Outdoor Wood Furnace Info
All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: andyhowardcity on October 25, 2013, 07:52:57 PM
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Hello all,
Now that I have everything installed and working, I wanted to say something about the emotion of all this process. It has been very intense. There is a feeling of freedom from all this - the idea of very sensible solution to the many challenging years of being at the oil man's mercy.
Has anyone else had the same experience?
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Hello all,
Now that I have everything installed and working, I wanted to say something about the emotion of all this process. It has been very intense. There is a feeling of freedom from all this - the idea of very sensible solution to the many challenging years of being at the oil man's mercy.
Has anyone else had the same experience?
Yes... Every day, and every time I finish up a job and know how beneficial it will be to them in there future. Also all over again when they see ya out and tell you there saving 400 or more per month and have never felt more comfy
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Hello all,
Now that I have everything installed and working, I wanted to say something about the emotion of all this process. It has been very intense. There is a feeling of freedom from all this - the idea of very sensible solution to the many challenging years of being at the oil man's mercy.
Has anyone else had the same experience?
Yes... Every day, and every time I finish up a job and know how beneficial it will be to them in there future. Also all over again when they see ya out and tell you there saving 400 or more per month and have never felt more comfy
I agree with scott I am not a dealer like him but I do help friends hook stuff up if they need a helping hand......I enjoy seeing another family free from the oil or propane man... who have them locked in a very high prices......you leave with a big smile on your face knowing there heat is either free wood or can buy it pretty reasonable.......and the family now can afford to heat there house... and can leave it on a warm setting now not worrying about the fuel bill ;D
kelly
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You hit the nail square on the head, this is why we do what it is that we do.
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Andy I don't wanna come off as negative but... if you figure the initial cost of the stove and all the accesories plus if you buy firewood or cut your own. The time and labor involved with splitting and stacking and then figure in electricity use for pump operation etc. I love my stove and am glad I have it but then again if I was to do the figures with or without the stove I am probably only saving 1500 bucks a year. Let's say you go on weekend vacations alot then you gotta find a babysitter for it etc. Like I say I haven't seen a propane truck in a year since I got my stove. But then again I have been laboring quite a bit here and there. If I didn't have my Kubota L3400 to fetch wood I would've never bought a wood stove.
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Oh Boy, lets talk about hidden costs, did you ever think about the hidden costs of oil or gas, the billions of subsideis and costs of wars to keep the out of pocket costs for oil and gas down, I for one am pretty tired of our representatives stealing our tax dollars to promote products that I do not use, I LOVE THE LIBERTY THAT MY WOOD BOILER GIVES ME WITH MY LABOR.
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I try to work smarter not harder I have a tree guys bring me wood for free already cut and they put it in a pile next to the stove you cant beat that, its all soft wood but it all makes free heat
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Oh Boy, lets talk about hidden costs, did you ever think about the hidden costs of oil or gas, the billions of subsideis and costs of wars to keep the out of pocket costs for oil and gas down, I for one am pretty tired of our representatives stealing our tax dollars to promote products that I do not use, I LOVE THE LIBERTY THAT MY WOOD BOILER GIVES ME WITH MY LABOR.
Amen slim, victor has said 10 times there ain't much savings but I rarely have that issue and a lot of my customers save 3-4k per year. That's at current electric rates in my area, that same 3-4k could easily be 5-6k or more very soon with our coal industry under attack.
We used to spend 3-4k per winter on heating, freezing our ass off at 67-68 degrees, sitting around under a blanket. Paying over $550 per month, now I'm paying $80 per month in winters past per month and sitting around very comfortable at 74...
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I know I'm preaching to the converted here, but:
1. For the time and labor, cutting wood is a hobby for me and one of the main forms of exercise I get. I think I would probably cut wood even if I didn't burn it.
