Actual cost of firewood

[2ndhalf]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is where situations when someone is living in a very inefficient house due to the age of the house, the way it was built etc. When those folks don't have the money to make updates to the efficiency (i.e. Windows, insulation etc.) A wood stove they buy used off CL using the existing chimney makes for pretty cheap heat.

Those people don't have thousands to put into updates and or the outlay of a Geothermal or even just a good efficient heating system. That was us when I was a kid and many from the county I just moved from. I drive through Morrow County often on my way to work and it is amazing the plumes of smoke coming out of fireplace chimney's.

When this situation is the case and there is wood to be cut these folks won't do anything else but burn wood. They don't give a rip about smog, environment return on investment; they are just trying to survive the months bills and put food on the table. Plenty of folks out there in that situation.

 

[Oaktree]

Do you have a thread on your geothermal install? I'd like to hear more about the details.

I'd be interested as well. When you say "geothermal" are you referring to tapping a hot spring or just 1000' of black plastic pipe buried below the frost line? If the latter, how does it work? I get it that below a certain depth the soil temperature is relatively constant year round, but I also read that that temperature is in the mid-ish 50s...how do these systems get comfortable living temperatures from that (I'm talking heat, not cooling)?

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is where situations when someone is living in a very inefficient house due to the age of the house, the way it was built etc. When those folks don't have the money to make updates to the efficiency (i.e. Windows, insulation etc.) A wood stove they buy used off CL using the existing chimney makes for pretty cheap heat.

I think a lot of it is just the independence of it all. Fuel oil, pellets, propane, etc. are all manufactured products subject to price spikes and shortages. Obviously, for someone in one of the prairie states wood isn't option, but here in the northeast where trees are plentiful anyone who puts in the effort can find wood at a reasonable price, or even free for the taking.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Geothermal uses a heat pump cycle with more efficient ground temperature differences than an outdoor air unit. Proper name is ground source heat pump.
Other than that, they work the same. Plenty of diagrams on the web.

 

[2ndhalf]

Geothermal uses a heat pump cycle with more efficient ground temperature differences than an outdoor air unit. Proper name is ground source heat pump.
Other than that, they work the same. Plenty of diagrams on the web.

And as I understand it there are various implementations of GeoT. Some put your coils in your well and some underground or even in a pond if you have one I think I remember hearing. Not speaking from intelligence just from what I have heard.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

And as I understand it there are various implementations of GeoT. Some put your coils in your well and some underground or even in a pond if you have one I think I remember hearing. Not speaking from intelligence just from what I have heard.

But they all work exactly the same, with minor variations in efficiency. Coils in a large pond, or a pump and dump from a well are the most efficient of the types you mentioned. I used to be an IGSHPA certified installer.

 

[DieselnHooters]

But they all work exactly the same, with minor variations in efficiency. Coils in a large pond, or a pump and dump from a well are the most efficient of the types you mentioned. I used to be an IGSHPA certified installer.

If living in town on your average lot (no pond or well) I hear they can run in the 20k range for a full set up, is that true?

 

[buckeyefarmer]

If living in town on your average lot (no pond or well) I hear they can run in the 20k range for a full set up, is that true?

Thats true, i got quotes before deciding to install my own. Prices may have come down now with a lot more people doing installs. I took the money i would have paid someone else, and bought this.



My slinkies are 65' long, 3' wide, per ton. I put in 2 units, 3 ton and 2 ton.

 

[2ndhalf]

Thats true, i got quotes before deciding to install my own. Prices may have come down now with a lot more people doing installs. I took the money i would have paid someone else, and bought this.

View attachment 535565

My slinkies are 65' long, 3' wide, per ton. I put in 2 units, 3 ton and 2 ton.

View attachment 535566

Hmmmmmm .. you all got me thinking... my furnace is getting mighty long in the tooth (installed 1998). I am going to have to research this some more. I hate being dependent upon propane after what happend a few years back with their prices going over $4 a gallon.

When I built my previous house, also in 1998, I got an estimate for GeoT and it was over $11k I think vs. a furnace and heatpump for $7k. I was pretty maxed out on my housing budget so went with the $7k. Are the installed prices anywere near that today?

I could have a geothermal with a wood stove or propane heater backup. I will never be completely without propane since my wife will not give up her gas stove and we have a gas fireplace.

 

[majorwager]

Someone stated if the fuel cost to harvest the firewood is $5, then that is the actual cost of the firewood yield. There is no concept of accounting 101
As you use your tractor and tools and wear out your equipment, in the form of machine hours, there will never be a time where replacment or overhaul becomes necessary based upon the firewood processing activities. The entire concept of depreciation does not exist. I could continue but what would be the point?

 

[2ndhalf]

Someone stated if the fuel cost to harvest the firewood is $5, then that is the actual cost of the firewood yield. There is no concept of accounting 101
As you use your tractor and tools and wear out your equipment, in the form of machine hours, there will never be a time where replacment or overhaul becomes necessary based upon the firewood processing activities. The entire concept of depreciation does not exist. I could continue but what would be the point?

Yep, you have to count that all in.. and if you count that you have to count the health benefits of being out in nature doing something you enjoy and getting some physical exercise; keeping you trim and fit. As someone already mentioned if it helps keep you off the couch it is all good. Dr. bills are no joke!