Wood consumption last year vs this year December and January

[goosegunner]

Weighed wood burns for Dec and Janurary the last 2 years.

Dec 2012, 3100 lbs Jan 2013, 3590 lbs

Dec 2013, 4430 lbs Jan 2014, 4655 lbs


2395 lbs more for the same period this year vs last

gg

 

[STIHLY DAN]

A little OCD maybe.

 

[velvetfoot]

gg,
May I ask how you weigh the wood? I can see rolling the wood cart over a scale or something like that.

 

[taxidermist]

I smoked thru way more wood this year for sure.

 

[goosegunner]

A little OCD maybe.

I have been accused of that before, you can't hurt my feelings.....

 

[goosegunner]

gg,
May I ask how you weigh the wood? I can see rolling the wood cart over a scale or something like that.

Spreadsheet on iPhone tells me how much wood to burn to hit target temps for tank.

I have a really nice shipping scale that I got on craigslist. 18" x 18" stainless. Its on a rolling table kept next to wood carts. Wood I need for the burn goes in a shopping cart and wheeled right to boiler. Makes for easy loading next to boiler, burn whats in the cart.

gg

 

[velvetfoot]

But, I'm still not clear how you weigh it.

 

[goosegunner]

20-30lbs on the scale, throw it in the cart, not a big deal.

The most I have ever burned for a 24 hour period is 200lbs. That was a -25 F day with 40-50 mph winds.

More typical is 130 or less.

I have considered modifying the shopping cart so I could put the scale in it and just load to desired weight. The scale has a remote display with a 6' cord. I think it is a Finnis. I looked it up once and it was over $250 new, I bought it for $50.

gg

 

[STIHLY DAN]

I have been accused of that before, you can't hurt my feelings.....

Wasn't meant as an insult. Many of us here have it, suppose that's why we are here.

 

[jebatty]

Way to go, Goose! Weighed wood burns provides a lot of info on how a boiler really is performing and how to get storage temp to where you want it without any idling.

 

[Coal Reaper]

my first year, but i have been averaging about 4000#'s per month. i am right on with the numbers i crunched when sizing system, 180#'s per 24 hours at 10*F average, but it has been quite cold this year. i think 220 has been my max for a day.

 

[JP11]

I'm 7.5 cords in from Oct 10. Not bad. I planned on 12. I had about 23 or so split when I started winter.

Neighbor has a logger in there. I'm having him cut me some tree length off my land. That's the way to get ahead.

JP

 

[henfruit]

I think we need some pictures of the inside of that boiler room.

 

[AK13]

Very interesting information! I'm very impressed by your record keeping. I can't imagine weighing my wood. Tracking my fuel fillups and mileage in my car is about as good as I can manage.

 

[Carprofessor]

Weighed wood burns for Dec and Janurary the last 2 years.

Dec 2012, 3100 lbs Jan 2013, 3590 lbs

Dec 2013, 4430 lbs Jan 2014, 4655 lbs


2395 lbs more for the same period this year vs last

gg

A quick look on the internet tells me that a cord of dry ash (20%) weighs almost 3200 lbs. Is it fair to say that you would have burned a little over 2 cords of wood in December and January? (If you are burning ash.) How much would you burn in a typical heating season?

 

[velvetfoot]

I just did the numbers and came up with 2.84 cords for Dec. and Jan '14.
(4430 +4655)/3200=2.84

 

[Carprofessor]

I just did the numbers and came up with 2.84 cords for Dec. and Jan '14.
(4430 +4655)/3200=2.84

This is very good information. I have been looking at gassers for about 10 years. Considered a Greenwood then. I understand it may be fortunate I couldn't afford it at that time. Propane has almost doubled in cost this year so I'm seriously looking again. Considering an Econoburn 100. Already have a hydronic system run by a propane boiler. I get my firewood delivered in log-length and cut and split it myself. I go through about 3-4 cords a year with a HE fireplace. I don't mind cutting firewood but don't want to do too much more. Looks to me that I would have to cut about twice as much as I do now. Does that sound about right?