2. The savings for me is probably more significant than others. I have a 2400 square foot home with a 1500 square foot basement. The propane furnace needs to be on almost all the time if it's cold to keep up. Last year, we burned 7 cords of wood in a pre-fab fireplace, spent $800 on propane and about $900 on electric heat. The house was normally 63 degrees.
3. My Timberwolf was $4060 plus tax. Lines, sidearm and fittings brought that total with tax to $5300.
4. All my wood is free from farmers or neighbors. Most recently, I got about 5 cords of popple that was already cut to 8 foot lengths that I had to pick up about half a mile from my house.
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I`ve said it before and Scott just hit on it. If you want to figure in the real savings with a boiler. You have to firgure what it would of cost you to heat your home and shop with gas-oil-propane at the temps you currently have your thermostat set at. It would be much greater. Your thermostats were much lower when paying the gas guy.
Plus if you really dont like cutting wood in some degree, you shouldn`t have baught a wood boiler..
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Also, I no long need my gym membership. I get a good firewood workout. ;)
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Every Fall when I fire up my OWB, it brings a smile to my face knowing the greedy oil folks are not getting a dollar from their heating oil from me. And, handling a chainsaw, splitting and stacking wood I consider it part of my wellness program. Who needs to go a gym when I can simply toss wood around and get perhaps the same if not better results? That to me is priceless. Roger
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If we can get enough of us to convert to wood who knows maybe we could bring our children home!!!!
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If we can get enough of us to convert to wood who knows maybe we could bring our children home!!!!
That will never happen, the govt sticks it nose in every situation coming and going regardless of whether it could ever benefit us. There are huge govt contractors that likely push the non sense we see. We were warned against trying to police the world 200 years ago, we didn't listen.
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We can sure as hell try!!!!
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The way I see it, I get three times the heat from wood than I would from my gas. First I get hot cutting it, then I get warm stacking it, then I'm all nice and cozy watching the smoke roll from my Portage and Main!!! AWESOME.
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I knew this was an emotional topic :)
I'm glad I'm not the only one fired up about it.
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We used to put back money all year long to pay oil and propane bills $4000 a year too live in a cool house,no more of that, buy some wood once in a while when its a deal. Mostly cut what we need for the winter ya it can be a bit of a chore sometimes but the good feeling always prevales,knowing that your taking care of your family,instaed of just forkin over your money like a puppet to big business.I did some math on it stove paid for itself last winter.Going into our fourth winter and haven't used a drop of oil or propane.Havent cut any wood for a couple weeks, Me and my boy are going out to do that tommaro and get that good feeling.Stay warm,Dwight :thumbup:
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150 gallons of oil since Nov 2010. Used the oil when on vacation etc. Burn year round for DHW. Live on 15 acres of woods. Brother lives on 20. He doesn't burn wood. Super Storm Sandy provided "free" wood for the next 5 years!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/artbaldoni/sets/72157636391329243/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/artbaldoni/sets/72157636391329243/)
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150 gallons of oil since Nov 2010. Used the oil when on vacation etc. Burn year round for DHW. Live on 15 acres of woods. Brother lives on 20. He doesn't burn wood. Super Storm Sandy provided "free" wood for the next 5 years!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/artbaldoni/sets/72157636391329243/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/artbaldoni/sets/72157636391329243/)
Looks like my buddy's land when a very rare EF1/EF2 tornado ripped through his land and his father's land back in '08..Ive gotten quite a bit of wood from them ..Still theres a lot down...Funny some to the trees that are down are still alive...
