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[JOWEN]

Well I have been real happy so far with my H5. I have been getting some good burn times between 12 and 18 hrs on a full load. It has been mild weather here in SC with lows in the thirtys and highs in the sixtys. Here is a link to the first burn in her on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aYUsJP3kL8

[hondaracer2oo4]

Good to hear that you are up and running. Is this your first owb? Just a suggestion about loading. You will find that you will want to load just enough wood to get you to your next time that you are planning to load. You will burn much less wood this way. This time of year I would guess that a fire box 1/3 full should get you 12 hours. You will get a good handle on what temp needs what amount of wood pretty quick.

[JOWEN]

Yes this is my first OWB im heating an old federal style 3000 sq ft farm house with poor insulation. Last winter I spent around 4000 buck in electric bills for a cold house. I would rather just cut wood

[hondaracer2oo4]

I have a 2600 sqft center chimney colonial built in 1795. Insulation is getting better as I go.

[walkerdogman85]

You'll be extremely happy with it! I really like mine and wish I would have soon it sooner.. They are a simple design which in turn means simple to work on...

[JOWEN]

Well I got my first power bill last week and it was great.Last November I avarged 81 kw hours a day and this month I avarged32 kw hours. Bill was 120 bucks. The co-op will be sad from here on out.

[uncle Dave]

Just for fun have them come and read the meter again, they may be using an estimated calculation. My first season the nat gas company kept sending estimated bills as usual, I finally had to go there in person and explain it to them.

[D2082]

JOWEN - just curious how that stove is working?  Been awhile since you posted it looks like.  I'm getting ready to join you as a new Hardy owner.  How have the power bills been?

[Brad]

D2082. I read you are a new Hardy owner. Welcome to the site. I've learned a ton from the fellas on here.  you made a good decision to run with the hardy.  As you will find out from reading here ALL mfg's seem to have issues pop up from time to time. I have had a couple myself but as each season passes you will learn how to get things fine tuned and learn what not to do.  The only time I get nervous is when I have to leave town and have someone else take care of MY stove.  It will become such a big part of what you do and you become very attached. I would think others would agree with me. Anyway, if you have questions post it and someone will be around to offer help!  Happy burnin'!

[D2082]

Thanks Brad I appreciate that.  I'm actually anxious to get to work building up my wood supply. My wife is already dreading me being out of town for work! And as you said, I've got this money tied up in it and I'm not real excited about anyone touching it (even her...) thanks again and I've already learned a lot just by reading these threads. 

[JOWEN]

D2082 cograts on your hardy. First off let me start off by saying my house has a lot of heat loss. My power bills were the main reason why I bought the hardy. Before the hardy I used around 100 kwatt hours a day. Now I use 35 to 40 kwatts a day. My electric bill has been no more than 125 bucks. I have burned thru around 4 chords of wood. I live in the middle of SC so its not that cold here. I wouldn't make it north of the Mason Dixon line. I don't mind cutting wood but I do have a lot of projects on the farm and with this old house so I'm going to try to get a head of the wood this summer. I would not change a thing if I had to do it over again. Best 8 grand I ever spent.
I did the install my self the hardest part was wiring the heat pump up to a new t stat and taking the fan control wiring and isolating the heat pump wiring. I went out and bought a basic 24 vac relay and wired it just like hardy says and it worked great. The folks on here will help you as well. I used alpex with the pipe insulation inside a 4 inch corrugated pipe. I don't know how great that is its hard to get my heat loss readings on that alpex. I want to get some temp gauges on there and see what that looks like

[D2082]

JOWEN thanks man.  I'm excited about getting this thing put in.  It's prob going to be mid march before the install (we're building a house).  I've researched this thing to death an do know they aren't perfect but I like the idea and the dealer being down the street in case I need something only helps.   Where you at in SC?  Liked your YouTube video too.  I'll prob post one of my initial burning too. 

[JO42281]

I live in Newberry little agri town off I-26. I have 20 hardy furnaces within 15 minutes of me. My dealer has installed all of them a couple of them have been running for 20 plus years. Thats what sold me on them. Im sure that there are more efficent furnaces out there but i dont think you will find a simpler one out there. Mine has had a fire in it since that video. My dealer is a good guy but I didnt see paying him the extra to do the install when i can do all that stuff myself, thanks to the research i did on this website. Good luck to you and if you need anything just hollar.

[D2082]

Have actually been to Newberry once - stopped on my way back home from Augusta GA. Was the 1st Zaxby's I had ever eaten. Was pretty good!   Post another video of that Hardy on YouTube soon. 

[JOWEN]

The Zaxbys I'm not a big fan of it should have eaten at MIGs right across the street pretty good home made pizza. Where are you from?? I bet you had some good food in Augusta.