If it's cold where you live, what are you heating with and what is it costing?

[Ken45101]

I see firewood sold all different ways around here, face cords, full cords, ricks and bundles. I think most are probably a rip off. I know what I'm getting with pellets and corn because it's all by weight not volume.

Legally in Ohio the only measure is a cord, 4x4x8', tightly stacked. Of course that's ot the way it is normally sold. Often by the (undefined) "truckload." One time I inquired about how big the truckload was and was told "I don't know but the truck has a lot of gears".....Hmmmm

 

[ovrszd]

We heat a 2,400 sq ft house and a 1,900 sq ft shop. Use Hydronic floor heat in both. Propane tankless heaters. We burn 1,000-1,200 gallon of propane per year. This year price is $2.15 p/gallon.

House thermostat set on 72F. Shop thermostat set on 69F.

Heated my previous shop with wood for 25 years. I'm over it.

 

[BigBlue1]

Main heat is a propane fired furnace. This year propane (we buy it for the season) was highest since we've been here: $2.10/gallon. Takes about 750 gallons a year. Since we moved here in 2016 it historically has been $1.00 to $1.40/gal. Supplemented by in-floor radiant heat in the lower level via electric boiler, which tends to bump our electric bill about $30/mo. The house is 2-level and quite large & spread out, so these costs seem to be not too out of line. Sure would be nice to have the oil/propane/petroleum prices back to what they were prior to 2021 though!

 

[lman]

Ground source heat pump. Electricity is .128/kwh plus $43.50 in fees. In the winter heat is about $75-100/month.

 

[TIMMYDUCK]

It’s cold and I use wood .

Just say no to the oil man .

I shall fell , buck up and process wood till the cows come home .

 

[Jstpssng]

Firewood is one of the lowest value wood products there is. A “cord” (chord) was developed as a uniform way for woodcutters to get paid years ago when they used to go into the woods in November, and come out on the log drives in spring.
Aside from the standard 128 cubic foot definition, there is also a “thrown cord”… loosely dumped from a truck it should measure 180 cubic feet.
Another is 85 cubic feet… that’s the amount of solid wood which should be in a pile.

These are defined by statute here, but vary from state to state. ( or Province, for our Canadian neighbors.)

You could have this same discussion when talking about gravel; a yard should be three feet by three feet by three feet. Yet is that the measurement at the pit, or after bouncing up the gravel road to the highway, then settling more as it goes down the road to your house.

 

[cqaigy2]

I've not heard of the "thrown cord".

My favorite is the "face cord", sounds good and probably is good if you don't have much room to store wood.

 

[ovrszd]

You could have this same discussion when talking about gravel; a yard should be three feet by three feet by three feet. Yet is that the measurement at the pit, or after bouncing up the gravel road to the highway, then settling more as it goes down the road to your house.

Our gravel is measured and priced by the ton.

In my area there's a lot of difference in a "load" of wood which is how it's priced.

 

[Jstpssng]

Our gravel is measured and priced by the ton.

In my area there's a lot of difference in a "load" of wood which is how it's priced.

Just out of curiosity, do they consider moisture content? Most people here are contractors who have a pit, a loader and a few trucks. Gravel is sold “by the load”, with various sized trucks and prices.

 

[ovrszd]

Just out of curiosity, do they consider moisture content? Most people here are contractors who have a pit, a loader and a few trucks. Gravel is sold “by the load”, with various sized trucks and prices.

No adjustment for moisture is ever made.

When buying gravel for our Township, 3,500 tons, I try to get it when the crusher is running and building a fresh pile for the year. That way I get dry gravel. Rather than gravel that has laid in the pile since last Summer collecting moisture. It's very noticeable when spread on the roads.