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Based on what I used to pay in propane, a truckload of wood is worth about $150 to me. It's a great feeling knowing that when I go out on a Sunday morning with my buddies and cut 2 loads of wood I basically just made $300. My entire system (rebuilt H2) only cost me about $1500. I'm going on my 3rd season with it and it paid for itself in the first year. It's all profit from here on out! There's nothing better than "free" heat and not having to worry about paying that propane bill to keep my family warm! :thumbup:
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I can see half way where the dude is coming from. Initial investment is really quite high. Research your stove, find a qualified dealer, install. and get wood. Nothing is free! But, the investment is in your homestaed and quality of life. The labor of getting the wood is often inconvenient and time consuming. I have yet to be "ahead of the season" and probably never will be. The fact is I am still broke, but it is not due to keeping the family warm by giving my money to someone else, it is because of my own stupidity and toys I WANT to have. I finally have a say where my money is spent in this area anyway. It is way worth the investment in my household not to be held at the mercy of someone else to tell me what I will spend to keep them warm.
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VERY, VERY well said
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2 things. First, on the main topic of this thread, I can totally relate to the emotions surrounding heating my home with wood. I find myself anxious toward the end of the day so I can go home and check on the stove. In the evenings, after I have loaded the stove, I keep wanting to go out there and open her up on a burn cycle and watch it do its magic!! I'm all grins and giggles when it comes to this stove. My family is sick and tired of hearing about it! But, I can't help NOT talk about it. This thing has changed my life and my families!
Second, as to the secondary topic that has developed, the justification for heating my house this way is a no-brainer. My dad and I keep arguing about the word "free." I say I am enjoying my "free" heat and "free" hot water. He sees the work that goes into harvesting wood as "payment." I can see how some of you may see it that way as well. I don't. There are certain chores that go into running a home. I do the dishes for "free," I mow the yard for "free," my wife does the laundry and cooks for "free" so why can't I cut wood to heat my house for "free?" It is work that is necessary for the level of function that I provide for my household. I could hire these items out if I wanted to. Then that wouldn't be "free."
Wood heat isn't for everyone. It IS a lot of hard work! But, I THRIVE on hard work. It makes my blood flow. It makes the rewards that much greater to know that I did it on my own.
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I did the math,if something happened that layed me up from cutting wood I could still buy all the wood needed for the season at less than half what I was paying out for oil and propane.Still be saving over 2k a season.2 grand is a hell of a lot a money in this family times being as they are.Dont even want to think about the shape w'ed be in without the savings from that stove.Stay warm.D
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2 things. First, on the main topic of this thread, I can totally relate to the emotions surrounding heating my home with wood. I find myself anxious toward the end of the day so I can go home and check on the stove. In the evenings, after I have loaded the stove, I keep wanting to go out there and open her up on a burn cycle and watch it do its magic!! I'm all grins and giggles when it comes to this stove. My family is sick and tired of hearing about it! But, I can't help NOT talk about it. This thing has changed my life and my families!
Second, as to the secondary topic that has developed, the justification for heating my house this way is a no-brainer. My dad and I keep arguing about the word "free." I say I am enjoying my "free" heat and "free" hot water. He sees the work that goes into harvesting wood as "payment." I can see how some of you may see it that way as well. I don't. There are certain chores that go into running a home. I do the dishes for "free," I mow the yard for "free," my wife does the laundry and cooks for "free" so why can't I cut wood to heat my house for "free?" It is work that is necessary for the level of function that I provide for my household. I could hire these items out if I wanted to. Then that wouldn't be "free."
Wood heat isn't for everyone. It IS a lot of hard work! But, I THRIVE on hard work. It makes my blood flow. It makes the rewards that much greater to know that I did it on my own.
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well said countryboy tell it the way it is :thumbup:
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I feel like I'm doing my part in sustaining my environment.
I wouldn't say I'm completely equal in heating but at least
I'm not using fossil fuels and reduced electricity for heat.
I love being outside and enjoy the wood work.
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Well said country boy.
I figure if I benefit from the workout of cutting and moving wood and enjoy the process, my time spent is free. No one factors their time spent watching tv into their cable bill!
