money saved

[HardyOWB]

I installed my Hardy when we built the house, so I don't know exactly what I would have spent on propane, but I do know my neighbor has a similar size house and is on a budget of $250 per month year round. So he is spending $3000 per year. I cut about 10 face cord per year out of my woods, and I buy about 15 face cord of wood for roughly $1000, and my monthly propane bill is around $40 per month. So at that rate I am still saving $1500 per year. Next winter I plan on getting about 20 face cord out of my woods, so I will save even more money. I do a lot of work to save $1500, but I like the work.

 

[bowtechmadman]

Third winter w/ my 5500 Woodmaster and we have nearly made our money back...of course not charging myself for labor nor do i have to buy wood. Wife is a financial analyst and she had expected a 5 yr pay off...we will have done it in about 3.5 w/ the increased fuel oil prices.
Used approx. 50 gallons of fuel oil in three years....majority was last summer when we wanted to compare the price of fuel oil to heat the domestic water compared to what the electic cost of running pump all summer.
Someone mentioned that ya better enjoy cutting wood...that's no lie 10 - 12 cords annually for me.

 

[hydro2]

Got a letter from my utility co last week. They're sending someone out to 'inspect' my natural gas meter.

That happened to me when I put mine in 5 years ago. I told them come on out and put a new meter on, my old one looked a little shabby.

 

[hydro2]

I heat two homes with mine so mine has payed for itself a few years ago. You do have to cut a bunch of wood, but I don't mind, I am still somewhat young. (38) When I get into my sixties, I may give it up! Right now I am loving it.

 

[wkpoor]

Your math must be flawed if you predicted a 40 year payback. I've saved almost 10K in the 2 years I have run my OWB. I figure in another 6 months I will be at the break even point, since I didn't do my own plumbing and electrical. My oil burner doesn't run unless I make it run to make sure it still works. MY wood is free, but even if I paid for logs or split wood, the btu's are still cheaper than buying oil.

Well I didn't actually do any math but my house yr around average utility costs are in the 150.00 (including electric) a month range if I were using the propane. So to go out and spend say around 7,000 dollars on an OWB to save say 600 a year (electric is roughly 100.00 a month). Then add back in all I would spend in fuel to gather and split 10+ cords a yr not even accounting for my time just doesn't seem cost effective. Not to mention if my health were to go bad and I weren't able to continue using the OWB for at least the time required to break even in my case that would be several yrs.

 

[Marklambert61]

OWB savings

Last winter I burned 1200 Gallons of propane to date this year i have used 178 Gallons...

My propane company is pissed and wants to down size my 400 gallon tank...

I love to here them squeel.

Mark...

 

[wkpoor]

Husky 137
I just notices something else. You said your were saving 5,000 a yr which is over 400.00 a month and I'm assuming thats not all your utilities either because everyone still has electric. WOW!!! Sounds like you need a new house too! Man if I had 400+ a month in heating I would try and find out where the heat was going unless you have a 3,000+sq ft home.
My last electric bill was 88.00 dollars and that includes some heat pump time and an electric hot water tank. If I didn't use the wood burner at all to supplement I would go through maybe one tank of propane a yr.
I guessing the OWB's are attractive to homes with very high energy bills to start with.

 

[Blazin]

Husky 137
I just notices something else. You said your were saving 5,000 a yr which is over 400.00 a month and I'm assuming thats not all your utilities either because everyone still has electric. WOW!!! Sounds like you need a new house too! Man if I had 400+ a month in heating I would try and find out where the heat was going unless you have a 3,000+sq ft home.
My last electric bill was 88.00 dollars and that includes some heat pump time and an electric hot water tank. If I didn't use the wood burner at all to supplement I would go through maybe one tank of propane a yr.
I guessing the OWB's are attractive to homes with very high energy bills to start with.

