Hi Vicky
Good that you found the pellet boiler to be the best and most cost effective solution, I don't think I will ever revert to any other heating.
We buy pellets straight from the factory near us and its 200lvs a ton, we collect so there's no delivery. We also invested in a pellet making machine which we mix with the purchased pellets.
The secret I found is that I don't go for A grade pellets, I actually go down a class to B intentionally. Basically, they burn longer. The first year I had A grade and was going through 2 bags a day, with the B I go through about 1 and 1/4 but they DO produce the same heat.
As far as the house goes, we too have a log fire in the lounge which provides a huge amount of heat as the house is totally open plan with a cathedral ceiling and minstral gallery, so the heat from the log fires heats the upstairs instantly. 250sq mtrs house running 14 radiator and the house is never below 22 degrees.
It does help with it being a log house as it has very good thermal efficiency, and I did ensure the foundations and roof had more insulation that an Icelandic Sauna.
The more you insulate, the less energy you need to keep it warm. The next house we reckon we know have enough information to make it such that it "should" require virtually no heating . They are building them in the Nordics and UK now.....Ground Source Heat, Wind Turbine, Solar Panels.
That should get the Bulgi builders talking.
With the depletion of natural resources inevitable in the next decade, the cost of heating fuels will be premium, even pellets. Same with electric.
Brians tip for the next decade. OVER insulate the house and be as self sufficient as you can on power and heating......And you'll be laughing.
B
