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Someone Once Said: You’re Never Too Old

Everyone that knows me knows I love old houses. There's just a certain something about them that makes me feel all warm and cozy inside. During the course of my home inspections I inspect inside first leaving the basement and attic for last, then I inspect the outside. It's just my way of minimizing dirt and dust, besides those require me to put my shoes back on.

So knowing how much I love old house you can just begin to imagine how much fun I was having inspecting this old 175 3 story country home. When I went into the basement I discovered this:

Old wood burner - JTHIS-Professional Home Inspection Team

All I can say is this made my day. I couldn't believe it when the homeowner told me that it was in use as recently as 4 years ago. That's when he purchased the house.

The one thing I can guarantee him is that this old unit is far from efficient. I love heating with wood, but come on now. I don't even want to think about how many trees it would take to heat a 2800 sq. ft., 175-year-old remolded house using this bad boy.

I hope you enjoyed my blog. If you are looking to purchase a home in Northeastern Pa. and are planning on having an inspection or simply have questions regarding home inspections, please don't hesitate to give me a call.

Suesan Jenifer Therriault

JTHIS - Professional Home Inspection Team
PO Box 357
Blakeslee, Pa 18610

(570) 262-7551

Posted by Suesan Jenifer Therriault on 07/17/2009 08:59 AM

Comments (18)

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18 Comments on Someone Once Said: You’re Never Too Old

JUL

Oh my... that IS old! That would be lots and lots of trees...

Considering the cost of recently replacing my 17 year old furnace, I wonder what the cost works out to be?.

How about we give him all the old paperwork from our offices to burn? I'l bet the owner will never have a cold day the rest of his life!!

Margaret, I don't even want to imagine how many cords it would use up over the course of 1 heating system.

I agree that there is nothing like the style beauty, charm and workmanship of old-world design. I remember lovingly stripping layers of paint on a banister to uncover the original oak that would cost me a fortune to install today.

Jennifer, I don't really know since it would be like comparing apple to oranges. I think he said the full conversion cost him 13,000.00 with new ductwork etc., but he's saving a nice amount on heating costs every winter. Then there's of course the fact that he doesn't have to get up every 6 hours to feed the darn thing. Did I mention not having to worry about burning his house down?

Dan, that sounds like way too much paper to be storing. Sorry he can't help you out, he converted to oil.

Gloria, I hear you. I'm about to the same here. Someone thought that it would be nicer to paint ours with brown latex paint rather than go through the effort of sanding and refinishing.

I do heat with wood and I enjoy my wood burning stove. It's a lopi and very efficient, we heat 2000 sq. ft. I have a gas furnace also, but my propane tank is just 120 gallons and I fill it about every 3rd year. That unit looks a little scary to me. I've never seen anything like it at all.

I love old houses and to me, nothing compares with smell of burning wood. I thought our gas fireplaces were such sissies when we bought this house. I still miss the smell of burning wood but it was time for change.

Tammy, I heat with wood as well. I have 2 wood-stoves in each of my fireplace on the first floor and there's a big wood burner furnace in the basement as well. I have oil forced hot air as well, but prefer using the wood.

I just couldn't get over that big monter I found in that guys basement.
Sue

Kate, I'm with you ... I love the smell of burning wood as well as the dry heat it gives off. You can come in from outside with ice cycles hanging from you ears, stand in front of the wood-stove and be toasty warm in a New York minute.

JUL

Sue,

I saw one of these in Edmonton years ago; I can't imaagine them still aroumd.

JUL

Terry, my son is threatening to put it back into operation ... ouch.

JUL

It's amazing when you come across things like this, isn't it? I mean, we know wood-burning furnaces existed and people used them regularly but to see one up close and personal makes it real! How exciting (but glad he converted to something more efficient!).

~Renae

JUL

Back when I was a home inspector, I was out in Julian at an inspection where the house had a 1938 furnace in it, one of those "octopus" furnaces. It was quite interesting to say the least, but probably not very efficient.

Renae,
it is pretty amazing. My son has it now and wants to restore it ... just for as conversation piece.

Jim,
back when Mike and I first married we lived up near the Canadian border and that house was heated with an old octopus furnace. The people who had the place before us didn't understand how it worked and the disconnected all the heating ducts. It was a long week while we put it all back together again.
By the way, you're right ... they're not the least bit efficient.
Sue

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