Sand lake NY according to his Avatar location and he stated he had a 7 yr old Colonial (2 story). So all windows and doors are only 7 yrs old and 2x6 constuction.
CT Pellet
Minister of Fire
Most of my customers do between 3 and 6 tons for a season. 4 tons is easily the most common delivery that we make. That is for a moderately insulated 1800 sq foot house using the pellet stove as the primary (not only) source of heat. 2000 sq ft?.....You're probably better off with the five.
I've said it before, from someone in The Great State of Tennessee, who may burn a ton this year. You guys are some tough mf'ers to put up with that cold. You're all better men then me.
chuckster
Burning Hunk
I use about five tons in a 60 year old two story. I would think you should be able to get by with no more than four tons. Just a guess. My house is not as well insulated as it should be.
![[Hearth.com] What's An Approximate Number of Tons Use for a Year in the Northeast?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/93/93610-7bdf894591d3b5216d40f2641ece8567.jpg?hash=yqnqPf-9za "[Hearth.com] What's An Approximate Number of Tons Use for a Year in the Northeast?")
![[Hearth.com] What's An Approximate Number of Tons Use for a Year in the Northeast?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/93/93611-9d0c074643782d9a3d74277d6df1d61c.jpg?hash=yBDyWNFtR1 "[Hearth.com] What's An Approximate Number of Tons Use for a Year in the Northeast?")
Speed3
Member
I literally just put bag number 107 in the hopper. This is my first year with the stove and I estimate I will be at 3.5 ton for the season when all is said and done. I am fully heating just over 1800 sq ft and partially heating another 550 sq feet of a 15 year old colonial with the 550 sq feet being a 12' ceiling room above the garage. The downstairs Is very open and I have a 2 story foyer which helps with heating the bedrooms. We have slept with the bedroom doors closed all winter and the rooms remain comfortable., more so than what I had the oil set at. The stove is mostly on low or medium low. The most pellets I've used in a day were 2 bags and that day had a high of 9 and was overcast and breezy. It's typically a bag a day.
The average is probably around 3 1/2 - 4 tons. I just dumped bag #116 in the hopper toady, so I'm guessing I'll be right around 3 1/2 tons when I'm done in the spring.
St_Earl
Minister of Fire
used 4.5 ton last year with an unwrapped, slat board wall, cedar shake sided 925 sq. foot single story house.
this year it's wrapped and vinyl sided and has more insulation.
but it's also been colder this year. (the last week or so being quite warm though)
i expect i'll use at least a small amount less than last year. but if i were you, with a bigger house even further south, i'd lay in 5.
you can always burn them the following year and you can get a good price in the spring.
actually, i'd buy as much as i had good storage for if i found a good price.
if you keep them dry they will last till you need them.
this year it's wrapped and vinyl sided and has more insulation.
but it's also been colder this year. (the last week or so being quite warm though)
i expect i'll use at least a small amount less than last year. but if i were you, with a bigger house even further south, i'd lay in 5.
you can always burn them the following year and you can get a good price in the spring.
actually, i'd buy as much as i had good storage for if i found a good price.
if you keep them dry they will last till you need them.
St_Earl
Minister of Fire
this all depends of what wood and how well seasoned (i'm not a woodburner)
someone else will have to comment. but i did read someone say say that a "good" cord of wood can be the equal of 1.5 ton of pellets.
like i say, someone else more experienced with burning wood would have to give the more trusted answer here.
Thanks everyone. Maybe taking into account the better efficiency with pellets compared to wood, 4 or 5 tons might be about right.
I burn about 3 tons @ 800 sq ft with the average room temp at 76....because I can.
Hoot23
Minister of Fire
This is my first full season with the stove. I'm guessing about 4.5 ton in our 2000 sq ft colonial
As a general rule, assume you will burn 1 bag a day everyday during the entire heating season. On the shoulder months you may burn less and more in the dead of winter, averaging out in the long run. So if you plan to heat the house with the stove from mid November to mid April, start with 150 bags the 4 ton mark would be a good start, as suggested. Good to have extra just incase.
I'm surprised nobody on here has recommended just buying a full truckload so you don't have to worry about running out.
Seems the op is new to pellets, so it's a better idea to try a few before committing to 18+ tons.
- Status
Similar threads
