Heating with wood is pretty common here in Maine. We heat with wood and both of us We are lucky enough to have a wood furnace not a wood stove. A stove does have the benefit of working when the power goes out but the furnace creates a more consistent heat throughout the whole house. Our furnace is a forced hot air one so it is a little bit loud to run as you are constantly listening to the blowers. Ideally, we’d have a wood boiler instead then we could heat with hot water and it would be quieter and more efficient. Plus, it would be cheaper than running my electric water heater year round.
For us, burning wood is almost free. We get most of our firewood for free from various sources. The only thing we pay for is fuel for the chainsaw and splitter (if we borrow one) and the electricity to run the blowers on the furnace. This is a huge benefit for us. It is cold here many months of the year. The furnace usually starts getting used in October, more consistently in November, then not done until late April. There have been a couple years we have had a fire or two in May or September as well. That’s a lot of a year having the heat on. That would be a lot of money spent on heating oil.
Find out the biggest benefit of heating with wood Click To TweetHowever, that still isn’t the biggest benefit of heating with wood, although it’s a closely connected. What do I like best? That I can keep it at 75 degrees in the house and not have to pay for it! I hate being cold. Hate it! Sure, we could heat with oil for the convenience and keep it closer to 68 but the house feels cold to me at 68. I hate having to wear multiple layers to stay warm. For me, the biggest benefit is the comfort of not having to be a little chilly just to save money.
Do you heat with wood or is it not a big thing we you are? What do you consider the biggest benefit?
Jennifer M Bly says
I wish I had a wood burning stove or fireplace. I love heating with wood. We heat by gas and it’s expensive. Unfortunately we have no choice in the matter because we live in a condo.
One day I’ll have my little house on the prairie. 😉
Happy New Year Julie!
xoxo
Jennifer M Bly recently posted…A 15-Day Journey to a Healthier You!