New Wood Burning Worry Wart

[tbow388]

So now that I have my wood stove in and have been using it I start to wonder. Do I have enough wood for the winter?

At this point I have a bit of wood. Not to confuse with face cords, real cords, rope cords, guitar chords and umbilical cords I will put out a measurement. I have 2 stacks that are 4' tall x 24' long and 16-18". (should be 2 cords)

I know this has been run into the ground and there are too many variables but do you think I have much to worry about as in running out?

1200' house.
Stick Built 1947
Not much insulation
Burning mostly oak - red and white
stove supposed to heat 1800 feet
Live in NE mississippi
Wife at home all day.

I do have a backup wood course as in the guy I cut wood with has a BUNCH and says if I run out that I can come and get some.

I am already finding stuff to cut for next year.

 

[mga]

I have 2 stacks that are 4' tall x 24' long and 16-18". (should be 2 cords)

i stack my wood 4 feet tall then run it in lengths. i figure that 24 linear feet of wood stacked 4 feet high is one cord. i cut my wood 18 inches.

so, i would say you have one cord of wood. i doubt that would be enough to last the winter, unless you have a super high efficiency stove.

 

[autoimage]

not sure what winters are like in north miss but i would say 2 is not enough with little insulation. I burnt 3 here in pa last winter but that was a record mild one. i usually plan on 6 and thats an efficent stove

 

[tbow388]

i stack my wood 4 feet tall then run it in lengths. i figure that 24 linear feet of wood stacked 4 feet high is one cord. i cut my wood 18 inches.

so, i would say you have one cord of wood. i doubt that would be enough to last the winter, unless you have a super high efficiency stove.

I thought I explained it well enough.

I have 16-18" wood. stacked 4' high. I have 48' of wood stacked that way that is ready to burn.

 

[tbow388]

I also have

I also have 1 cord of 1 year old fallen dead.

 

[H 2 H]

Here in the PNW I go thru 4 to 4 1/2 (real) cords during the winter

 

[howard270]

Your setup sounds just like my setup at my first house where I lived until May of 2011. Heated 1,200 sq. ft. with a Quadrafire 3100. I burned mostly hedge and pecan. Went through right at 2 cords of firewood. House was built in late 60's with very little insulation and drafty windows. That house was in south central Oklahoma. I got the drafts sealed up after the 1st year in the house, but still had little insulation.

If we have another mild winter you should come out about right with your 2 cords plus one, but I got a feeling we are in for an actual cold winter like we used to have (at least here in SW OK).

 

[AndrewGeib]

I wonder the same thing and have about 4 cords:msp_scared:

 

[Uncle John]

You dont even need a fire in Mississippi!............:yoyo:

 

[Fifelaker]

Cannot say on how much you will need, but I will use that much for kindling:weep: Of course N. Mi. and a Central boiler I will use 10+- full cord a winter.

 

[bentring]

If you have backup heat then I would say you have plenty, and considering your buddy has some for ya if you need it then you do regardless.

 

[tbow388]

You dont even need a fire in Mississippi!............:yoyo:

Supposed to get down to 34' with 89% humidity.

I should be able to fart out enough heat to keep warm!!

 

[tbow388]

If you have backup heat then I would say you have plenty, and considering your buddy has some for ya if you need it then you do regardless.

You are in the same neck of the woods as I am.

I have 2 other heat sources that I can back up on if needed.

 

[ponyexpress976]

Rule #1....you can never have enough wood.
Rule #2....when the wife feeds the stove all day, a national forrest does not have enough trees in it to cover her usage.
Rule #3....cut split and stack as much as you can to ease tension between you and the aforementioned party from rule #2.

 

[mga]

I thought I explained it well enough.

I have 16-18" wood. stacked 4' high. I have 48' of wood stacked that way that is ready to burn.

my bad...i read it wrong.

you have two cords...not one.

 

[Hedgerow]

You are in the same neck of the woods as I am.

I have 2 other heat sources that I can back up on if needed.

But if you have to do that, a giant beer can will fall out of the sky and crush you...
Just sayin...
:matrix:

 

[haveawoody]

tbow388,

I think if we have a mild winter like last year you will just make it in your location.
Insulation in your attic would make a huge difference though so spending 100+$ and a day acting like a crab in the attic might be worth your time.

Cooler in summer and warmer in winter and much less wood making it warm is always a good thing.
Lack of insulation in the attic will account for as much as 75% of heat loss in a home, so even getting insulation a couple inch deep in the attic would make a drastic change.

I burn 2 cords last year in Southern Ontario Canada but it was mild enough for almost all that wood to be less than stellar stuff.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I have 2 stacks that are 4' tall x 24' long and 16-18". (should be 2 cords)

That is two cords.

We use 2-3 cords a year of mostly cottonwood with some elm, ash, apple and walnut for "overnighters". Our house is 1500 sq ft, built in 1933 and also hardly any insulation. We have a Vermont Castings Encore catalytic stove.

The differences are, of course, we are in Colorado at 4800 feet, and two cords of oak equals probably four cords of cottonwood. We both work weekdays so we use our radiant heat when we're not home. If we were home all day (as in retired, soon I hope), we would probably use 4-6 cords a year, but almost no propane.

I only have a little over a cord up right now, but I cut and split all through the winter. I would rather cut and split wood when it's 40 degrees and sunny than when it's over 90, so I don't even start on my woodpile until October.

Sounds like you have plenty of wood with your backup, but time will tell.

 

[ShaneLogs]

i stack my wood 4 feet tall then run it in lengths. i figure that 24 linear feet of wood stacked 4 feet high is one cord. i cut my wood 18 inches.

so, i would say you have one cord of wood. i doubt that would be enough to last the winter, unless you have a super high efficiency stove.

I think he has over a cord. Might be 2 ?

 

[Uncle John]

2 cords!!