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[weswjohnson]

Hello everyone. This is my first post and I am a new wood boiler owner. I have a home about 2600 sq feet and was wondering how many cord of wood I will need for this fall and winter.  Thanks!

[Scott7m]

It would help a lot to know what kind of boiler you have.  There are huge differences between brands and the efficiency of different models. 

I rarely measure my wood in cords, however I know thats more common in the north, around here we go by the truck load lol. 

Last year I heated 22-2300 sq ft on 9 full truck loads of wood and about 1500 lb of coal.  Coal was experimental.

[Bull]

Welcome to the site weswjohnson, like Scott said it would depend on your OWB

[mikenc]

depends on OWB  and what part of the country you live in. If you do a search in form there are some old post discussing wood usage. Some burned  10+ cords others less.

[tulenutn2o]

My smart alec answer to a question like this is: All of it! In other words, you can never have too much wood on hand..............

[Laird]

My smart alec answer to a question like this is: All of it! In other words, you can never have too much wood on hand..............

Stacks of firewood is like money in the bank!

[oldchenowth]

Gotta side up with tulenut on this one.  It aint ever enough

[Ridgekid]

How about "You need all of it, but you hope you don't use all of it? "

[tulenutn2o]

Amen to that Ridgekid! I'm a little on the short side of things this year, but tree trimmer friend has a bunch of oak for me today. He burns too. Says 2-3 years worth of burnin off 1 job. Motherload!

[MattyNH]

Not sure why everyone says "depends" on the OWB you have...The real factor is the type of wood your burning..What type of climate you live in..and Ultimately if it is insulated and plumbed correctly..If your thinking of burning just pine..Yeah you'll burn more vs hard wood esp in a cold climate..

[willieG]

Not sure why everyone says "depends" on the OWB you have...The real factor is the type of wood your burning..What type of climate you live in..and Ultimately if it is insulated and plumbed correctly..If your thinking of burning just pine..Yeah you'll burn more vs hard wood esp in a cold climate..
[/quote

i agree with you here matty..all of the above plus the type of OWB you use. so until the person that asked the origina question can post an answer to all of those topics the guy who said "all of it" is right..lol  and the guy who said 5 to 15 cords is likley safely in the ball park

[tulenutn2o]

Not sure why everyone says "depends" on the OWB you have...The real factor is the type of wood your burning..What type of climate you live in..and Ultimately if it is insulated and plumbed correctly..If your thinking of burning just pine..Yeah you'll burn more vs hard wood esp in a cold climate..
[/quote

i agree with you here matty..all of the above plus the type of OWB you use. so until the person that asked the origina question can post an answer to all of those topics the guy who said "all of it" is right..lol  and the guy who said 5 to 15 cords is likley safely in the ball park

Yeah Willie, I burn whatever drops, is dropped off, etc. If I got to clean up the property anyway, I doesn't care what species it is. In fact, I tell tree guys to bring it.....If is free and I have no money in it, it's all good!I am just finicky on what wood goes in at what time. I burn the junk(soft) wood when I am out in the shop all day and throw the hardwood in at night...............as most do.

[MattyNH]

Willie.. why u say the "type of OWB you use"? Just curious.. I guess I don't get why it "depends" on the OWB brand or homemade..Every situation is so different...I agree 5 to 15 cords is pretty much the ball park..Guy up the street burns 50 cord a season lol But he's heating like 3 apts. Owns a Central Boiler 7260

[willieG]

type of OWB? well i guess i am under the assumption that these new "gassifiers" that are supposed to burn the smoke and claim more heat work.

If these new boilers are say 80 percent or better at efficiency and my old home made and most older store bought OWB are 50 to 60 percent efficent then yes, it would depend on the type of OWB. i will say i doubt there is much difference betwee any of the brands if they are of the same "type" but i still believe that , yes ,and old style OWB will burn more of say, dry oak to heat your home than a new gassifier "type" burning the same wood will.

[Ridgekid]

MattyNH-

Was that a jab at CB? lol 50 cords!! My goodness. How old is his CB? never heard of the 7260.

As far as debates on which OWB is better or how much did you burn, we should all keep records and report in the spring. I know I will!