It's That Time Of Year Again ...

[Valkorado]

Uggh.  Got a call from our wood man.  He's splitting up three cords for us, the price has increased considerably because of the fuel increases.  Biden's "green" dream is even affecting those of us who burn wood to keep warm.  Upon arrival it's time for stacking, and further splitting of kindling.  Shimmy up on the roof and clean out the creosote.

Unfortunately, my lower back issues are for the first time making me seriously consider advertising for a high school or college stacker (not slacker) eager to earn some weekend spending money -- if any are still available nowadays.  It's the repetitive bending and lifting that really tweaks my lower back.

The Farmer's are predicting a wet one here this winter.  We need it.  I don't particularly look forward to it.   

[..]

USA is felling wood to make into wood pellets to ship to Germany.

The oh so greenies on the left really don't have a clue.

And for the pod people before they start screaming.

https://www.businessinsider.com/europe-imports-wood-biomass-from-us-for-power-2015-12?op=1

[Valkorado]

We have a low pollution, high efficiency wood burner.  That said, I've seriously considered going to a pellet stove -- until I learned how many pellets I'd be burning to get through a Gunnison winter.  Even storage would be an issue for us.  Also there was a problem with supply during COVID and locals were having a hard time locating pellets -- and paying a premium when they did. 

I DO NOT like being reliant on the government for anything, especially survival needs.  I do have a chainsaw, and in a SHTF situation I could scrounge up enough wood in my little Ranger to get through the winter -- if I spent half the summer scrounging and processing it.

[old2soon]

      When I was still in Garrison Texas-1st X Y L-I bought a franklin stove. Did NOT like relying on the old open face gas heaters. Tie yard in town at that time-late 70s early 80s charged $5.00 a pickup load. I had a utilility bed on a 3/4 ton Chevy. And 3 Boys to help load and Stack in the truck. 1 of my loads was equal to a load and a half of anyone elses!  Than the unload at home the splitting the stacking and the ash removal and the annual chimney cleaning BUT I were a Lot younger then!  BUT I liked the wood heat much better as did the Wife and Children-even with the added work.I believe it was an Earth stove. That and a couple Hunter ceiling fans good to go!  RIDE SAFE.

[robin]

Getting log lengths tomorrow enough for 3 cords $75

[Serk]

Wow.... Paid $120 for 1/4 cord of Oak recently... About to do it again...

...but this is pre-split, aged and they drive their truck to my house and unload and stack it wherever I want it...

[Rams]

Had the propane tank filled in August, I'm ready.  
Yeah, we've got a real fireplace, chimney and all but, I'm not about to take one of my two chainsaws out and cut down dead or live trees, handle the wood, transport to a shed, split the firewood, stack the firewood, store the firewood and then have to go out and bring it in so we can have a fire in the fireplace.  Another benefit is, no one has to clean out the firebox which almost always results in ash getting into the air and spreading it all over the place.  Our ventless gas-powered logs with circulation fan look real, produce heat and costs less per year.   In addition, my back doesn't pay a price for that fire.

Yeah, I'll keep doing it my way.   I'm not knocking those that want a real woodburning fireplace, it's just not something I care about.   On the other hand, if it ever becomes hugely more expensive to use propane to get that fire, I can always get a chainsaw out and cut down a few trees.  

Rams

[Valkorado]

Getting log lengths tomorrow enough for 3 cords $75

 

I used to do it that way, even rented a rapid fire wood splitter for some high speed processing.  Those things split so fast they're hard to keep up with.

I didn't like the cleanup afterwards, but it's the way to go if ya want to do it on the cheap.  I had to strike a balance between the pocketbook and the back.  

[pais]

Wife and I were just talking about this last night. Wondering about prices. I haven't checked..........until I saw this post. Looks like prices around here are stable for the moment. We normally buy our 1st pallet around mid Nov. and a 2nd around mid Jan. They do create storage issues. Looks like we will buy both now just to hedge our bets. Hate having that much accelerant in the house. We have had a wood pellet stove for about 10yrs now. The stove in the basement and does a great job of heating the basement. On the 1st floor, kitchen and dining room. It does what I bought it to do. BTW, I purchased it used. Couple years ago pellet prices spiked and we did not burn them. We were spoiled and used to the pellet heat in those areas. We spend a lot of time in both of them. 2+ pallets, 100+ bags get us through the Winter. From first year $175 a pallet to last year at $225.
We used to burn wood at our previous home and loved it. Wife and I did all the cutting, splitting and stacking. Where we live now it is not feasible. Small city lot and I cannot get my truck to the backyard. Every piece of wood would have to be brought around back by wheelbarrow. Now at 60 it doesn't interest me in the least.

[0leman]

USA is felling wood to make into wood pellets to ship to Germany.

The oh so greenies on the left really don't have a clue.

And for the pod people before they start screaming.

https://www.businessinsider.com/europe-imports-wood-biomass-from-us-for-power-2015-12?op=1

According to article I was reading the pellets that the Daxk (sp) power plant in UK was actually producing more CO2 than bunning coal.    Pellets were coming from US and Canada.

I was raised with a fireplace.  Not the major heat source.  Got to split the wood for it.  Started at 10 or so.  Since left home only three homes of the 9 homes have had a fireplace or wood stove   Currently, we have a gas stove sitting where a wood burning insert was when we bought the house.  Lot easier to start, doesn't require moving woods nor ash, and can watch the flames move around.   

[Ramie]

We'll be putting up wood this fall for next year in October for the hunting shack.  We have 10 acres of woodland plus a lot of dead fall in the surrounding national forest, lots of chain saws, our own wood splitter and some younger men (who are still boys to me) to do the heavy lifting.  The hunting shack isn't very efficient so we go through a lot of wood in November and December.  We built a number of simple
 large slant roof open end storage sheds with canvas fronts and meatal backs to store it all.

[Jess from VA]

I grew up in a home on Lake Erie with a very large great room; wide open and two stories to the rafters.  There was a giant stone fireplace with chimney up one end of the room.  And a small under powered gas furnace that was only ducted to the first floor; the only heat to the upstairs bedrooms was through the doorways.  It was cold every winter.

Fires in the big fireplace were wonderful, but they sucked every bit of warm air right out of the house up the flu, so the only warm place was right in front of the fire, and the rest of the house was freezing.  The bigger the fire, the faster it got cold.  So we didn't have many fires, except in moderate temp spring and fall days.

My current home came with a Federal Airtight wood stove in the basement.  Controlling (limiting) air into the firebox, let a small fire last a long time, but in about 30 minutes it would be about 100 degrees down there.  And cleaning the ash out the front of it was always a mess.  When I refinished the basement family room, I took it out and gave it to a neighbor.  

[cookiedough]

yikes,  glad I just have a gas furnance and small 1100 sq. ft ranch home.....  My old furnace has clunked out a few times, and can make do with our 1500w electric fireplace to heat up the living room if need be for a few days.    No fireplace, etc. here....

[3fan4life]

Wood heats you up 3 times:


1) When you cut it.

2) When you split it.

3) When you burn it.



I know people that use wood heat and I've cut a slip a fair amount of it in my lifetime.


My back really appreciates the fact that I use Gas Logs now.