Cheapest Way to heat a house without electricity (Gas vs Wood Fireplaces)

[@timothythompson4036]

Excellent video. A very balanced view on a very complicated subject. I live in Maine. Wood is the way to go here. We have an old farm house with an oil fired boiler and steam radiators. We put in a big Lopi wood fireplace insert. It paid for itself in the first two years!!

[@embersliving]

thanks

[@zm7094]

I live in NH and I have the same set up. Works great!

[@JoeTownshend]

I had a wood stove than about ten years ago I got M.S. and this year I got rid of the wood stove and bought a gas insert only because I couldn't move the wood. I was buying Kiln and Dried wood for $345 a half cord. The gas bill hasn't come in yet. I can tell you the gas is MUCH CLEANER. I also retired in May so I'm in my great room all the time last year I was working. When I didn't have M.S. I didn't mind buying a full cord and splitting it and letting it sit for year but now that I have the insert I REALLY like how clean it is. I also like starting it with a remote, and adjusting the heat. I'm in Massachusetts Massachusetts

[@embersliving]

Ease of use is a big deal! Thanks for watching.

[@arjaropelinen8463]

Nice video👍 Some downsides of wood heating: Converting a house into wood-burning is major work and expensive. In addition to external storage, you need a storage box for woods next the wood-burning stove. The chimney must be sniffed/kleened once a year to avoid a dangerous soot fire. To keep the house/room warm,woods must be added continuesly. If you are at work, your house is cold, when you come home(same in the nights). If yoy have to buy custom-made wood including transportation costs a lot these days. For elderly unfit people, wood heating can be tiring.

[@embersliving]

Very true! It can be a lot of work.

[@TheTransformedWidow]

All true! Plus if you don’t have wood on your property, it can be difficult finding a good supply of fully seasoned wood. Wood guys are always trying to pass off green wood. Or they don’t give you a FULL cord!

[@deanbraden7695]

Bro, you forgot to tell a few things about extra work involved with wood fireplaces that is from the wood shed into the fire and back out. You will have to build your fire massively before you go to bed and you have to wake up at least once and build again, or you will be freezing in the morning, and having to get a fire going. Constantly you’ll be in and out the door getting sticks of firewood tracking bark, and twigs and dust from the door to the fireplace. The ashes have to be cleaned out more often than you think, and they will be a hot dusty mess. You’ll have to have a place to dump them…

[@embersliving]

You're absolutely right-there’s definitely more work involved with wood fireplaces that I didn't dive into! Managing firewood, cleaning out ashes, and keeping the fire going through the night can be a significant commitment. Those middle-of-the-night wake-ups and the constant tracking of bark and dust are real struggles. It’s not for everyone, and it’s worth considering the extra effort before committing to a wood-burning setup. Thanks for pointing that out-it’s an important perspective to share!

[@marian9445]

Props on these videos. A lot of good info, thanks.

[@embersliving]

Thanks!

[@polsok44]

Well done video👍 I would like to see more videos on not just wood stoves but various zero clearance wood fireplaces. Alot of people still dont think zero clearance can heat efficiently and be an effective heater

[@crispychicken2743]

Forget it .a dark winter is coming. Get a real stove that is what its called and not an eye stove for looks. If you can put your hand on the top when its on you got a crap stove . The point of a wood stove it survive the winter not for looks. Dont be fooled . There are many old stoves from the 70s that will heat your house to 75 all winter long who cares about the looks when your family is freezing to death.

[@embersliving]

Ok

[@mr.x1510]

I find it very interesting that you get that much negative comments. I think it comes from indecision because I'm trying to figure out how a wood stove would work for me

[@embersliving]

we are here to help

[@jc_compo]

Excellent presentation!👏 Thanks!

[@embersliving]

Thanks for watching !!

[@bradleynance6458]

We recently purchased the Iron Strike Grandview 300 from you to be installed in a custom build short term rental in the North Carolina mountains. After some debate, wood was chosen over gas with the thought that renters on vacation would actually enjoy tending a real wood fire as a different type of experience. Your staff was a pleasure to deal with.

[@embersliving]

great feedback !

[@jeandeaux2129]

Excellent, informative vid----thx for posting!

[@embersliving]

No problem! Thanks for watching.

[@nathaniellarson8]

I can't go out into my woods and cut down a propane tree, hehe. We have been in our place for 3 years now and have bought at least $6000 worth of propane every year(it's not just a house, there is a heated shop with a bathroom in it as well, so we keep it above freezing), so I'm looking to cut down that bill a bit. Also, I like cutting and splitting and stacking wood, it's like therapy. We do not have any wood heat, just forced air and a main level propane fireplace that I would like to take out and convert to wood(yes, chimney and all). Propane and gas fireplaces are nice when they work, but both of the ones I have had always seemed to have something wrong with them, then you fix it and shortly after that something else is wrong. They were 15 and 20 years old, but still, very fussy.

