Ok -as Hugh alluded, it's pretty nicein So Cal. 75 today, 80 by the weekend.

So you can imagine how the much we're hearing about the "polar vortex" et al. Is this cold and storm you are experiencing normal? Once every few years? Once in a life time.

Over here they are acting like it's snow-ma-geddon!

Dude.
When I put in my pool and spa several years ago I got a remote control with it.
I can be sitting on the couch with my blankie and push a couple buttons and get the spa all warmed up in 15 minutes . All the valves are automatic.
That way I don't have to go outside in the 50 degree cold until there's steam coming off the spa.



Q. How many Californians does it take to screw in a new diverter valve?

A. Californians don't screw in diverter valves. They screw in hot tubs.

Colder than normal here, but not insanely colder. It was -11 when I got up this morning. It is not uncommon to see temps under 10 degrees here in Jan , and Febuary. That extra 15 degrees does make a difference though.
My first car of the day was of course dead. By the time I started my truck, got the jumper cables, on, and the other truck started, my whole body was starting to sting. And that is through heavy work gloves, Double layers, carharts long johns etc.
Hugh, much respect to you and all you so cal guys, but I'm finding it hard to feel sympathetic to your plight of your broken hot tub. I'd be wearing shorts if it went up to 50 today.

We put in a geothermal system about 5 years ago. We were spending about $600 a month in fuel oil in the winter when keeping the house at 65*. Now we keep it at 70* and the total for heating and cooling runs between $800 and $900 per year. Plus it keeps out 119 gallon water heater (from the previous owner) hot.

It was -24 yesterday and -11 today when I left for work. The unit was working pretty hard those two nights but kept us cozy warm. We get about 4kw equivalent heat for every kw electricity used. Cooling is very efficient and the bill is hardly any different from the spring and fall when we don't use the unit. Of course those months the water heater elements have to run. Quiet and I don't have to cut anything, though I do own a chain saw/axe/hatchet etc.

Got this thing working over time this week. I do have plenty of fuel for it and preparing it keeps me in good physical and mental condition.

I installed the stove in 2007 and it paid for itself in the first 2 years.


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What are you heating, the United Center?! That's a lot of wood...

What's all the white stuff on the ground?!?

A little chilly today but we'll be in the 80's later this week....

'Bout 5k sqft on top of a mountain. wood shed is 3/4 away from house, thus use tractor to move wood in winter once the initial stash around the stove is gone.

burn 16 to 20 cord a season, depending on weather. have already gone through 10 cord this year.

Is that a boiler in a separate building? Else, how does the heat get to the main house?

underground thermo pex tied to a heat exchanger in the house.