I guess I need a new houses(2) and a garage too!:monkey: This is my third year with my Central Boiler, and this year with fuel oil around $3.50/gal I'm gonna TELL you that $9000 did'nt get spent for heating oil!! The intial purchase/install was around $11000 which easily paid for itself by year 2.
I burn around 16-18 full cord a season(oct-june) I have my own free source of wood and cut it myself, But lets say I did'nt...18 cord x $200(cut,split & delivered)= $3600. $9000(fuel oil) minus $3600(wood) equals $5400 saved after even having to buy wood!! WOW!!! Looks like I can make a truck payment for a year with that $5400!!!

I realize that everyone's heating situation differs, and also ones level of ambition, But I think most OWB owners know the true savings!

Oh yeah...I forgot the other $50 a month without the electric hot water heater on..Another $950! I guess that offsets the cost of running circulator pumps and buying fuel to cut wood!

 

[Husky137]

Husky 137
unless you have a 3,000+sq ft home.

And there you go.


Sounds like my electric bill is more than your total electric/heating costs every month.

 

[wkpoor]

My neighbor last yr put in a corn burner furnace add on and his house is energy efficient like mine. It was only 3,500 dollars installed and he said it would be 10yrs till he breaks even on the investment.
You guys are spending more (before OWB) on utilities than an average house payment!

 

[Husky137]

My carbon footprint is probably about a size 22.:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Butch(OH)]

Husky 137
I just notices something else. You said your were saving 5,000 a yr which is over 400.00 a month and I'm assuming thats not all your utilities either because everyone still has electric. WOW!!! Sounds like you need a new house too! Man if I had 400+ a month in heating I would try and find out where the heat was going unless you have a 3,000+sq ft home.
My last electric bill was 88.00 dollars and that includes some heat pump time and an electric hot water tank. If I didn't use the wood burner at all to supplement I would go through maybe one tank of propane a yr.
I guessing the OWB's are attractive to homes with very high energy bills to start with.

Well ya, you have (or had) to be spending money in order to be able to save it so you are correct. If a person is spending a pittance for home energy why would they consider a OWB, or a wood stove for that matter? My house is old, 1945 but a long ways from being a corn crib. Siding and windows are 6 years old and energy eff. Insulation is everywhere it could be stuffed or blown in. Furnace is just a few years old and hi ef. 3 kids in and out all day lets out heat, wife runs hot water like its free, how much hot water? With our brand new hi ef gas water heater we spend close to $100 a month for gas in the summer. Whoever said two can live for the same as one was an idiot. We also have a WARM house in the winter. 74-75 and thats a BIG difference in heating costs over 65-68. We are also heating my shop which is as I said like another house. Total outlay for the Woodmaster and installing it plus the shed I built over it and the wood pile is around 8500. We spent 3k for gas two years ago and I assume would be more than that now so I have estimated 2 1/2 year pay back, 3 for sure.

 

[Grace Tree]

I bought my home is 1977 at 1977 housing prices and put in a HS Tarm boiler in 1978 because of rising fuel prices. In the past 30 years I have almost saved the initial purchase price of my home. 'Turned out to be one of the best purchases I ever made.
Phil

 

[johnha]

That happened to me when I put mine in 5 years ago. I told them come on out and put a new meter on, my old one looked a little shabby.

This is my sixth year heating with wood. I have a Regency medium stove in the lowest level of a 2600 sf split built 1969 (read poorly insulated). It kept things reasonable until the temp gets below 25 or so, then the heat kicked on. The payback on that install was < 2 years but I got that stove for $100 and did the 25' SS chimney myself.

Last year, I put a Quadra-Fire 4100i in the living room fireplace. The heat kicked on twice this year while we were away from home all day. The payback on this one will be longer and harder to figure.

Does payback include all the toys I've accumulated for wood collection?

 

[HUSKYMAN]

Well I didn't actually do any math but my house yr around average utility costs are in the 150.00 (including electric) a month range if I were using the propane. So to go out and spend say around 7,000 dollars on an OWB to save say 600 a year (electric is roughly 100.00 a month). Then add back in all I would spend in fuel to gather and split 10+ cords a yr not even accounting for my time just doesn't seem cost effective. Not to mention if my health were to go bad and I weren't able to continue using the OWB for at least the time required to break even in my case that would be several yrs.