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One grapple load of logs will yield about 12 plus cord, cost me about $1,000.00. That's 2 winters worth of fuel and I keep my home at 72/73 degrees. The cost of fuel oil to heat my home and DHW was a pinch over $5,000.00 for ONE year and I had to keep my home at 68 degrees. $5,000.00 worth of logs will heat my home for 10 winters. I think I'll stick with the wood heat. Roger
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wish I could buy wood in bulk like that,around here that much logs delivered would be at least twice that much and not good quality.every time I ever bought wood they say its good mixed hardwood,but it always ends up 90% soft maple it works in milder times but it don't cut it for me in dead winter.
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I too have found that there is a deep enjoyment to cutting and burning wood. I also have a tree guy that fills my side yard with logs. I love seeing my tree guy dump a load of logs, I almost skip out there to see what wondrous wood I have received. I have found for some reason even taking a shower feels better with wood heated water.
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Fourced, you make a good point about the showers. When I have guests over, I strongly encourage them to take a shower! I tell them, it'll be the WARMEST shower you've ever had! But, the leave disappointed. I figured out, that is isn't as wonderful for them, because THEY haven't paid for a $720 electric bill or cut/split/stacked a single piece of wood!! I know how precious that warm water is and it's tougher for them to appreciate it!
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Can't beat the wife taking a long shower then filling up the two person jet tub to have the little guy take a bath. I start to run out of 104 degree water when it is just below the jets :(
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im so jealous of all ya'll!!!!!! I have had a empyre pro 200 sitting at my house since at least the first of August and still don't have it hooked up :bash: Scott is workin on getting me some parts so hopefully I will be able to finish up the install soon.
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I like running the washer,dishwasher,shower,jacuzzi tub and furnace all at the same time.
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Can't beat the wife taking a long shower then filling up the two person jet tub to have the little guy take a bath. I start to run out of 104 degree water when it is just below the jets :(
I don't get it, how are you running out of hot water? The more hot water I use...the hotter it gets. Just curious.
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That's my experience too, the more you run the hotter it gets. I can't figure how one would run out of hot water with these?
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Maybe he has a ridgewood? LOL just kidding. :bash:
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I've got a sidearm guys :(
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So with my sidearm, I have 50 gallons of 131 degree water when we start using the water. I have a mixing valve and have set the water using my infrared gun to 104 so that we don't have any scalding issues. By the time we go through all that showering and filling, I am guessing we have used maybe 75 gallons and the temp starts to drop to about 85 or so as the sidearm doesn't keep up. However, after about 30 to 45 minutes I am back up to temp again.
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I've not had any experience with a side arm. My Hardy has a copper tube coiled up in the boiler tank and city water runs to the stove and then back to the house. The hot water heater is now a storage tank for the hot water. I have the power off at the breaker box. If nobody uses hot water for a while then it tends to cool off in the tank. but it will get hotter as its used more. I like it1
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I bought my family house from my mother 11 years ago and it had a wood stove in the basement that my father used as "extra" heat with the oil furnace. I remember being in high school and hated helping with cutting and stacking wood. After I bought the house I vowed to never burn wood because it would have to be updated, the one chimney flue to two for insurance purposes. I have 40 acres that is over half wooded plus another full wooded 40 acres a half mile down the road. Now I am thinking "what is wrong with me?". We are paying $2000 a winter to heat with oil! OWB is the answer. I am sure my father would be happy that I am using his property and his investments to keep his kids and grandkids warm. He planted over 3000 trees on the two 40's in the 1970's. He must have known something. He passed away in 1999 and at the time my buying the house was not even an option. The emotion of wood burning is VERY strong here.(my 9 year old son does not know what is planned for him yet) LOL
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:post:!!! Besides the metal roof I had installed on my home the earth outdoor furnace was by far the best investment as a home owner! The fear of how heat the home weather its oil or electric was a true frustration and agony! My father always wanted a outdoor furnace for many years and god rest his soul that's how I realised this is the only way to go and I haven't regret one moment of the decision on how to heat my home and family! This website made the whole process a sweet success and very enjoyable learning process! Thanks to all involved and happy burning!!!