How many others attempt to heat their entire home with a fireplace and/or wood burning stove?

Question

We managed to acheive this last winter, and hope to again this year. The fireplace has lost much of it's ambience, but at least the bills are lower, right?

Answer 1

when we are home, we try to heat the house with our fireplace, using the ceiling fans to distribute the heat. Works pretty well, but lots of work to keep firewood up by the house and treking it in. But it does work if you are diligent.

Answer 2

We did that the first few years after putting in a fireplace. And actually did see a difference on our energy bills. Then we got tired of stock piling all that wood and stopped heating with it, but used it every so often for the ambiance. This year we have been heating with it since October. The weather has allowed us to do so. The problem is that with the high cost of wood, $80 and up for one cord, we are not saving that much. Our electricity bill came in last week, and there was a $20 difference. But we've actually burned up more than that in wood. So overall, I would not say we saved. But there is nothing like a nice wood burning fire in the fireplace. The heat that you get from it, does not compare to electric heating.

Answer 3

I heat only with wood, but I have a wood furnace. You may want to look into at least an insert for your fireplace, because a lot of heat goes up the chimney with a fireplace alone.

Answer 4

we have a woodburning stove and a pretty energy efficient house. unfortunately, we've found that wood and propane (our secondary source) run about the same price - so this year, we'll probably do more propane, less wood. Sad - because the fire really becomes almost a part of the family. We'll miss it on those cold, dark, rainy nights.

In this area (N. CA) a cord goes for about $325

Answer 5

chopping wood is a great workout as well.