Heat with gas, electric, wood?

[azsnowman]

Just curious, with winter in full swing in the west and the cost of natural gas going thru the roof, what kind of heat source do you use?

As most of you know, we heat with wood 99.99% of the time, we cut our own wood, figured out that it costs us about 40$ per cord that way, if we bought a cord, your looking at 130-150$ a cord We have a forced air furnace, propane, we only use it first thing in the morning *IF* the fire has gone out.

Dennis

[Guest]

We have propane heaters in the kitchen and living room. In the bedrooms we have electric heaters - small ones.

Down here in Texas most of the time don't need much heat.

Patricia

[streetsoldier]

We're 100% electric here (well, not quite; Debi likes a COLD bedroom, so we are "heated by Ho' power" in there).

[David]

Natural Gas....

[coriolis]

Natural gas/hot air here, occasionally supplemented by a kerosene heater in the basement. I also put the hose from the clothes dryer inside which adds nice moist heat. Gas is usually economical, but its supposed to go way up this year.

Heat is an issue here. My mother in law is cold if its below 80. My wife is hot if its over 70, plus she "likes fresh air" So usually there's open windows with the heat running.

I am always going around closing windows and turning down the heat.

[azskyman]

Electric heat pump here...serves as A/C in summer and heat in winter. There is no gas available in our entire development.

[Miss Mary]

We're heating with NOTHING right now. Yup, furnace is out. It's been hit or miss lately. We finally scheduled a service appt. We have a gas high energy efficient furnace, 14 years old. Runs great but thru the years a few times a minor part will go out. Hubby calls it funk mode. We can get it to run for a few hours by banging on it. Honest! But ya know who wants to go down there at 5 in morning to get it going again? LOL Luckily we've had warm temps in Cincy. I'm sure we're due for an icy blast soon. So it's best to get it fixed once and for all.

I should add we've become quite used to keeping it on 65 for 4 winters now. So the first chilly morning w/o heat, my husband thought I just had it set low. I went over and checked our indoor/outdoor therm. and it registered 55 inside! I said Jim - I don't keep it THIS low!!! That was our first clue it was giving us trouble. But again, we've been lucky lately with warmer temps. So that's helped!

Mary

[azsnowman]

I know what you mean Miss Mary, we keep the temp around 63-64°......I'm NOT that big on the house being warm, can't sleep when it's that warm. Ed, we sleep with the bedroom window cracked about a 1/4 of the way EXCEPT when there is a North wind blowin', our house house faces NW to SE.

Not to be nosey or nuthin' like that but, on the average, what's your monthly heating costs? Ours runs about 15$ per month, SERIOUSLY, we very seldom run the forced air. Now when we bought this new house, the first 2 months after we moved in, we didn't have the woodstove in just yet and our heating bill ran about 75$ per month......

Dennis

[Miss Mary]

I know what you mean Miss Mary, we keep the temp around 63-64°......I'm NOT that big on the house being warm, can't sleep when it's that warm. Ed, we sleep with the bedroom window cracked about a 1/4 of the way EXCEPT when there is a North wind blowin', our house house faces NW to SE.

Not to be nosey or nuthin' like that but, on the average, what's your monthly heating costs? Ours runs about 15$ per month, SERIOUSLY, we very seldom run the forced air. Now when we bought this new house, the first 2 months after we moved in, we didn't have the woodstove in just yet and our heating bill ran about 75$ per month......

Dennis

Dennis - I wish our bills (gas and electric) were that low! Last one was $250. But we have a gas hot water heater too. And I do a lot of cooking. We rarely carry out. 4 years ago when gas prices sky rocketed, our highest bill was $370. Constrast that to my Jim's brother's bill (they keep their themostat on 72, never lower) of $800! I was so glad we became used to 65 after hearing that! I should add we up our thermostat to 68 for company. I won't subject anyone else to 65. Our kids don't like it much. But when our 16 year old comes downstairs in a summer top and shorts on, bare legs b/c she's been practicing dancing or something, we just shake our heads and yell out - put some clothes on girl!!! She just rolls her eyes at us. I wear thermals all winter. Sweaters, turtlenecks, etc. If I dress that way from the minute I get up, I'm warm all day long. Somehow we can't get the girls to do that. LOL

Mary

[coriolis]

In winter's past, the worst month would be about $180. This is a relatively big house and not well insulated. Add to that our bad energy habits.....

This year, our December bill (for November) was already $150 so I'm gritting my teeth.

We also have a gas water heater, so about $30/mo is for hot water.

If I look at those "gardening zone" maps, Dennis, it seems that your climate is not that much different than mine.

[Miss Mary]

Oops, realize now you're question Dennis was for Ed! Sorry about that. I'm hoping our Dec. bill will be our highest, b/c lately we've had a break with warmer temps.

Mary

[j]

Natural Gas...thermostat set at 62, unless the Mother-In_Law comes over and starts screaming its freezing in here! Anything over 62 and this Yankee roasts. When it gets REAL cold, we fire up a Kerosene heater to supplement.

[Miss Mary]

Natural Gas...thermostat set at 62, unless the Mother-In_Law comes over and starts screaming its freezing in here! Anything over 62 and this Yankee roasts. When it gets REAL cold, we fire up a Kerosene heater to supplement.

J - I'm impressed! 62 huh? Wow. I bow to you. I know someone who sets her themostat on 64, I was almost game for that. But I think my kids would revolt! I'm still stunned.....62!!!

Mary

[azsnowman]

Yup Ed, that's right, even Karan said the same thing! I know this is SILLY to even THINK BUT......I've got gardening fever already, sheeesh Dennis, make up your mind "LOL!" First, I want snow, now, I want to garden........at the rate this winter is going, it's gonna be a LLlllllooooon time before I can even THINK about gardening! Heck, the frost line, right now, is the LOWEST I've seen it. I dug down yesterday just to see how low it is, the ground is ROCK SOLID down to 18" already and Jan-Feb are the coldest months!

Dennis

[stormraiser]

We heat mostly with a wood furnace, but have a gas backup if the temp gets below a certain level. Keeps the expenses down. We cut our own wood to, so it is cheaper that way.

[Amanzi]

Oh my I cant believe how expensive some of your guys bill's are!! I shudder to think about forking out that for electric\gas.... We just have the central air unit which is both heat and a\c. Our bill is more expensive in summer as the a\c goes non stop...

If it gets real cold (thats like 39 for me and I look like a snowman dressed in winter woolies and dont move from the couch!) I make hubby light the fire in the living room so we save on the heating bill... sheesh.. 62 J, at 62 I feel like Im in the Arctic!

[bfez1]

I have central heat and a gas/wood burning fireplace. I keep the thermostat on 68º and burn my fireplace whenever possible. It makes the room so warm and cozy.

[TexasStooge]

Electric here.

[JCT777]

Oil heat. The Mrs. likes to have the temp set no lower than 70 when she is at home. I would probably be OK with 66 to 68. Anything over 72 is too warm for me, so we usually keep it at 70 or 71 when we are both home. And our monthly bill is a flat $64/month every month (we have a budget plan to spread the cost evenly throughout the year).

[streetsoldier]

Because of my chronic sinus infections and both Debi's and my arthritis, we HAVE to maintain a constant 70F temperature. Cost averages $120 monthly.