Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: woodman on February 09, 2012, 11:31:20 AM

Title: Wood consumption thread
Post by: woodman on February 09, 2012, 11:31:20 AM
I know there are so many variables it makes it hard to compare these stoves but I thought it would be interesting to try. List as much info as you can, and don't forget to tell us where you live.

I am in Michigan, I heat my house (73*)2800 sq ft, garage (55*)600 sq ft and dhw for 5. My boiler is a hawken he1000 this is its 5th season. Last year I used 12-13 cord. This year (unless March is brutal) I should be between 8-10 full cord. I strike one match in mid October and run until late April early May. 
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: tbone on February 09, 2012, 12:01:33 PM
I am in PA, Family of 5 and really take advantage of the DHW.  I heat my 2,600 sq ft home to 72* and 600 sq ft basement to 70* from October to May. So far, I put about 5 chord through, and I am on my 2nd ton of coal.  I plan on purchasing another ton of coal to get me through the rest of the season.  Last year I went through about 10+ chord.  This is season #6 for my stove...first year burning coal.
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: powerstroke on February 09, 2012, 04:11:12 PM
Just went through cord #8 yesterday.  Started burning September 28 and has been burning ever since.  3300 sq foot home, 2200 sq ft shop.  Keep my house at 70 during the day, 73 in evenings, shop at 68 24/7.  Heat hot water also.  Shop gets the doors raised annd lowered alot and I have a paint booth which draws preheated shop air through so the demand is rather large!  Plus it is nice to pull your iced up car into and have a nice warm car to get into in the morning!  Heating all this with propane would be astronomical!!!!  I couldn't be happier!
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: willieG on February 09, 2012, 04:15:52 PM
Just went through cord #8 yesterday.  Started burning September 28 and has been burning ever since.  3300 sq foot home, 2200 sq ft shop.  Keep my house at 70 during the day, 73 in evenings, shop at 68 24/7.  Heat hot water also.  Shop gets the doors raised annd lowered alot and I have a paint booth which draws preheated shop air through so the demand is rather large!  Plus it is nice to pull your iced up car into and have a nice warm car to get into in the morning!  Heating all this with propane would be astronomical!!!!  I couldn't be happier!

AMEN
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: MattyNH on February 09, 2012, 06:40:04 PM
Just went through cord #8 yesterday.  Started burning September 28 and has been burning ever since.  3300 sq foot home, 2200 sq ft shop.  Keep my house at 70 during the day, 73 in evenings, shop at 68 24/7.  Heat hot water also.  Shop gets the doors raised annd lowered alot and I have a paint booth which draws preheated shop air through so the demand is rather large!  Plus it is nice to pull your iced up car into and have a nice warm car to get into in the morning!  Heating all this with propane would be astronomical!!!!  I couldn't be happier!

AMEN
I bet its one of the best investments you've made in recent years!!
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: powerstroke on February 09, 2012, 07:25:32 PM
Matty and willie, I view it kinda like a hobby....but one that actually pays you back in a big way!!!   :thumbup:
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: Scott7m on February 09, 2012, 08:14:23 PM
Heatmaster 5000E

Heating dhw and 22-2300 sq ft. 

I've burned 2 rows of wood 7-8 feet high and 16 feet long

Also probably half ton of coal, the weather here has been crazy
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: TheBoiler on February 09, 2012, 09:40:45 PM
That is a lot of footage, presumably well insulated?

I know my wood consumption goes up a lot with the wind.

Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: woodman on February 10, 2012, 06:55:48 AM
That is a lot of footage, presumably well insulated?

I know my wood consumption goes up a lot with the wind.

