The heating contractor was here yesterday. He made it official. Our furnace has seen its last days. We knew we had some problems but they have now reached the critical state. Better to replace it now than wake up in the cold. Unfortunately, the hot water heater needs to be switched out as well. This is due to chimney problems rather than hot water problems but it to is also 25 years old and terribly inefficient. We hate to see them go, especially the hot water heater as it has a manual pilot and runs even in the absence of electricity. I sure we can find another model like that. As long as the contractor was here, he took a look at our gas parlor range and gave it dinosaur status. He says we can up the efficiency by 30% if switch it out. It’s a lot of money but I think we have to do it. In the spring, we’ll be getting the chimney rebuilt too. We want a wood back-up stove and that isn’t going to happen safely without the chimney repairs.
Just as I was feeling all gloomy about the huge expense, I checked the mail. My seeds have arrived!!! I spent a lovely 1/2 hour just sorting them out and reading the names, like a litany to good food and good weather. Spring will come again.
I’ve been reading some FEMA reports that states that they are looking to source 14 million meals in the event of the New Madrid fault letting go. It makes me very happy to know that in the event of a crisis, I will be eating my own home-canned chicken stew with home-made bread, pickles and applesauce rather than a cold MRE in a pouch.
January 26, 2011 at 8:43 am
What about one of those outdoors wood furnaces or even an indoor one that heats water too?
I hate getting expensive news, but the seeds should off set it! lol
January 26, 2011 at 10:27 am
I don’t want to add to your headaches, but, if your home is heated with steam radiators, your choices will be limited for alternative sources for heat. The outdoor or indoor wood furnaces won’t work. They don’t get the water hot enough to boil. They only work for forced hot water (baseboards) or, forced hot air. Which would mean replacing the entire heating system.
On a second note, you may find it very difficult, if not impossible to find a new pilot lit water heater because of the safety concern. I could be wrong on that one though.
For the chimney, I’m assuming you only have a single flue, and since it seems as though you will have it professionally installed, you may run into an issue there with installing a wood back up furnace because Mass. law says you can only have one appliance per flue (chimney). Water heaters are an exception.
There are combo furnaces like wood/oil fired, (except steam heat again), which may be the only way to get around the one appliance per flue regulation.
Another option would be a direct vent gas furnace which would run an exhaust pipe outside like a pellet stove and would free up the chimney for a wood stove. You may have to install a liner in the chimney (after repairs) but i’m not certain on that one.
I apologize if this doesn’t apply to your situation. Just throwing it out there.
January 26, 2011 at 11:04 am
We have an outdoor wood boiler(Central Boiler) that heats our 120 year old farm house with baseboard hot water heat.Four different zones for the hotter/colder areas of this two story house. You might get ahold of one of their installers and see what your options could be. This was,really,the only option for getting central heating in this old house and we are very satisfied with it. You could also take seperate lines off to outbuildings. Also, it will heat your domestic water which is a real plus. From Oct-April no hot water bill.
Also, if your chimney isn’t actually crumbling have you considered a chimney insert? We have a one piece stainless chimney liner in our chimney which is original to the house which allows us to have a backup wood stove. Twenty years ago it cost around $1000. Totally approved by any insurance company.We live in a very rural area 15 miles from the fire dept. but still pay under $600 a year for home insurance.
Since the outdoor boiler has its own chimney the only thing connecting it to your house are the water lines. DEE
January 26, 2011 at 11:30 am
“Wood Heat” by John Vivian is a good read for advice on repairing/replacing wood heaters.
January 26, 2011 at 4:14 pm
You can get more information about the New Madrid Fault Earthquake inpact @
http://www.semp.us/publications/biot_reader.php?BiotID=566
January 26, 2011 at 5:56 pm
You should definately have at least one wood stove somewhere in the house! You know I’m a hard crash kinda gal, so that’s where I’m coming from.
Also, can we talk some time about bi-polar disorder? We are having some serious issues here
and it’s breaking my heart.
January 26, 2011 at 8:01 pm
Just make sure that chimney is earthquake proof! Most houses here in NZ have brick chimneys and we found out the hard way in the September 7.1 magnitude quake that they are not that stable. More than 15,000 damaged at last count…….
January 27, 2011 at 6:45 pm
I feel your pain. If you need it, you need it. We are installing solar hot water in April. It will cost us $2900 after all state and fed rebates and tax credits and the payback is about 5 years for us (we pay about 7cents and KWH) I am sure you pay a lot more in Mass. I ordered a solar powered pumping system for it so it will work in a power outage.
I am in madison’s camp.
January 29, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Check into masonry heaters (wood heat that burns much less wood and holds the heat within a big masonry mass, releasing throughout the day.) They have been used in Scandinavian countries for centuries and do not require any electricity, nor moving parts.
Google “masonry heater” and you will find loads of sites and photos. They are beautiful too, and last forever. I am currently in the process of convincing my husband that we should go this route…
February 6, 2011 at 10:50 pm
Kathy, have you considered a tankless hot water heater? They DO need electricity and they tend to run on gas (ours uses NG but others exist for LPG). Here in Colorado, my gas usage is about $100 per MONTH even in mid winter (about $20 in summer). LPG would be higher, but since I paid for about 1300 gallons of fuel oil when I lived in western Mass needless to say I have A LOT less energy usage now.
February 7, 2011 at 2:06 am
You should be able to install a simple non airtight stove ,single story class a chim w/ a straight ( no bends) shot at 2000.00 to 2500. Then no matter what you will have heat ( provided you can find something to burn) and cooking potential.I concur w/ madison .