...didn't think I'd go through 7 cords in my Harman TL300. Not only did I burn almost 7 cords (90% red oak), but I'm going through quite a bit of heating oil too.
Same stove, biting my nails on the remainder of this winters wood...
...does not seem to matter how bad the winter is, as I go through about the same amount of wood. The only difference is my house will be warmer inside.
...house stays about 65* all winter. Burning about 9-10 cord a year...
My house stays a constant, steady, even 70°-71°, the whole house, every room... on what appears (after a second year of use) to be something either side of 6 cord, depending... and not one single gallon of LPG used (the furnace gas valve is shut off).
That's burning in a "smoke dragon" (non-EPA certified) box that requires no attention (none) other than loading... just toss the wood in, slam the door, walk away.
I did burn 9 cord one season (a bit over actually)... that was the season I tried using an EPA certified box (it weren't a "colder than normal" season neither)... and temperatures were completely impossible to keep constant, steady, and even in the house.
I'm on track to burn about what I did last long cold season... 6½ cord.
But this year near half of that wood was of lesser quality (much lesser), I started earlier, and the early part of the season was much colder than "normal".
I guess I need the whole "
more heat from less wood" thing explained to me again... b'cause in real world, cold climate, heatin' conditions I just ain't seein' it. Heck, even if I could save ½ a cord or so... I wouldn't give up the convenience of the constant, steady, even 70°-71° requiring nothin' more than load, slam the door, and walk away (well... I do haf'ta yank the ash drawer and dump it 2-4 times a week, depending).
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