Pretty much everyone here has a passion for cutting and heating with wood. So the response to a question such as that to guys like us will be largely one sided. Really only you can determine if doing this is right for yourself.
I can tell you some of the reasons many of us like heating with wood:
We see, feel and appreciate the value of our hard work every day in the winter (as do our families).
We like being more self sufficient.
We don't like sending our money to countries that would like to see ours destroyed.
We don't like getting ripped off by fuel/propane companies that make up new rules/fees/charges for rediculous reasons. This is our way of telling them to pound sand.
We love working outdoors, in the woods, with good tools and a good buddy.
We know there is an underused resource laying all over on the ground in the woods and it's free for the taking.
We feel like we just won the lottery when we find a new honeyspot.
We like to tinker with our stoves/furnaces. Most of us are pretty mechanically inclined and aren't afraid to work on anything.
We like the feeling of taking a bit of a step back in time, heating with the fuel used mostly years ago. It makes us feel a connection to a simpler time.
Guys will come up with a hundred more reasons we like it and keep doing it. But if this line of thought isn't up your alley then theres some other things to think about:
This is an expensive initial investment. You need to stick with it for a few years to make it pay off.
Do you have the time to put up the wood?
Will you mind filling the furnace, maybe a few times a day, when it's cold and snowing or when your tired or sick?
It's a big committment, cutting enough wood for winter and filling the furnace everyday, sometimes a few times a day. Not knowing your interests or lifestyle - we can't really answer it for you.
I love my outdoor furnace. The heat is great, our hot water never runs out. I love getting ready for winter and enjoy going out to fill the thing. I've had it for 2 years and I still find myself outside in the yard just watching it run. There's something really satisfying about standing outside when its a calm -25 degree night, watching the smoke come out of the stack. I also find myself checking out my woodpile with pride, counting the rows I have left and figuring out if I will have extra in the spring. It's been a great investment for our family, it was a fun project to put in, and I look forward to many more fall woodcutting days with my brother and my boys. Hope this helps.
