Firewood!
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38852
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Topic: Firewood!
Posted By: Manda08
Subject: Firewood!
Date Posted: 18 April 2011 at 2:00pm
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Hi,
We are looking to get some firewood delivered, is our first year having a fire. We plan to have it going most days in the winter as we will have a newborn in the house, anyone recommend how much to get? Seen prices for 1 square metre to 3 square metres, which seems alot... but we have no idea, also what type of wood is best? TIA ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: crafty1
Date Posted: 18 April 2011 at 2:13pm
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If you plan on using it every day you'd be best to get 3 sq metres. Get a mix of pine and a harder wood like macrocarpa or ti tree. The pine is faster burning and helps get it all going but doesn't put out as much heat. I usually start with pine and then when i've got some good embers put on some bigger, slower burning pieces to keep you going. Otherwise you just churn through the pine.
You'll also need to get your chimney swept for insurance purposes. I love out fire, can't wait till it's cold enough to start! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Manda08
Date Posted: 18 April 2011 at 2:18pm
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Great thanks so much for that Crafty! Will keep a look out.
We have only just brought the house and was all swept before we moved in so all ok, but how often do you sweep it? Me to, although we have had a few test runs just to see. hehe -------------
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Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 18 April 2011 at 3:17pm
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We get our chimney swept once a year and lit the fire for the first time today! Im home with a cold so thought it would be nice to warm the place up and it is so cosy now.
We also get a mix of pine/mac and go for about 3m. If you are planning on using it this winter, make sure the wood is dry enough to use. Not sure where in Auckland you are, but there is a guy on trade me who we got wood from. Hes in Papakura and delivers for a minimal amount. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kiwikt
Date Posted: 18 April 2011 at 3:23pm
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I second all these lovely ladies. Definitely 3m - especially if you have your fire going during the day.
We sweep our chimney at the start of every winter, before our first fire. So we know it is clean and ready to go. My DH does it - he got the brush of my parents. Also, what you should try to do is get your wood in summer and store it - it is cheaper and it is nice and dry for winter. ------------- Due 14/10/11 http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Nothing
Date Posted: 18 April 2011 at 4:31pm
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I went through 5m last year..... Have no idea how as we had it down low all the time. Make sure your shop around to get the cheapest stuff, and also ask how long it has been drying for. Its also get a load of kiln dry off cuts for starting the fire if the wood is damp. If you have no where to store it make sure you cover it will a tarp at all times. ------------- 
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 18 April 2011 at 4:37pm
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We also go through at least 5-6sqm that is with having the fire going 24/7 through winter though. We also sweep our fire quite regularly. Mind you we have a flat roofed house so super easy to get up there. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: KatzWtgn
Date Posted: 18 April 2011 at 7:05pm
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Yeah, I always used to go through 3 cubic metres when I was working and we were just using the fire at night, but since I had DS and I was having it during the day as well, we went through 5 cubic metres last winter. ------------- [IMG]http://lb3f.lilypie.com/rGG7p13.png] |
Posted By: Caronz
Date Posted: 18 April 2011 at 7:11pm
We went through 6cubic meters last year with a 1 year old in the house. I didnt have it on all day every day either. I lit the fire about 4 this afternoon, its cold and windy (for Auckland anyway) and DF has man flu so I thought it might shut him up for 2 minutes. The Cat is Sooooo happy  ------------- TTC since 06 with MFI IVF with ICSI 2007 BFN DI Sept 08=BFP DS 06/09 TTC #2 since June 2010 DI#2 Aug10=BFP MC@10weeks 2011= 10 rounds of DI 4 with clomid- all neg May 2012- IVF |
Posted By: newme
Date Posted: 18 April 2011 at 7:29pm
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We go through about 2 - 3 cord (6 - 9 cubic metres) but we have the fire going pretty much all the time. and live in the south island where it can get pretty cold.
And as others have said, make sure you ask for dry firewood ready to burn straight away. And if you can afford it, and have somewhere to put it, buy next years firewood soon. It is cheaper when it isn't dry. |
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 18 April 2011 at 8:27pm
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haha, I have about 9 cubic metres in the shed, and we will probably get more soon I think. I use a mix of macro/gum as pine burns way too fast. We went through heaps last year as we kept the house really warm cos DD was ill.
We have another baby due in October, so expect we'll probably keep the fire going probably into November this year, hence we have quite a bit! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: JAFAjaffa
Date Posted: 18 April 2011 at 9:35pm
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We used 3 cubic metres last year (every last stick) and had it going most days during Winter. Hubby was at home with bubs for most of the Winter. I used The Woodshed and bought it in Feb (this year too). They delivered for free for that amount of wood, they came on time, tried to put the wood as close to where it was going to be stacked and were just all round nice!
We got another 3 cubic metres this year but we prob won't go through all of it because we're at work/daycare most days and will only have it on at night. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MumtoMany
Date Posted: 18 April 2011 at 11:44pm
Wow we use anywhere from 9 to 14meters. We live in the south island tho and i do not let the fire go out. We also do not pay for it as we get the wood off the farm  ------------- DD 12 DS 9.5 DD 6 DS 4 DD 23 months and here comes number 6 http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  |
Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 19 April 2011 at 8:58am
| I think we brought something stupid like 10 cubic metres the first year then 5 the second and now we just get an extra 1 each year to top it up...this year will prob be more as i am home all day, we normally only lit it late arvo. We use coal once its all fired up too. |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 19 April 2011 at 10:50am
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We go through 6-9 cubic metres a year with our fire. I am a wimp and feel the cold so we have it lit when I want it lit. 2 years ago I went through 20 cubic metres - I lived in Waiouru and had 2 fires going 24/7 and the other every night to heat my water. |
Posted By: weeheebaby
Date Posted: 21 April 2011 at 4:20pm
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We're in the "get up, light the fire" category so we chow thorugh the wood like nobodies business. Although it's a lot lot lot colder where we are than in Auckland. We have already had more than a couple of days in the last few weeks where the max temperature didn't make double digits. Luckily though we are able to obtain (through a huge gut busting effort on dh's behalf) as much pine dry firewood as he can collect in one weekend for the sum total of $20 through the GWRC.
Something else that will effect how much heat you need to generate is the presence and quality of insulation in your house as well as how many windows you have, if they are double glazed and what type of curtains/blinds you have. I have, this year, hung a second set of thermal backed curtains over every window in the house and we have just had the ceiling re-insulated under the warm up NZ scheme as seen on tv (it cost us a grand total of $27, we clearly aren't wealthy, lol) and it has made a MASSIVE difference to the heat retention. I hope you get lots of firewood to keep you toasty warm this winter. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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