 

[ihookem]

I burn 3 loads per day in my eko 25. I think it comes to 140 lbs per day. When it's cold and windy I put in another half load when I get home from work. I burned 11 face cords this year. A face cord is 1/3 of a cord. About 2 1/2 face cords were basswood ans poplar. I'm done burnign basswood. It isn't worth the time or effort.

 

[goosegunner]

A quick look on the internet tells me that a cord of dry ash (20%) weighs almost 3200 lbs. Is it fair to say that you would have burned a little over 2 cords of wood in December and January? (If you are burning ash.) How much would you burn in a typical heating season?

In the fall I move wood into my pole building. I put in 7 rows that are 6.5' tall and 14' long. wood is cut average of 18". The last two years it has been.

50% red pine
50% red oak

Last year I burned 5 rows. This year I will be starting my sixth about the 10th of march. Each row is .94 of a full cord but 18" wood not 16" as true cord measures.

It really only matters to each situation. I heat 2800 sq foot house in southern Wisconsin and keep my 840 sq ft garage about 40 degrees.

gg

 

[Fred61]

In the fall I move wood into my pole building. I put in 7 rows that are 6.5' tall and 14' long. wood is cut average of 18". The last two years it has been.

50% red pine
50% red oak

Last year I burned 5 rows. This year I will be starting my sixth about the 10th of march. Each row is .94 of a full cord but 18" wood not 16" as true cord measures.

It really only matters to each situation. I heat 2800 sq foot house in southern Wisconsin and keep my 840 sq ft garage about 40 degrees.

gg

Confused about your calculation. 6.5 x 14 x 1.5 = 136.5 cu. ft. You said it is cut to 18 inches I think. That would be a little more than a cord per row.
If it's cut to 16 inches 6.5 x 14 x 1.33 = 121.03 cu. ft. A little less than a cord.

 

[Standingdead]

I think I am burning about 20% more wood this year than last. Everyone I know is thoroughly sick of chopping ice buckets, near or below zero mornings, ice everywhere. I heard heating oil cost over $4 a gallon this year. Plenty of inspiration to go make a lot of wood later this year.

 

[Fred61]

I think I am burning about 20% more wood this year than last. Everyone I know is thoroughly sick of chopping ice buckets, near or below zero mornings, ice everywhere. I heard heating oil cost over $4 a gallon this year. Plenty of inspiration to go make a lot of wood later this year.

From Saratoga County NY? It ain't over yet Standingdead. Seen the weather report for the upcoming week?

 

[goosegunner]

Confused about your calculation. 6.5 x 14 x 1.5 = 136.5 cu. ft. You said it is cut to 18 inches I think. That would be a little more than a cord per row.
If it's cut to 16 inches 6.5 x 14 x 1.33 = 121.03 cu. ft. A little less than a cord.

Yes I did not factor in the .17 extra, that why I said but cut to 18 not 16.

I stand corrected.

gg

 

[Clarkbug]

This is very good information. I have been looking at gassers for about 10 years. Considered a Greenwood then. I understand it may be fortunate I couldn't afford it at that time. Propane has almost doubled in cost this year so I'm seriously looking again. Considering an Econoburn 100. Already have a hydronic system run by a propane boiler. I get my firewood delivered in log-length and cut and split it myself. I go through about 3-4 cords a year with a HE fireplace. I don't mind cutting firewood but don't want to do too much more. Looks to me that I would have to cut about twice as much as I do now. Does that sound about right?

How much propane do you typically go through in addition to the wood through your fireplace?

 

[Carprofessor]

How much propane do you typically go through in addition to the wood through your fireplace?

We have really cut back on propane this year, partly because it's gone up so much and partly because the supplier has let me run out despite several phone calls saying we were getting low. I need propane as a back up. Last year would be more typical. We did not try to heat the whole house with wood, instead letting the propane heat the basement (and heat rises!). Last year we burned about 3 cords of ash (hardwood) and 425 US gal (1600 litres) of propane.

I have started my own thread Boiler Selection to avoid hijacking this one.