brrrr

[vsreeser]

It's got a huge heat pump outside so we can keep the temp down when summer gets here. Last summer didn't exist (only a few 90plus days)

[vinnywright]

Got the furnace in. It's below zero outside, but about 70 inside.

Mmmmmm heat ,,,,goooood

VINNY

Don't be alarmed! It is the quietest it has been in over a century!
http://vencoreweather.com/2015/02/17/29475/

You know it's cold when Niagara falls is frozen
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...-10055691.html

[vsreeser]

Got the furnace in. Poor gas guy must be overworked. He showed at 11:30pm. It's below zero outside, but about 70 inside.

[GreyGeek]

Don't be alarmed! It is the quietest it has been in over a century!
http://vencoreweather.com/2015/02/17/29475/

The main driver of all weather and climate, the entity which occupies 99.86% of all of the mass in our solar system, the great ball of fire in the sky – has gone quiet again during what is likely to be the weakest sunspot cycle in more than a century. For the past 5 days, solar activity has been very low and one measure of solar activity – its X-ray output – has basically flatlined in recent days (plot below courtesy NOAA/Space Weather Prediction Center). Not since cycle 14 peaked in February 1906 has there been a solar cycle with fewer sunspots. We are currently more than six years into Solar Cycle 24 and today the sun is virtually spotless despite the fact that we are still in what is considered to be its solar maximum phase. Solar cycle 24 began after an unusually deep solar minimum that lasted from 2007 to 2009 which included more spotless days on the sun compared to any minimum in almost a century.

[GreyGeek]

AND, it's undergoing the weakest solar cycle in over a century. If it keeps up the Brits could have ice skating on the Thames in June! 8)

[SteveRiley]

I am really loving this June-in-February thing up here in Seattle! Although that big orange ball in the sky is unfamiliar and mildly frightening.

[GreyGeek]

I used an Ashly warm morning wood burning stove. Built in fan with thermostatically controlled air intake. Four logs could hold 70F for six hours in January.

http://www.amazon.com/Ashley-Wood-Bu...N%3DB005KXR3IO

Of course, when I bought this stove in 1974 it cost only $350, IIRC.

Apparently the ERA forced the manufactures to put air holes in the wood door and ash door to "minimize air pollution" from "smoldering fires", which demonstrates a complete lack of knowledge of how wood burning stoves like the Ashley work. The wood doesn't "smolder". In the initial burn the volitiles are released, creating smoke, most of which is burnt in the Ashley. A valve in the pipe stack prevents back-puffing and down draft problems. After an hour or so the volatiles are burned and what is left is a charcoal log which glows red and burns at the rate allowed by the butter fly valve that controls the inlet air supply. The charcoal log(s) burn for an additional 5 to 10 hours, depending on how cold it is outside and what temperature you set the air inlet control at. I went to bed just after putting in four logs (6" dia by 18" long) and setting the Temp to 70, usually around 11 or 12 PM. I typically got up around 6AM. I remember one day in particular, Jan 20, 1976, when the temp dropped to 20 below zero. The upstairs bedrooms were 70F and downstairs, in the living room, the T was 65F. There was a nice layer of pure white ash with a few red coals laying on top. I'd shake the ash shaker, which dropped the ashes into the ash tray and left the coals laying on top of the grate. I'd put in four logs and close the down on the fire box. I'd open the door on the ash box. The flood of fresh air would literally flash the red hot coals, which ignited the logs very quickly. I'd remove the ash tray and dump the ash into a metal bucket and replace the tray and close the door. During cold weather the process was repeated every six hours, or so. In milder temperatures only once every 12 hours. In the early spring or fall about once a day. Also, I'd burn very hard woods like Locust or Mesquite in the coldest periods and Ash or Chinese Elm in the milder days. Never waste your time trying to burn cotton wood or ceder logs.

[GreyGeek]

Have to be careful with spell check on the iPhone. If I don't proof read I could end up sending something totally off.

So I'm learning. I've had this iPhone 6+ since Dec 28th and now the only thing I don't do on it is play Minecraft with my grandsons.

[GreyGeek]

Ah, a Splitting maul. I just call mine a log splitter, though wikipedia says that's the hydraulic variety. Fancy Vinny showing the correct spelling...

And the old prof using phonetics because he could remember how "maul" was spelled ... Wait! ... It was my stylus's fault!

[life0riley]

Have to be careful with spell check on the iPhone. If I don't proof read I could end up sending something totally off.

[vinnywright]

Fancy Vinny showing the correct spelling...

ya I know rite ............every other thing I type gets underlined in red ,,,,,,,then most the time it's so bad spell check couldn't figure out what I was trying to type,,,,,,then it's HONEY ,,,,,,,,how do you spell <something> ................

VINNY

[life0riley]

Pellets are cheap also. I have a ton delivered twice a year for $260. Our gas bill rarely goes above $70, and that is when it gets below 25 degrees F.

[jlittle]

... with a chain saw and mall as accessories...

..after chain sawing and wedge and mauling...

Ah, a Splitting maul. I just call mine a log splitter, though wikipedia says that's the hydraulic variety. Fancy Vinny showing the correct spelling...

[vinnywright]

Latest electric bill - $634. Thankful for budget billing, but still running $333 with that.

Holey S4!T ,,,,,,,,,that is exactly why I got the wood stove .

originally their was a kerosene heater where the wood stove is ,, it had an electric blower on it and was fed from a 200-300 (cant remember exactly but it's still out back and the line still runs under the house )gallon drum/tank .
when kerosene got up to $300.00 for almost a months worth of heat + the extra electric for the blower , I had it,,,,,,,came across a deal on the wood stove/heater $70.00 I got it




that is right after installing it (me and the boy) and the heat shielding on the walls ,,,, I have sense re-stove blacked it.

after chain sawing and wedge and mauling for the past 3-4 years I now have a hydraulic wood splitter

VINNY