Posted by bruce in CO on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 at 11:07AM :
In Reply to: Re: not the answer... posted by Tom J on Monday, December 29, 2003 at 8:29PM :
Tom J., We don't burn the softwoods because we don't know better! We burn it because paying to have hardwoods hauled in from eastern Kansas or any other next closest location would be more expensive than turning up the thermostat and paying for LPG! In your six years in Evergreen you would know that we burn what we have! Also after moving from Ohio to Colorado, I learned that the coniferous trees here are much dryer and less sappy than those back east making them a little more applicable for firewood than the evergreens which grew alongside the Ohio hardwoods.
I think the reasons it takes more wood per winter than it seems it should are that A). the softwoods burn quicker and are less efficient heat-producers, B). They burn best when overseasoned to a point of being very dried out, C). They burn best when allowed to burn faster and hotter. Banking the airflow down does retain heat, but not nearly with the efficiency obtainable with the hardwoods.
We have a 1400 sq ft all open floorplan heated with an Avalon insert stove in the fireplace original to the restored cabin. Certainly not the most efficient woodburner available, but it does the job. The old chimney dictated using only a 6" pipe and I need to clean it out 3 times per season to maintain good draft and keep it safe.
If you ever find yourself driving from Arkansas back to CO for a visit with an empty trailer, catch me here on the forum and maybe we can work out a deal on a load of that oak! Bruce