Why Do People Leave The U.P.? (Marquette, Escanaba: environment, budget)

[wordsmith680]

Originally Posted by JustT&Me

Great post - helpfully informative. A couple of Q's in relation to your post here which are different Q's from my previous post:

1. I've been looking at some older homes and noticed most of the windows are quite small and few in number. I love natural light & always had a lot of windows. Are/were the homes built w/fewer and smaller windows due to the longer, colder winters? I was thinking if I bought a place, I might want to put some newer, larger ones in - feedback?
2. About how much is a cord of wood? Is there a big difference in the different types of wood as far as pricing and burning for what's available in the U.P. north of the H/H bridge?
3. What IYO are some better quality stoves? (Brands, type, whatever - )
4. When you say the outdoor stoves are popular - do you mean to use inside (since you were talking about heating your home)? And if so, why?
5. If I left for the winter (snowbird), as long as I had the water main turned off, couldn't I just turn off the heat as well and head South? Or would I still have to leave the heat set at some minimal temp while I'd be gone?

Heating costs are one of my main concerns, and you seem to have some helpful knowledge regarding such. THANK YOU!

1) Smaller windows due to less tech. Sure, change them and take advantage of s. exposure.
2) & 3)Haven't bought any iin several years. Make sure you understand what you are buying hardwood vs soft. ( Google woodburning stoves )
4)Outdoor stoves firebox are not attached to the home. Heat exchange inside. Don't forget local ordinances.
5)Many people "winterize" but that includes other things such as draining water system and antifreeze in traps and ssuch.....very doable.

[1eyedjack]

4. When you say the outdoor stoves are popular - do you mean to use inside (since you were talking about heating your home)? And if so, why?
Outdoor stoves are just that,they are more like a little shed sized building. You can load them up with 3ft.logs and they will burn 24 hrs., I've been told anyways. I'm sure there are different sizes. Anyways they heat a boiler and steam heat runs in underground pipe to your house etc. They are a good ways from the house so no worries of a house fire. Answered one of your questions a bit anyways.

[wordsmith680]

Outdoor stoves heat water altho they are still a boiler. The burn time is closer to 12 hrs as far as I know. The heat exchanger can be either tied into existing hot water system or adapted to forced air by use of an exchanger. Lots of mfg websites im sure. Welcome, 1eye good post. (dirt and those pesky spiders are outside too)

[JustT&Me]

Originally Posted by 1eyedjack

Outdoor stoves are just that,they are more like a little shed sized building. You can load them up with 3ft.logs and they will burn 24 hrs., I've been told anyways. I'm sure there are different sizes. Anyways they heat a boiler and steam heat runs in underground pipe to your house etc. They are a good ways from the house so no worries of a house fire. Answered one of your questions a bit anyways.

Are most folks installing these to replace current/obsolete/malfunctioning heating systems, or moreso as secondary/backup?

In an older home - 1900s - I'm wondering... seems like it'd be a lot of work to dig up the ground to place the pipes deep enough not to freeze winters, then to run into an older home that would have a much older foundation - loose materials. Are you (or wordsmith) familiar with this at all?

And... bc they can (wordsmith) be connected to current water systems, I'm wondering how many folks might be using them to update their heating by adding floor pipes. Is that popular in the U.P.? (Not that I care if it's popular or not - who cares, but I mean - are more ppl putting floor pipes in and is this helpful in heating a house? Or more of just a luxury for keeping sweetie's tootsie's toasted? You'd think that there'd just be more pipes to freeze and burst as the temps dropped winters, esp. in homes w/old bsmts.

Okay - maybe I just need to make a stop by your local big box handywoman store! Thanks, guys! Ha - and I'm guessing loading 3' logs into a little shed might get cumbersome after a while... esp. in winter, esp. at just a couple of inches over 5'! ~ Lol.

The snow actually got a few days of sun to begin melting a bit this week. I can actually see some grass in my yard. Good and yellow - mixed with a little mud, but it's there! Spring is coming!

Btw, I was hoping to make a trip Up N. while there was *still some snow* on the ground (and homes) to see how it might be ... (without getting stuck at this point). Would this month be a good time to come, or would there still be too much snow to do some trekking? Would sometime in Apr be too late (to still see quite a bit of snow)? I like Hwy 2 - but it seems 141 would be more direct at this time of year. How are either of those roads for driving about this time? I'm in a truck, but it doesn't have 4WD.

Thanx & G'nite!

[jeeg]

I've lived in three different houses in the U.P. and I've never once had to think about brushing the snow off my roof.
As for heating..... it really depends on the house, how well it is designed and insulated.
The last house I lived in was HORRIBLE!! My current house I heat with fuel oil, it is extremely well built and insulated, and I have yet to pay over $150 a month for heat. I'm actually renting this place, if I owned it I would put in a woodstove and easily cut that cost down by half or more!