Well either you have one of the most energy efficient houses going today or you have the cheapest energy company available. Everyone here is spending a minimum of $250 a month with natural gas, which is much cheaper than propane. Propane is close to $3 a gallon, and propane users are spending $400 a month if they have decently insulated homes.

So either you have one bad ass wood stove and your furnace never comes on, or you have a generous energy provider. If your numbers are right (which seems odd) then you dont need an OWB and leave this thread alone. You need to realize energy prices are different all over the country

 

[johnha]

*Do* the math, its very easy.

You take your usage before going to wood heat for the period and multiply it by the current rate charged by your supplier.

Prior to wood heat, my January average gas usage was 241 CCF.
Current rate of natural gas delivered is $1.485714/CCF
So at current rates, I would have paid $358.05 for January's gas usage

My usage this year was 35 CCF, my gas bill is $52.00. (no wonder they're sending someone to check my meter)

I saved $306.05 in January. People who use oil or propane would save more than me.

I gather all my own firewood, but almost never make a special trip so I don't really incur gas costs for my pickup outside loss of mileage carrying a load of wood home. I also need gas/oil/chains for my saw and gas/oil for my splitter.

Some would say 'what about your time?' but I enjoy it too much to consider it work. Gathering firewood is my 'gym time'. I get outside and excercise. I have a bad back and am fortunate to have a friend and coworker who lifts my wood into the pickup truck. I then roll the rounds right onto my splitter from the bed. I bring him split firewood in return.

Also, the cost/CCF above is a little skewed. My utility used to break out the fixed costs but they don't do that anymore. Those are your charges regardless of usage, so that cost/ccf would fall as the usage rises.

 

[Hugenpoet]

Does payback include all the toys I've accumulated for wood collection?

Of course the cost of the toys are excluded (after all everyone needs a 372XP and an MS 361, a Tmberwolf tw-3HD, etc).

In addition, you may not realize it, but you are entitled to what is commonly referred to as the "Sporting Event/Casino" credit in the amount of an additional $100 per cord for each full cord that you cut based on the theory that if you weren't spending your time and energy constructively, you would be otherwise squandering money on non-essentials.

 

[wkpoor]

So either you have one bad ass wood stove and your furnace never comes on, or you have a generous energy provider. If your numbers are right (which seems odd) then you dont need an OWB and leave this thread alone. You need to realize energy prices are different all over the country

Lighten up Huskyman ... My position is not what it seems. I love cutting wood and actually make it my winter time hobby. I have used a wood stove in my walkout basement for about 10yrs now. I love the warm cozy heat it brings to the house. I've looked at the OWB's many times and wish I could justify owning one. Most people in my area with relatively new homes experience utility bills similar to mine if they own an average size home. I'm basically trying to figure out what I might have over looked about their attraction. When I hear someone say they saved 10-12,000 over a 2yr period I'm thinkin wow, they must be spending on utilities what it would cost to by a new house. Thats where I'm coming from.

 

[mschoff]

savings

My owb is a shaver 165 model heats 4000 sq ft our county only lets us burn from mid sep to mid may and thats ok with me. its already starting to get warm outside so I may shut mind down in a couple of weeks and if need be run my propane just to take the dampness out of the air but will see at that time. and I will clean it out and cap it and oil the inside lighty but can someone tell me how they oil down there fire box and what oil do they use or does it make a difference thank you michael

 

[Blazin]

Lighten up Huskyman ... My position is not what it seems. I love cutting wood and actually make it my winter time hobby. I have used a wood stove in my walkout basement for about 10yrs now. I love the warm cozy heat it brings to the house. I've looked at the OWB's many times and wish I could justify owning one. Most people in my area with relatively new homes experience utility bills similar to mine if they own an average size home. I'm basically trying to figure out what I might have over looked about their attraction. When I hear someone say they saved 10-12,000 over a 2yr period I'm thinkin wow, they must be spending on utilities what it would cost to by a new house. Thats where I'm coming from.

WOW!!!