Installing a Woodstove

[city_grown]

We have made an addition to our old house with the contractor doing just the close in. Now we need to get a wood stove for cheaper heat. Who would I call to get this put in. We have an old fireplace place but it seems it would cost more to install it there than putting it in a better location. What is a average price tag we would be looking at?

[boonieman]

Based on the experience of some of my neighbors (3 of them) the price ranged from $400 to $900, labor only, not parts. It depends on the type of house, attic access, whether or not the stove will require and external air intake, etc. Quite a few variables. If I had to take a guess looking at your house and the type of roof and ceiling I'd say you would be towards the mid range of the price scale.

[comfortablynumb]

you can fraction the price of the 3xwall pipe you need by buying it used.

lots of people put in wood stoves and find out they dont like the work.... and rip em out.

I got both my stacks CHEAP, and they were hardly used

new, I hope you have a spare kidney to sell off.

lol

[bowdonkey]

City grown, there ain't nothing cheap about wood heat. Consider the logistics of getting the wood. I've always had trees on the back 40 all my life and wood heat, nothing cheap about it. There is a sense of security and self reliance that comes with wood heat though. All an illusion unless your properly setup.

[stanb999]

Originally Posted by bowdonkey

City grown, there ain't nothing cheap about wood heat. Consider the logistics of getting the wood. I've always had trees on the back 40 all my life and wood heat, nothing cheap about it. There is a sense of security and self reliance that comes with wood heat though. All an illusion unless your properly setup.

Sure it is. Unless you make more than 1500.00 a week after tax. At least thats my situation. I can cut split and stack all my heating fuel in less than two weeks. The price of propane (1.97 a gallon the last time we bought) the fuel for the furnace we have and the usage per the last owners (1500 gallons a year). It saves quite a bit of cash........ At leats to me.

[BaronsMom]

Yes, we've been considering a wood stove, but not sure who to call to put one in? I'm don't trust doing it ourselves. Just who would you call?

Thanks for any help - bit nippy here this morning!

[WindowOrMirror]

I make a great income and I heat with wood... Why? Because propane costs $600 to fill the tank right now and if we heated with that, we'd fill it every 4-6 weeks in the winter. Here, winter lasts 4-9 months (depending on who you're asking).. let's say six months. That's 24 weeks / 6 weeks which is $2,400 in propane. Wood was $75 a cord delivered in 8' logs. I can't burn 5 cords a winter if I "try" to... but let's say 5. That's $375 plus some healthy labor.

I'm not a mathematician, but that looks like $2,000 in savings PLUS the benefit of exercise and responsibility!

- - -
As far as installing it. I bought a Jotul Oslo for $1,500, and we love it! I then went online to www.ventingpipe.com and bought an "approved configuration" and installed it myself. 2.5 stories of Class 1A pipe for $1,100 total... would have cost over $3,000 for someone else to do it.

For those of you into the whole Return On Investment calculation... that's a 12-18 month payback on an investment with a useful life of well over 10 years. Do a Net Present Value on the cash flows both ways and it'll look even better.

[pheasantplucker]

You might call a mason who knows folks who vent woodstoves...perhaps local fire department...building contractor, or chimney sweep company.

[Cabin Fever]

Originally Posted by city_grown

....Who would I call to get this put in.....

Contact your nearest retailer of woodstoves. They will have a list of installers.

Pick a location for your woodstove that is near the centerline of your home (ie, below the roof peak). Such a location will allow a minimal length of chimney above the roof. If you pick a location near the sides of your home (ie, near the roof eaves), the chimney will end up being very high above the roof and difficult to sweep.

[comfortablynumb]

I think its cheap.... I dont have a back 40 to cut wood from but 90% of my wood is free from other sources.