Run furnace and wood stove at same time to save money? (how much, heater)
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The last time I calculated it, oil cost twice as much as wood per BTU in my area.
My wood stove is too small to heat the whole house all winter. Could I save money on oil by doing the following during the coldest months?:
1) Set oil thermostat to 50 degrees day and night to maintain whole house temperature at a minimum.
2) Make a fire in the woodstove in the morning to raise the temperature to 60 degrees (that's how I like it). Keep it going as long as needed to maintain that temperature.
My theory is that this way I would be using something like 2/3 oil and 1/3 wood. Probably the furnace wouldn't come on at all while the wood stove is burning.
One concern is that the oil furnace might come on a couple of times to keep its water temperature up (it is not used for domestic hot water). But that might use less oil than, say, turning the furnace off during the day and refiring it in the morning.
The woodstove and furnace have two separate chimneys.
What do you think? Can wood and oil be combined to save money?
P.S. This would only be fore Dec, Jan, and half of March. In the fall and spring I use the woodstove only.
My wood stove is too small to heat the whole house all winter.
Could I save money on oil by...?
By insulating and gap sealing to the Nth degree so that what heat you DO produce stays in? Yes.
By having the highest efficiency oil burner and all well tuned? Yes.
Quote:
What do you think? Can wood and oil be combined to save money?
Rarely. The key distinction is in how much of the flue pipe is INSIDE the house.
By insulating and gap sealing to the Nth degree so that what heat you DO produce stays in? Yes.
By having the highest efficiency oil burner and all well tuned? Yes.
Rarely. The key distinction is in how much of the flue pipe is INSIDE the house.
My house was newly weatherized (all gaps sealed and added blown-in insulation to the attic) a few years ago and the furnace was replaced at that time. That cut my oil bill in half.
The furnace chimney is inside the house; the woodstove chimney is outside.
We use a combination of gas furnace and woodstove to heat our house. Basically, the woodstove is burning at all possible times. That keeps the temp up enough to prevent the furnace from coming on. If you have figured out that wood is your cheapest way to heat, I would say use the woodstove as much as possible and let the furnace heat to a minimum temperature the rest of the time (middle of the night for instance).
If I fire up one wood stove, my furnace will not come on in temps above about 25°.
If I fire up both wood stoves, my furnace will not come on in temps above about 0°.
Do it. Save your oil like I'm saving my electric.
As already mentioned, it's down to what you have invested in firewood. Whether you're buying it or doing it yourself with your own equipment, you're still paying for it one way or another.
You have a boiler, not a furnace. For the most savings run the wood stove as much as possible.
---or---
Forget all that and install a coal boiler.
"Furnace" is a word used by ordinary folks to mean "that thing in the cellar that makes heat." Dictionary: "an enclosed structure in which heat is produced."
Thanks, all. Based on your replies I'll starting making wood fires. I guess the wood stove could take care of the house down to zero, at least, but the colder it gets, the more work it takes to lug and load wood, and the poorer the result is. I don't enjoy burning wood, but I don't enjoy oil bills either.
...the colder it gets, the more work it takes to lug and load wood, and the poorer the result is...
The way I look at it, is it is good for my health. Better to be getting a little exercise in the winter months than sitting on my behind! (Keep telling yourself that! )
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