[@embersliving]

Yeah you wont get that with a wood burning fireplace!! Thanks for the comment!

[@vinquinn]

I live in Greece. Right now with all that is going on the cheapest fuel you can buy is Propane.

[@embersliving]

good to know

[@crispychicken2743]

A wood stove is what you need . An old wood stove is the best one to get. If you cant boil water on a wood stove you got the wrong one. Return it . I can crank my stove up to 750 or better . I can cook bacon and eggs on it . The hell with the epa.

[@embersliving]

Ha ok

[@Xanduur]

Just let the world burn, huh?

[@crispychicken2743]

@@Xanduur thats right .i let it burn .

[@crispychicken2743]

@@embersliving ok my ass . You people make everything complicated. Wood stove heating goes back a long long time. . Tell me . Would you install a wood stove for the looks or to really heat your whole house. My stove runs the best at around 700 degrees. At a lower temperature it is a waist of time. The only result im looking for is heat and more heat . 20 years now and no house fires or problems. I clean the pipes every month or so.

[@crispychicken2743]

@@embersliving oh . And i dont have a fresh air intake . No need for that unless your house was built in 2018 or newer. Thats the code here. Triple wall stainless steel pipe. And no screen in the cap. Ripped it out on day one . Thats screen will be your biggest problem when it clogs. Any more questions?

[@petermahoney1709]

Great video I have a contractors grade propane gas insert with tempered glass is there any advantage to converting the tempered glass to ceramic glass?

[@remotetrapper8991]

Great video. Can the fireplace be operated without the fan on a permanent basis ? Thanks

[@embersliving]

Yes, its better if you have a higher end fireplace because they use better glass to help heat your room. We talk about it in this video : Blower vs. No Blower (Can I add a blower to my gas fireplace?) : kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4iYZ6mJZ7x-e9U

[@jko0526]

I have a natural gas direct vent fireplace in my home. We may put a roof over our deck this summer and I was thinking about adding some kind of wood burning heat source for ambiance and heat on the cold spring/fall nights. In our neighborhood a couple of our neighbors have wood burning stoves for supplemental heat and in the fall my wife and I love the smell of our neighborhood when they are using there stoves. It’s oddly welcoming for some reason. So I guess I can see both sides of the story.

[@embersliving]

true

[@seanmclean9325]

Where I live in Wyoming we do not have access to natural gas so propane is our source. I am building and have a choice to make…….wood or propane. I like the convenience of gas and am curious as to how expensive it will be to run propane. Can you give me an estimate? I realize there are many factors to include, I am just looking for ballpark figure kind of similar to how you said natural gas would be equivalent to chord of wood. Thanks.

[@embersliving]

Thanks for watching!

[@AurelienCarnoy]

Wood is cheaper. And the workout will keep you young and healthy.

[@magslead]

You have awesome videos...but what's up with writing on the walls with a marker?! What did Tate say about that? lol

[@embersliving]

Yeah he was mad, but we painted over it

[@jamespidcock3772]

Another benefit of Gas vs. Wood with Traditional Fireplaces is no cleanup. Just wondering how hard, and costly with Initial Installation of switching from Wood to Natural Gas?

[@embersliving]

You would have to contact an installer to look at your space.

[@mattieice2988]

Bro a cord of wood 4by4by8 delivered is 75bucks here in Upstate NY :)

[@cetyl2626]

I have access to free wood on my property right here. However, I have an HVAC and carpet and don't have the time (and wife doesn't have the time to enjoy it). So while I do have a masonry fireplace, it messes with HVAC too much (even though it has a fresh air damper on the side) I think I'll go with a gas set that my wife can push a button and enjoy woodland view. I think I'll install a high efficiency wood burning stove in my shop (separate building) to offset the propane I plan to also have for convenience.

[@embersliving]

good feedback

[@JustMe-ew4rr]

I will use wood for relaxing in living room and watching the clicks of burning woods and keep my gas furnace if I need to other room warm

[@embersliving]

I agree the wood adds such good vibes to the home

[@marks6663]

wood stoves only make sense if you use outside combustion air. I assumed all EPA stoves were outside combustion, just like all high efficiency furnaces. If not, they all need to be if they want to be efficient. Heating up the air in the room only to send it up the chimney makes no sense when you can use outside air for combustion.

[@embersliving]

Thanks for watching

[@richrobb2322]

Wood! Great way to get some exercise ! I like to split it to 4" diameter so I can "pack" the stove full for a long burn!

[@embersliving]

T good ide!

[@Comm0ut]

The wise have more than one heating method for backup so nature doesn't kill us. If you have free wood as many do wood wins on cost but is labor intensive if you harvest it yourself. LP wins on convenience but is expensive. Use both and if LP supply is interrupted you still have your wood pile.

