May Be Time to Let the Fire Go Out...

Last weekend, I checked Accuweather extended forecast for our area--called for 40s to low 50s most of next week, with overnight low 30s.

Today, the extended is calling for 59 Monday, then mid to high 60s through following Sunday. Rest of April, highs in upper 50s, 60s, and even some 70s.

Might crank it way back and try to hold it through next week, to see if the forecast holds.

This is my 30th year burning coal in this house, and the longest burn yet. Started the year with a bit under a half ton in the bin, added 2.5 tons of Blashack nut. Lit up the weekend before Thanksgiving. After four months and some of the coldest temps the last 10 years, I still have over a half ton left, so burned less than 2.5 tons. And had some of the lowest Jan/Feb electric bills in quite a few years.

All on one match.

Not too shabby! Love my DS 1500!!!

Great job on efficiency, hand feds are not friendly during shoulder months. You had a good run this winter. I have used 10% more than last year to date and with the stoker I have at least 3 more weeks to go. Warm early spring might change that, NOT!

I'm out after this weekend. I'd have been out on Thursday but it's projected to rain this weekend so I'll keep the stove idling to keep the chill away. We will have burned 2 full tons which is the most ever in the 9 years I've been burning coal. I'm not complaining in light of the temperatures and length of the heating season we experienced this year.

I was told today that friends have been paying over $300 a month on their heating bill. I don't know how they do it. We only paid $500 for the entire season so I'm happy. Take care, Lisa

I'll run mine till May 1st. I already started the 24 hour shake and load schedule. I should be able to stick with it till then. I'm on course to use up my whole 6 tons that I started with, last year I used 5..

i'm in till the first week of May too. when this last is gone i'll have burned 6 ton this yr.

by FAR the most I've burned ever in this house. our mid winter uber cold and wind was lot longer and deeper than ever too.

next season i'll a diff. stove and hope to gain some eff. along with more tightening on this old hut i'm living in.

Same here. We still get freezing temps at night into May.

Since I get bulk delivery into a basement bin, not sure how much I've used, but with it so cold this winter, I'm glad I ordered extra last year.

Paul

yep... after this brutal season I think I'm about done.... I'm switching up soon to just burning some wood at night at this point (stacked and racked a bunch of oak flooring out of an old house being redone)... ill burn that for a couple weeks and then pull out the golf clubs!

I'll be letting the stoker idle through the next few weeks to keep the chill of April showers out of the house. I will use about a ton more than last year, that's only $200 more which is a fraction of what I have been hearing others around town complain about.

That will let me work through the rest of the coal in the outside bin so I can shorten the feed pipe to one side of the bin and add a sloped board to the opposite side this summer.
I have the long sides sloped now, but want to slope the third side too even though it will add a little more dead space in the bin it will help feed more coal to the intake.

There is a rumor going around town that the sun came out yesterday for a couple minutes, huh The day temps will soon be too much for the Vigilant in the living room, I not a huge of window stats. I'll light the old Gold Marc in the basement and let that take the chill away and keep the dampness down to a minimum as the 4 feet of snow around the house melts. Look out New England lots of yellow snow (melting) comin' your way

2001Sierra wrote:Great job on efficiency, hand feds are not friendly during shoulder months. You had a good run this winter. I have used 10% more than last year to date and with the stoker I have at least 3 more weeks to go. Warm early spring might change that, NOT!

Not all are created equal!

Mrs Crawford is going on 26 hours @ 250 on the barrel with one shake and load

But with only six bags of nut left she's gonna go cold soon.

That reminds me, got to call the sweep and schedule a cleaning ASAP!

I have a feeling the fire won't go out around these parts until June.

My coal supply is going to be close, very close. Filled 9 five gallon pails today. Can fill them again, maybe a little more..... The good part is; I was able to pull pins from the timer as well. This is the other time of year the Kaa-2 really shines. It uses very little coal. Yet keeps the dampness out of the house. The little boiler impresses me more and more, as time goes on......... Oliver

I'll be burning 2 or 3 fires a week to keep the basement in the 65* range for another couple weeks

Yeah! You guys go ahead and let your fire go out! Not Me. 24/7/365. Ya gotta love it!

Channing III is down and the Stoker II is keeping the shop @ 60 for morning wake-up...all good