I really dont understand the point of going off grid then relying on people for your fuel your maintenance etc etc etc. And 3.6 tons would absolutely not be enough for the year to heat a log cabin that size with those temps. I doubt 6 cords of probably soft wood will be either
Woodstove for interior Alaska cabin
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3.6 tons of coal for 4 months, not for the full year: Dec, Jan, Feb, March.
Wood logs for 4 months: Oct, Nov, Apr, May.
It doesn't stay -58 below zero all winter. In Fairbanks in Dec 2025 it stayed below -40 for 12 days. Usually it's 1 to 2 days in December it gets that cold.
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Yes i am aware it doesn't stay thst cold all the time. But 3 to 4 tons is average here in central pa with much milder temps heating for 5 to 6 months. I think.you are really underestimating the heat that will be needed for a log cabin that big in thst climate
The point remains that a proper manual J calculation is needed to get some reliable BTU needs numbers.
Only then, combined with HDD, can you make an informed estimate of your heating needs
Only then, combined with HDD, can you make an informed estimate of your heating needs
That's just semantics, it's going to be built. Are there working plans yet that indicate the insuilation spec? Let's have some actual manual-j calculations. So far, this is just speculation. The requirements and options for building per-PA spec are going to be very different from building to Fairbanks, AK spec.
Yes but is it an actual log cabin or is it just sided with log and has sealed and insulated walls?
There are various opinions on how independent you must be before earning the badge of being off grid. Most just define it as not being physically connected to any utilities. Nobody is independent of civilization to provide food, materials, fuel, chemicals, textiles, weapons, tools, etc. Unless you can find a tarzan in the woods somewhere and it won't be in alaska! Being not attached to utilities is an accomplishment and opens up the possibility of living in unique places.
Coal sounds fine. I would want either the coal stove or the woodstove to be able to independently heat the home fully. That's what they call redundancy. Another thought is the oil stoves that require no electric like those that were made just a few years ago by Kuma in Idaho.
Purchasing wood, needing a mechanic for generators, again, please have a solid evacuation plan. We don't want to hear that you (The OP) turned into a popsicle.
Oh and as far as firewood storage, that's no big deal. I have a little 200 SF wood shed that holds 11 cords. It's like the size of a garden shed. Your log cabin builder can bang one out easy. You'll need space for tons of coal too.
Please explain how you will get a log cabin walls to have a higher R value than a 2x4 wall insulated with fiberglass?
@ Log Home,
Yes you should ask your builder about insulation for your log cabin. I think they can build 'phony' interior walls in log cabins that can be stuffed with insulation/or foam board used. This is similar to stick frame builders who do the double wall system. If I was building in interior Alaska I would consider insulated concrete forms - if there is a manufacturer in Alaska, else it would probably be too expensive.
Or you can putlog cabin siding on an ICF house.
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I recall a log home system that used split log halves with a 4" foa, insulation cavity between the interior and exterior faces. I'll have to look up the insulation value but it was decent.
Yes of course no one is truly off grid completely. But if I was going to live in.a remote area like that even if connected to the grid I would have spare parts and knowledge to fix all essentials. And would be processing my own fuel as much as possible while buying backup sources
Is this all hypothetical yet? Do you have plans? Do you have a builder lined up? If you do, exactly what kind of exterior walls/R-value are they?
Siding and insiding. Visually, it has the look and feel of one while having the ability to stand up to the cold.
My wife grew up in a large log home made of chestnut. It was dark on the inside and walls were dust collectors, so I might opt for brighter and easier to clean walls, especially in an area with 3 hrs of winter daylight.
There's also hybrids log homes which can have up to R30 walls.
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I’m not going to disagree that it’s a good, even great, alternative, but even they are calling it log siding, not a log home.
True log homes can be a bear with things like bats, and wood boring insects. The siding could eliminate many of those issues. We have literally worn out electric caulk guns on them. 1 log duplex physically ate 2 brand new Ridgid caulk guns, lol.
True log homes can be a bear with things like bats, and wood boring insects. The siding could eliminate many of those issues. We have literally worn out electric caulk guns on them. 1 log duplex physically ate 2 brand new Ridgid caulk guns, lol.
The cool thing about log homes is the actual floor plans typically used. Lofts, tall ceilings, steep pitches. For whatever reason, stickbuilt homes are much more boring. Logs seem like a horrible choice for a building material. You can custom build anything but it just doesn't happen much. I noticed this when looking for a house to move to in various states. Log homes were always cool homes but the problem is they use logs!
ICF seems like a good idea, it's a little more expensive upfront but, saves money in the long run with better insulation.
Yes, better insulation and better sealing = lower heating losses.
A reliable abundant affordable heat source in a very cold area where someone will be living in is obviously one of the top priorities along with proper insulation. The more I do reading into anthracite coal availability in Alaska, it's quite clear it's not an option.
I been calling around anthracite coal producers/distributors and most do not ship to Alaska. Anthracite coal stoves are rare in Alaska for a reason. The idea of a coal stove was a good idea only for it's performance but, it's just not practical in Alaska, it's not widely available. It's a shame since they have such long burn times and low maintenance. I contacted Blaschak Anthracite one of the top producers of anthracite coal and they do not ship to Alaska. So, a anthracite coal stove is out of the picture. Back to the Blaze King King 40.
The question is, is one Blaze King King 40 sufficient to heat the cabin or should a smaller second wood stove be installed in the corner of the first floor or hallway on second floor?
Is there a way to get even more performance out of that Blaze King by having brick or stone built around the stove on the floor and wall within reason ? The brick or stone can also add to the appearance.
Highbeam, your 200 square foot wood shed that holds 11 cords is a good idea and something I've thought about for a while, I just didn't know how big it had to be to hold that many cords of wood but, knowing that your shed can hold 11 cords has given me a lot of confidence.
I been calling around anthracite coal producers/distributors and most do not ship to Alaska. Anthracite coal stoves are rare in Alaska for a reason. The idea of a coal stove was a good idea only for it's performance but, it's just not practical in Alaska, it's not widely available. It's a shame since they have such long burn times and low maintenance. I contacted Blaschak Anthracite one of the top producers of anthracite coal and they do not ship to Alaska. So, a anthracite coal stove is out of the picture. Back to the Blaze King King 40.
The question is, is one Blaze King King 40 sufficient to heat the cabin or should a smaller second wood stove be installed in the corner of the first floor or hallway on second floor?
Is there a way to get even more performance out of that Blaze King by having brick or stone built around the stove on the floor and wall within reason ? The brick or stone can also add to the appearance.
Highbeam, your 200 square foot wood shed that holds 11 cords is a good idea and something I've thought about for a while, I just didn't know how big it had to be to hold that many cords of wood but, knowing that your shed can hold 11 cords has given me a lot of confidence.
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