Heating while no one is home?

[Kiwassa]

It depends on how well-insulated you are. I heat with wood and leave for work 8-10 hours each day. If I shut the stove down before I leave for work the yurt is fairly reasonable when I get home (45 degrees or so most days). On the ten hour days it's a little colder but if you have a good bed of coals then it's pretty easy to heat it back up.

We've already seen -20 this year in my neck of upstate NY. On those extremely cold days I won't hesitate to leave a backup kerosene burner running on low while I'm away. I've heard from multiple sources that they are actually a pretty safe. I've only had to do this a few days this winter.

My yurt is temporary though so plumbing and radiant slab flooring aren't worth the time and money.

One problem I do have with this system: If I'm away for a day or two, or even spend the night away from home I come home to a frigid space the next day.