Re: Using Wood for heat

Posted by Billy NY on March 14, 2009 at 07:57:21 from (74.67.3.238):

In Reply to: Using Wood for heat posted by 37 chief on March 13, 2009 at 18:52:45:

It is some work, thinking that around here you need at least one good chainsaw, a tractor with a bucket and forks, truck or wagon to haul it etc. at least that is what I do to bring in enough to feed the stove, an old ashley, with the cast iron top. Transfers heat quickly, and puts out quite a bit of BTU's Firebox is oval and good size, can put 22"-24" in there, but it will burn quite a bit of wood, especially when cold, will also provide heat for about 5-6 hours if you load it right, then stoke, rake or clean out the coals, depending on how much is in there, load er back up again, repeat..... This stove is in the basement, it keeps that area,(1/2 of which is also a 4 car garage) heated, when it's real cold it will get down to the low or mid 50's F, the heat rises up and heats the 1st floor with open joists in about 1/2 the house, keeps the 1st fl. thermostat from calling for heat, it does help quite a bit by keeping that oil fired furnace off. Still a dirty business, ash and some dust, wood debris. With moderate use, especially when cold, I figure it takes about 6 cord. Not air tight, so I could probably find one more efficient, and probably will, but I'm fortunate to have plenty of wood on the acreage here, + there is always free wood to be taken in this area, should be able to keep enough on hand for quite awhile. Dry seasoned wood, burns a little hotter, sometimes too fast and too hot, so often times I mix some in that has moisture, usually dead wood, recently cut, I can rotate some inside, place it near the stove, or vicinity, it dries, and checks nicely, though I burn some that is punked a bit, seems to balance out, not too dry, not to moist, cut an old hard maple, was dead 2 years, had some punk, 2/3 still hard, well even the punked part is hard, still burns nice, when super dry, real hot, though it seems the moisture is more water than anything, it don't sizzle/steam long when burning, and with all the kinds of wood I burn, in the 8"x12" flue, I have no creosote problems, and little to no smoke, so it seems to be burning efficiently as can be done, for the mixture I burn, need it a little hotter, just get some from the seasoned pile, stoke it right and that is it.

Have 2 other large fireplaces, both get fresh air for combustion from the outside,not heated air from inside, each has 4 vents on the inside, bottom ones take inside air in, heat same, 2 blowers return the heated air, one is field stone, the other brick, when they get heated up, both produce some serious heat, keeping both of these going, and a stove, now that would require a large quantity of wood, these fireplaces have 24" x 24" flues, they burn hot, without those heat-o-lator's, probably not efficient, it's been quite awhile since I've had them both going at the same time, but can remember the work involved with just keeping them lit, never mind all the processing and handling of the wood, if I were to use all three, might need 20+ cord, though the place has 6" walls and insulated well, keeping just the stove lit and enough wood for that seems to be quite an operation, never mind those fireplaces. Also on a hill with good sun exposure and lots of windows/glass facing west, so the sun heats the place up, can usually keep this place nice and warm, and have plenty of options to provide heat, that are efficient, but still a lot of work. I like gathering and cutting the wood, seems to help keep you fit, but never gets any easier, the older you get !

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