Thread: How are you heating this winter

I voted ELECTRIC. But I also have a built in wood fireplace I use on the REALLY COLD DAYS.....

Natural gas central furnace. The smartest thing I've done lately is bringing our 1978 house up to 2007 energy standards. With rebates from the power company, we spent about $1,200 to increase our attic insulation from about R-3 to R-thirtysomething (I think R-39). Combined with blocking an old unused stovepipe chase that used to be open to the attic, our heating bills in the winter have dropped in half.

My dad, on the other hand, heats his house in Coos Bay, Oregon, with a single big woodstove in the living room. He cuts, splits, stacks and burns about 10 cords a year. He just turned 73. His wood costs him nothing because he owns 4 acres of forest and gets a "down wood" pass from the local state forest. He owns a 4x4 Ford Ranger and a trailer that is his wood gathering system. He has his own water (gravity fed) and septic, so if he didn't use electricity he would be off the grid.

We've got the electric heat going on. But I'm one of these crazy people who heats very little anyway. I don't think it gets cold enough to justify it here, so my heat is always way down. I've been argued with about this in the past... but hey, I like being cold.

Originally Posted by JustRick

...My dad, on the other hand, heats his house in Coos Bay, Oregon, with a single big woodstove in the living room. He cuts, splits, stacks and burns about 10 cords a year...

Yup.
Wood heats you twice: Once when you cut, split, and stack it, and again when you burn it.
I envy your dad. I'm only 70, and I'm already way past my cutting, splitting, and stacking days.
Damn' arthritis!

NWS Billings, MT
Point Forecast: 2 Miles ESE Billings MT
45.79N 108.5W (Elev. 3198 ft) En Español
Last Update: 9:22 am MST Dec 11, 2008
Forecast Valid: 11am MST Dec 11, 2008-6pm MST Dec 17, 2008



Today


Slight Chc
Snow
Hi 39°F Tonight


Partly
Cloudy
Lo 25°F Friday


Mostly
Sunny
Hi 44°F Friday
Night

Slight Chc
Snow
Lo 28°F Saturday


Snow
Likely
Hi 32°F Saturday
Night

Snow
Likely
Lo -7°F Sunday


Chance
Snow
Hi -1°F Sunday
Night

Chance
Snow
Lo -15°F Monday


Slight Chc
Snow
Hi -5°

Guess it is time to turn the heat on!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by buck32

NWS Billings, MT
Point Forecast: 2 Miles ESE Billings MT
45.79N 108.5W (Elev. 3198 ft) En Español
Last Update: 9:22 am MST Dec 11, 2008
Forecast Valid: 11am MST Dec 11, 2008-6pm MST Dec 17, 2008



Today


Slight Chc
Snow
Hi 39°F Tonight


Partly
Cloudy
Lo 25°F Friday


Mostly
Sunny
Hi 44°F Friday
Night

Slight Chc
Snow
Lo 28°F Saturday


Snow
Likely
Hi 32°F Saturday
Night

Snow
Likely
Lo -7°F Sunday


Chance
Snow
Hi -1°F Sunday
Night

Chance
Snow
Lo -15°F Monday


Slight Chc
Snow
Hi -5°

Guess it is time to turn the heat on!!!!!!!

You might put on a long sleeve shirt before deciding.

Originally Posted by TOF

You might put on a long sleeve shirt before deciding.

I think I am going to stay in bed those days, with my wife of course. Oh, darn, she has to go to work

TOF,

I saw on one of your posts that you mentioned negative degrees. Where in AZ does it get that cold?