[wordsmith680]

Originally Posted by JustT&Me

Are most folks installing these to replace current/obsolete/malfunctioning heating systems, or moreso as secondary/backup?

This is still not a common option. You can not have them in many towns due to smoke concerns....(think neighbors") They can burn about anything that you wouldn't think of burning inside a home. Firewood is NOT cheap! The more people decide to cut slow growing hardwood (50-100+yrs) to burn, it won't take long to not have the remaining area that hasn't been cut for "Aspen regeneration". (Sorry, that is an inside joke. It's a sign , put up after clear cutting)

In an older home - 1900s - I'm wondering... seems like it'd be a lot of work to dig up the ground to place the pipes deep enough not to freeze winters, then to run into an older home that would have a much older foundation - loose materials. Are you (or wordsmith) familiar with this at all?

You can check Google for more specs on installtion parameters. All in the cost of $4-6K? (now I'm way out on a limb)

And... bc they can (wordsmith) be connected to current water systems, I'm wondering how many folks might be using them to update their heating by adding floor pipes. Is that popular in the U.P.? (Not that I care if it's popular or not - who cares, but I mean - are more ppl putting floor pipes in and is this helpful in heating a house? Or more of just a luxury for keeping sweetie's tootsie's toasted? You'd think that there'd just be more pipes to freeze and burst as the temps dropped winters, esp. in homes w/old bsmts.

I think you add antifreeze, which adds to the cost. Tie into the existing system means just that. Not typically adding any additional inside design.

Okay - maybe I just need to make a stop by your local big box handywoman store! Thanks, guys! Ha - and I'm guessing loading 3' logs into a little shed might get cumbersome after a while... esp. in winter, esp. at just a couple of inches over 5'! ~ Lol.

The "shed" is a shelter for the boiler similar to what I have in the basement.
You do want to stay in shape, Eh?
The snow actually got a few days of sun to begin melting a bit this week. I can actually see some grass in my yard. Good and yellow - mixed with a little mud, but it's there! Spring is coming!

Btw, I was hoping to make a trip Up N. while there was *still some snow* on the ground (and homes) to see how it might be ... (without getting stuck at this point). Would this month be a good time to come, or would there still be too much snow to do some trekking? Would sometime in Apr be too late (to still see quite a bit of snow)? I like Hwy 2 - but it seems 141 would be more direct at this time of year. How are either of those roads for driving about this time? I'm in a truck, but it doesn't have 4WD.

Thanx & G'nite!

Snow depths vary greatly from N toS, E to W and driving on highways is not a problem. I don't think 4x4 is a need at any time. If it's that bad , don't drive. In many areas the snow will be gone (except for piles) the end of the month. (Just dosen't look like at the moment) Michigan Convention Tourism, & Visitors Bureaus (CVB)- Michigan Start Pages Michigan Information More info available..

[JustT&Me]

Originally Posted by wordsmith680

Snow depths vary greatly from N toS, E to W and driving on highways is not a problem. I don't think 4x4 is a need at any time. If it's that bad , don't drive. In many areas the snow will be gone (except for piles) the end of the month. (Just dosen't look like at the moment) Michigan Convention Tourism, & Visitors Bureaus (CVB)- Michigan Start Pages Michigan Information More info available..

Thank you! I almost missed your first answers within my quoted text. I'm new to the board and found by trial & error that if you add [/quote] after the part of the quote you are answering, then it will separate the person's quote from your answer. Makes it easier to read. Esp. nice when you're replying to a writer who's entries are longer than average.

I didn't and don't mind inside jokes. I'd rather "have a clue" than not, esp. when it comes to considering a relocation to the Land of Yoopers!

[jeeg]

Originally Posted by JustT&Me

Btw, I was hoping to make a trip Up N. while there was *still some snow* on the ground (and homes) to see how it might be ... (without getting stuck at this point). Would this month be a good time to come, or would there still be too much snow to do some trekking? Would sometime in Apr be too late (to still see quite a bit of snow)? I like Hwy 2 - but it seems 141 would be more direct at this time of year. How are either of those roads for driving about this time? I'm in a truck, but it doesn't have 4WD.

I live in Marquette county. Neither of our vehicles, nor most of my spouses coworkers, nor any of my near neighbors have 4WD. We all have cars or minivans. You'll be fine, we have one of the best county plow teams in the country up here. Unless there is a snow storm happening at the time, then all the main roads are usually clear.

[bryan61]

jusT&me may have read about me shoveling off my roof a while back. I have to say that I have an unusual lack of pitch over the back porch of my house and I have to clear it off once in a while. Most roofs up here are built specifically to bear and shed snow.

[wordsmith680]

Unfortunately I know about shoveling the roof.... My northside roof also encompasses a garage. (52' from the peak to eaves) with not enough pitch. I am looking at a metal roof but will not be in the budget soon. Global warming take care of it?