Another sign that spring is here is this: People aren’t talking quite so obsessively about their house heating systems. This doesn’t mean that discussion has exhausted itself. But for now, the talk has shifted to the condition of the earth under our feet, the growing season, the impending bug season.
I thought you might be interested to see just what 2 cords of delivered wood looks like. Depending on how effcient your heating system is, how big your house is, how well you regulate the output (like turning down the heat at night) whether or not you use wood heat alone or a combination, it sounds like it takes anywhere from 4 to 10 cords a year to heat. A load of split cordwood costs up to $185 per cord.
This is what 2 dumped cords look like. The stacked wood equals 1 cord.
Now you will have to stack the wood in a sheltered, dry spot. Then you will need to bring it into the house when you use it. Then you will need to dump the ashes when done. A lot of carrying wood, several times a day in the winter. But oh, it smells so wonderful and crackles so nicely.
2 responses so far ↓
sengdroma // April 19, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Now that is something I do not miss. The splitting and chopping, stacking and carrying of wood. Let alone the bugs that you bring into the house….. Must agree that its a warm heat that it gives off though. However both Steven and I have allergy to wood smoke and our noses get so painful.
Pamela // April 21, 2008 at 12:37 pm
The other important thing about burning wood is summed up by this old time adage; wood heats five times; once when you cut it, once when you split it, once when you stack it, once when you carry it in to the house, and of course, lastly, once when it burns. Not to mention the advantage of all that regular excersize, a little at a time.