Almost ready for winter

[Texasmark]

I heated my house with an Earth Stove brand wood stove from the time I built it in 1979 until 3 years ago. I converted over to a Propane stove when I got too old to fool with wood and because the sources pretty much dried up. I have supplemental electric in some rooms which doesn't cost much and my Propane bill this year ran $1k @ $2.55/gallon.

I like not having to get up in the morning to a freezing house and having to fool with the wood. Worth the cost to me.

 

[Blackhole49]

Sure would like to see what a winters' worth of wood looks like for southern CA. Can't imagine it's anywhere near what it takes for southern MI. Before natural gas became available, I was averaging 20 face cord a year. As soon as I converted from propane to natural gas, I removed the wood stove. At times I do miss the 78* when it is below 0*. But that's the only thing I miss.

 

[stevieb49829]

3-1/2 cords of hard maple in the shed. That keeps the shop cat comfy, and me too when I'm working on tractors and such. There's usually around 3/4 cord left in the shed in the spring, so not all that hard to fill the shed back up in the summer. We use a little in the house too, for that 78 degrees that Blackhole mentioned. The local industrial forest owners don't like the maple competing with their conifers so they hypo hatchet it. Lots of clumps of standing dead. Costs me $60 for their recreational use permit, which allows me 5 cords a year. My home made wood boiler is the bees knees. The floor is at 67 degrees this morning. I stuck a big round in it last night, and there's not even coals left. steve

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Here is a graph of my total electric home.
Fixed monthly $173 x 12 = $2076 total.

2000 ft main floor. 2 car garage. 1000 ft basement. Plus electricity for pole barn

No wood heat. Does your homeowner's insurance cost more if you heat with wood?

 

[Texasmark]

Neither State Farm when I had them nor current Farmer's had any objections....subject didn't even come up.

Nice elect bill. I have 3 meters and the base monthly meter rate is $30 each. Almost as much as the consumption for house, shop and garage in the spring and fall.

You did a nice job on your house conversion. I know you are proud of it, rightfully so.

 

[rick n ohio]

I'm ready but I sell all of this. I get free gas from a well on my farm.but eventually someday it will probably be plugged. But until then I'll enjoy it.