Yikes! 1000 dollar oil bill arrived today......

[my4devils]

Ironic as our deadline is today... We were on a budget plan this winter and owe another 1000 on top of that!! We spent almost 2400 dollars to heat our very modest home . I kept the thermostat at 70 due to having a newborn in the home. Thank goodness we built that emergency fund up.

So even though right now it is a balmy 98 outside, I am researching alternative energy sources for this winter. I am thinking a wood burning stove may work for us. We are still renting from my husband's aunt so I know she will allow something that isnt a major construction project. Any one have one that they like? Any other heating ideas? We have 2 floors and about 1500 square feet.

Thanks!

[Minnymouth]

If you do go to a wood burning stove for additional heat, just make sure its properly installed by someone that knows what their doing.

Wood burners are great extra sources. Some folks its their main source of heat here in Ky. Others use coal stoves, same principle.

I have total electric home, but have a wood burning fireplace/w/insert as a backup. Many evenings just the fireplace is on and the furnace is turned off.

I burn all kinds of things in my fireplace. I start my fires with newspapers, shreded cardboard boxes, pop boxes and kindling from busted wooden pallets. I also burn wooden pallets cut up. A lot of places will just give them too you if you ask. Especially lumber yards where they rot out in the yard and they get rid of them.

I burn very little logs until I absolutely have too as sometimes firewood can be expensive too later on in the year after its cold.

Unfortunately gas is not going to get any cheaper in the future. And electric, their asking for a price increase as I speak, so it's wise to have an alternative source of heat..

Sad, but true, in a cold northern climate, these companies know they HAVE YOU by the pocketbook..... pay the freight and you can stay warm.

My roommate likes to run around the house in the winter in his shorts. Well, guess what? He don't no more..... Now he wears his "woolies" on his body, feet, and even his head.......LOL.....
I'm not paying a big electric bill just so he can feel free in his shorts......

A trick...... I turn the electric off when I leave the house of a morning and the temp ONLY DROPS 8 degrees over 9 hours while I'm at work. Then first one home clicks it back on. That way I'm not paying a "spinning meter" for 9 hours to heat a house and no one home.

I do the water heater the same way. Its turned off when at work and after everyone goes to bed. Still have hot water in the morning for showers and when ever I need it. Yet its turned off most of the day and part of the night. I use a timer on the water heater and no one even knows it or knows the difference.

My A/C unit comes on an hour before I get home and cools the house off and turns off right as I go too work in the summer time.

My neighbors pay$180-$300 electric bills. Mine run from $89-$125. Not a bad savings there!!!! All because I regulate the electric/a/c, and water heater on timers. The timers can always be disconnected temp if need be, but seldom does that happen, only if company comes, etc.

So try anyway possible to cut back, regulate those items, and you will see a big difference in your bills.

Good luck......

[BigJohn]

I installed a wood stove at my sister's home years ago. Every year I used to go and clean their pipes, etc. I moved away from the area and I guess nobody took the time to clean the pipes. One night, the creosote built up too much in the chimney and it caught on fire.

Don't let me scare you, but you should learn how to take care of a stove/fireplace. Also look at it that mankind has been doing this for milleniums and there have not been any major problems.

[my4devils]

Taking care of it is no issue here- my husband is good with that stuff. Did you have any issues with your insurance company once it is installed? I have read about some refusing to insure after a stove is installed. I guess we will have to give ours a call. We live on a huge property now so access to wood wont be a problem- we burn it outside all summer. Just have to let it dry out a bit. What kind of chimney do you need to have? We dont have a real one so we would have to do a pipe I guess?!?!

Thanks for all of the info- as usual- more to research!

Wanted to add- I stay at home with 4 kids so doing the temp regulating would be tough for us since we are usually here. The water thing might work as all the baths are usually at night- I will have to look into that!

[Crainial Access]

Make sure you get double insulated stove pipe. Consider placing non-combustable wall coverings in the rear of the stove...and non combustable stove floor mat. There are minimum clearences to walls etc. Don't scrimp on quality/safety of the stove itself.

[Minnymouth]

Main thing is have it installed by professionals, and approved by a fire marshall in your area. Then there should be no problems with your insurance company. Yes you will need to notify your insurance company and send them copies of professional installation and inspection papers.

The cost savings is more than worth it since you have access to wood. Just be sure to cut wood this year for next year so it has time to "season" so it won't burn green and smoke a lot.

Some folks build an outside brick chimney and run pipes thru the walls (using safety pipes etc) and some just run pipes. A friend of mine used a window opening...... put in brick walls etc where the window was and then installed stove pipes.... for safety reasons.

[my4devils]

Thanks Minny for your help. We are going to start getting some estimates to get the process rolling. Hubby's aunt isnt on board yet- still have to convince her. If not- then it is back to the drawing board!

Thanks again!

[JRScott]

I had mine as well, it was fairly large and I had kept the monitor low most of the year. Still it was a sticker shock back in march/april.