[@embersliving]

Thanks for the comment!

[@nicholasbaker2904]

As you said its case dependant. I'd love wood. I really do. But with work schedules and kid business. Gas is flexible bc its more set it and forget it. Plus if it's not the sole heater in the house and only ran for asthetics when your home or if the power is out. Then gas is the no Brainer. At our family camp it's wood heat all day.

[@embersliving]

Great input thanks for the comment

[@TheTransformedWidow]

Homeboy just drawin’ on walls like he in East LA…

[@embersliving]

Oh yeah

[@ronvosick8253]

Self-standind gas fireplace?

[@embersliving]

wait what ?

[@JS-jh4cy]

Get wood furnace not wood stove

[@TheDroidekas]

Would be awesome if you Trevor could explain the difference between natural gas and propane fireplace, they use different burners it seams for conversion. Do they heat as much ? Pros and cons etc !

[@embersliving]

thats a great idea!

[@vinquinn]

Propane has more energy than natural gas. Natural gas requires larger burner orifices than propane to get the same heat.

[@brad4527]

@@vinquinn propane$$$$$

[@drpepper421000]

I would like to tear out my gas insert and replace with a small wood stove but can’t find a video on if that is feasible or not. I really want a wood burning stove for the look and the warmth. Like someone said in the comments, you can’t go cut down a propane or natural gas tree.

[@embersliving]

You can do that. I would contact an installer first then choose your roduct from a retailer like us .

[@emiliebova]

I like the convenience of a gas fireplace.

[@embersliving]

Same

[@franciscorodriguez9374]

I do not if somebody has asked it before. The most important question for me is, can you burn marshmallows in a gas fireplace?

[@embersliving]

You can but not a good idea

[@MAR-gd8zb]

After watching this, I need to find an installer in Michigan for a gas fireplace. Does anyone in the comment section have any suggestions?

[@fredtew4162]

Wood is buy far the best form of heat and cheap.

[@embersliving]

Yes, its a great way to stay warm.

[@annehamptondewitt4413]

Burn wood here. It is our first year burning wood. We just bought a wood stove insert.

[@embersliving]

nice!

[@LyleAltig101]

Wood!

[@embersliving]

yup

[@ERJONI25]

Wood is the way to go. Nothing comes close to it

[@embersliving]

aw yeah

[@dwmcever]

BTU's not Temperature. Temp is meaningless.

[@embersliving]

Which one do you prefer ??

[@chancecgbdingle5438]

Southern New York here. 7 to -17 degrees today. 500 dollar vogelzang defender bought 12 years ago for card games in my basement. Brought it upstairs last year because central hudson is killing me. 80 degrees in my 14,000 square foot home. 16 splits of wood in 14 hours half of em green. Last year was -4 and seasoned wood got my house to 104 degrees. I had front and back door open several times in my underwear 🤣🤣🤣

[@embersliving]

cool

[@SherrieLukeman]

Wood I have many trees on my land. Hard Wood

[@observingrogue7652]

@7:46 How is an All Electric system expensive in the long run? Sure, the up front cost of components like batteries, can be expensive, especially if you go for lithium instead lead-acid. But don't heat pumps, resistive heaters, generators, and solar panels last a long time? Little to no maintenance? And you get a massive cycle life out of batteries, if you take care of them, like keeping them between 20 & 80%, even more cycle life if you keep them around 60%, and do other behaviors that don't stress out or endanger the batteries. I think like with Hybrid Vehicles, having both is may be the best option, because like with vehicles, if you run out of fuel, or the traditional system is down for maintenance or a malfunction, you can run on saved battery power for a while. And like with hybrid vehicles, the battery & traditional heating systems can compliment each other. Like the instant torque of electric motors can accelerate a vehicle best, from dead stops and low speeds, and an electric heating system can quickly heat a home, until a furnace or stove heats up. And the thermostat will detect the rise in heat and start tapering off the electric system, saving your battery for another cold start, or emergency.

[@observingrogue7652]

I just checked. Solar panels last a very long time, but degrade, losing about 0.5% performance every year. Down to 95% effective in 10 years. 50% output in 100 years. You have to think about when performance will be minimally acceptable to you, just like with glowing Tritium watches & gun-sights. Water wheel, wind turbine, and exercise generator bearings, it depends. I don't know how long or low maintenance heat pumps and resistive heating elements last, or how low maintenance they are. I think the best option for my future offgrid living situation, is a woodstove battery electric hybrid system.

[@embersliving]

all good points

[@samsquires2877]

Lets see the temperature coming off of a Heat N Glo 6000CLX. I’m not here for a mendoda sales pitch.

[@embersliving]

its not as hot I promise you