Wood Burning Stove - is it worth having

[valley]

We have wood stoves in both our places. Wouldn't like to be without one.

 

[twinjayhawks]

A couple comments. Do you have easy access to fire wood at a decent price or if lucky from your own property? .

I have about 200,000 trees on our property so I need a stove to burn wood.... lots of wood.

 

[hodge]

We love our wood stove. It is all we heat with. Dead of Winter? No problem. Power outages? No problem. Thinning all the dead trees on the property? No problem. No heating bills, just some gas in the chainsaw and splitter.
Burning wood for heat means some work, but I either have to work to build the wood pile, or work to pay a heating bill. I'd rather be outside working on the wood pile than at the job.

 

[YesDeere]

[QUOTE="
Burning wood for heat means some work, but I either have to work to build the wood pile, or work to pay a heating bill. I'd rather be outside working on the wood pile than at the job.[/QUOTE]

That's the best way to look at it! I like that. Hope you don't mind if I use that saying sometime.

 

[Army grunt]

Do what ever you have to so you can use that wood. I have burned it for 40 years. When we lioved in Ct. We burned 10 coard a year. Now in the south I use a wood heater to heast my shop.Any kind of wood stove, but the new ones with out side air are great.
Army Grunt

 

[DAY]

How does one COUNT 200,000 trees?:laughing:

Here is a link to a stove shop that carries many brands, with links to each one, for a quick comparison. Save some time and gas!
Stoves 'n Stuff
My natural gas bill runs about $1600 a year, so the payback calculations are easy, what ever chimney/stove I select.

Of course, when figuring the cost of wood heat you have to include the tractor/truck, chainsaw(s), chains, gas and oil, splitter, chiropractor. . .

 

[Ken45101]

Definitely worth having, depending on your other heat sources. If you have low cost natural gas and an efficient furnace, well maybe not. Otherwise, definitely yes, even if you have to buy your wood. If you have your own wood, it's really a much better way to go, both cheaper to heat and better heat.

We only use 3-4 cord per year.

Pellet stoves? Poor deal. We have one. A mistake on our part. Only good for down to about 30 degrees and expensive.

I understand the hesitancy to put a hole in your roof. However, going out through a wall and then up is less than ideal. Chimneys are more effective and more efficient if they go straight up and stay inside the house. Outside chimneys are colder, do not draw as well, and build up creosote more than an straight up inside chimney.

Ken

 

[clemsonfor]

I bought a slightly used catalytic High valley stove last year. I live in upstate SC not the moutain part but really just as cold as the rest of the upstate is. I have not turned the heat on this year in my 2500sqft home this year. Only a few days with highs in the 40-50s in a row yet but cold nights into the low 30s. The home is anywhere form 80+F in the 450sqft room the stove is in to 65+ in our bedroom which is at least 65 feet or more through doors and around corners from the room the stove is in.

I installed it last february and think i saved $100-150 that month alone on my heating (heatpump) bills. This year my last 2 power bills were $82 and $102.

They are worth it yes. But like said you need cheap wood. If your buying a dump truck split you will be just as cheap to install a heat pump or use ur curent one. If you buy round wood and then cut and split it is cheaper. I get firewood permits and cut on government land or get it from areas where people will let me cut dead trees.

 

[KTurner]

I only burn wood because i sell firewood and i burn odd bits/offcuts/junky stuff that i cant sell myself . If i had to buy 10 cords every year oil would cost about the same and more convenient .

This didn't quite sound right, especially the part about a firewood salesman saying he'd just as soon go with oil, so I did some quick googles. Found this page from NH state govt that says heating oil is about twice as expensive as wood. $17.50 per million BTU for wood versus $34.79 per million BTU for oil, for current NH average prices.

Is oil real cheap and/or firewood real expensive in your area? Here in southeast VA, I can buy seasoned hardwood from numerous people at $175/cord delivered. Heating oil is $3.96/gallon delivered and the choice of suppliers is much more limited.

Keith

 

[Big Bri]

Can you tell me what brand this is so I can look it up?

Here is a link to the manufactures web site. Fireside Hearth & Home | Heatilator Constitution Wood Fireplace | Accessories

I'd find a dealer in your area and ask them what they think about the unit. My dealer said this was one of the best he has ever sold and loves the warranty which if i remember was Lifetime.

What i liked about it was the fact you don't have to have Fireplace put in and then add an insert, this is everything in one. I also like that its flush mounted so i don't have anything sticking out into the room taking up floor space.

Good luck