Well...

...cleaned out the stove and chimney liner. The days here in Michigan have been rather warm coinsidering the time of year. I shut down the stove Tuesday and cleaned it out today. I am ready to fire it up whenever the cold decides to come back. Supposed to be in the mid 40's on new years day with a chance of thunder showers!! Just read in our local paper that the local natural gas provider is lowering the cost recovery rate due to a warm December and a resulting lower demand. I want it to get cold again!!!!

I just checked the quantity gauge on my 1000 gallon Propane tank that supplies the house. It was filled to 82% right after Thanksgiving. It now reads 74%. Normally it would be down to around 30-35% or so with the cold weather we had early in December.

At $1.60 per gallon plus taxes, my savings this month are around $7-800. I have a hard time not grinning.

I've burned about three face- cords or one full federal cord of Oak and Elm [almost free]. And probably about 3/4 ton of coal.

But the most wonderfull part is that In the past I've had to keep the temperature in this old farm house to only 60 degrees to keep the propane bill under $800. Now the house is at a balmy 68-70 degrees. And the hot water for laundry and showers is free too.

Gotta love it.

LsFarm

last year this time i spent 700 bucks for natural gas. So far this year $0 now that's priceless..The gas company actually called me to see if there was a problem cause the noticed i haven't used any gas this heating season told them no went to coal instead 120 a ton compared to 700 for gas.Well gee that's a no brainer..they also told me that if i don't use a certian amount of gas that i would be charged around 50 bucks a month for equipment fees mainly there meter.Told them come and get there crap off my porperty..
greedy u know what's...lol
happy new year

I decided to get busy and hook up the waste oil furnace loaned to me this summer. The owner couldn't get it to work for him, and asked for help getting it running right. I get to use it this winter.

It is in my 40x60 shop that has a water heated concrete floor using Propane. After looking at the Propane gauge and seeing that it has used $300+ of propane since Nov. 28, I decided it was time...

I have it running now, it only took a few hours to free up the combustion blower and one of the circulation fans. I had to clean out the waste oil tank, it had lots of water and sludge in it. I also had to cut a hole in the shop wall for the vent pipe, but it is worth it. Free Heat!! I have a lot of oil and ATF to burn. But I will only use this furnace when I'm working in the shop. I don't trust all the electronic circuitry for the furnace.

I hope to bury another set of insulated pipes from the outside wood/coal boiler [that is currently heating the house] next summer. Then I will have a heat source 24/7 for the house and the shop.

I now use Wood, Coal, Propane, waste-oil and little electricity for heat around the farm and house, the only fuel not in use is heating oil and Natural gas.

My propane supplier isn't going to be happy!!

Happy new year to all. Greg