Not sure who this was refering to, but if it was me, yes the house and garage are well insulated and yes my wood consumption goes up when the wind blows as I have a lot of windows.
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: BIGDIESEL20S on February 10, 2012, 07:01:03 AM
This is my first season with my new hardy H2 so I am still making adjustments to loading times and amounts. But so far the best I can figure Ive used almost 5 cord so far since Oct 1st. But here in southeast MO Ive had 15f nights and some 70f days so far this winter. Good ol southest MO weather. I hope to keep better tabs on wood next year.
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: donahuej on February 10, 2012, 02:47:36 PM
American Royal 7300 heating a 4000 square foot rancher with 14' ceilings, wife and two teenage daughters constantly using the free hot water.  In the spring & fall I also heat our 18x36 in ground pool.  I will use 8 chords this season - it's been mild here in NJ.  The pool would eat half that if I wanted to keep it at 80 year round; we use it to heat he pool May and in the fall October-ish.
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: pintopaul on February 10, 2012, 06:35:21 PM
old model wood master 434 , 2000 square foot temp set at 76 (to warm for me but wife and kids are happy) started sept 12 till now have burned almost 6 full cords . NOT 1 DROP OF OIL. wood cost was my time ,gas and oil for chainsaw,wood splitter and 4 wheeler . upstate new york temps been averaging around 20 not to bad so far.
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: PatrickfromPA on February 10, 2012, 08:18:29 PM
I have a 4000 square ft house and 3500 sq ft garage.  Wood Boilers are awesome.  My heating bills 3 years ago were 2200 bucks a month for the house and garage. The thing was it was set at 75 and we could only get this uninsulated house up to 63 degrees. Turns out there is no insulation in the walls or floors. We bought this house off of people who left for florida in october. So, we were completely fooled by the $500 month heating bills. which we figured out that were leaving the heat set at 45 not to let the pipes freeze.  So, first winter my cord count was 20 cords from october 1 to may 1. 2nd year with new windows cord count went down to 15 cords.  Third year isn't over yet but i am at 9 cords but i added radiant floor heat which was perhaps the most amazing thing I have ever done. Thank you wood boiler you are awesome!
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: woodman on February 11, 2012, 06:55:16 PM
Was hoping some of the guys with gassers would chime in here.
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: martyinmi on February 11, 2012, 07:50:48 PM
Was hoping some of the guys with gassers would chime in here.
OK, I'll bite.
  I just hit the 3 full cord mark about a week or two ago. Also,I did burn some bolt,nut, nail and chain infested wood by brother in law dropped off from one of his throw bale wagons that still had evidence of red paint on it. It wasn't stacked, but there was probably about 1/3 cord there. So it's going to be roughly 3 1/2 cords so far. House is 1800 sq. ft. or thereabouts plus DHW. It's insulated nearly as well as a corncrib. Planned to use 5-6 cord. Probably end up going through 4 1/2.

   Anyone have any idea when winter will hit us? I want to give the 250 a workout but ma nature ain't cooperating  >:(
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: woodman on February 11, 2012, 08:03:13 PM
Was hoping some of the guys with gassers would chime in here.
OK, I'll bite.
  I just hit the 3 full cord mark about a week or two ago. Also,I did burn some bolt,nut, nail and chain infested wood by brother in law dropped off from one of his throw bale wagons that still had evidence of red paint on it. It wasn't stacked, but there was probably about 1/3 cord there. So it's going to be roughly 3 1/2 cords so far. House is 1800 sq. ft. or thereabouts plus DHW. It's insulated nearly as well as a corncrib. Planned to use 5-6 cord. Probably end up going through 4 1/2.

   Anyone have any idea when winter will hit us? I want to give the 250 a workout but ma nature ain't cooperating  >:(

OK now I am jealous. I don't now how our heat loads compare exactly but I do know we live in the same climate and you are going to end up using half the wood I am. BTW I had -1 here this morning and the wind never let up all day. Doesn't sound like it is going to last long though I saw 40 on the 8 day.
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: Chugger4030 on February 13, 2012, 05:31:30 AM
I have used about 4 1/2 cords since the middle of september. Weather has been warmer than normal. I live in nw pa. Heating roughly 2400 sq ft home and 1500 sq ft basement. Lots of windows as well. I have a cb 4030 and installed the t restrictor and did notice about a 2 or 3 hour longer burn time.
Title: Re: Wood consumption thread
Post by: plumb bob on February 13, 2012, 10:34:38 AM
Northern Wisconsin. I think this is the warmest winter n record, although I did have -22 and -24 two mornings in a row. CB 5036 installed 6/11 and fired for the first time 10/5/11. have burned 90% pine because of an addition we put on and had to cut down the trees. Approx. 6 cords, but like I said it's mostly pine. I have been burning some green hardwood lately because pine is gone, prolly 1 1/2 cords. house is 2200 sq ft 69*, garage 24x30 60*.