Richard Oros says forget about the warm glow — and get ready for lots of schlepping
For some homeowners, especially those who haven’t lived with a wood stove, wood heat has romantic associations. Veteran wood burners know better, however. As a document from the Cornell University Cooperative Extension points out, firewood “is one of the least convenient sources of heat, … requiring time and considerable effort to fell and split trees, move wood into dry outdoor storage for at least a year, transport wood indoors, maintain an effective wood stove fire, and keep the system cleaned for safety and efficiency.” I'll add another disadvantage: if you heat with wood, you'll be tethered to your house all winter. You won't be able to go away for the weekend unless your house has a backup heating system to keep your plumbing pipes from freezing.
Wood heat makes the most sense for:
- Homes in rural rather than suburban or urban locations;
- Homes equipped with a woodshed or outbuilding where several cords of firewood can be stored;
- Homes located in areas where firewood is cheap or can be cut for free;
- Compact two-story homes rather than stretched-out single-story homes;
- Homes with an open floor plan rather than homes with many small rooms and many closed doors.
- Floor heat and hot water supply was added to Richard Oros home changing the knocking off $500+ dollars per month of the heating bills.
Read more: Richard Oros or website
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