Please excuse the meandering nature of this post. I'm actually making a move and having a chimney guy over to do an feasibility review/estimate on another flue in the chase. But, just don't know...
I pay for wood: log lengths. Comes out now to about $100/cord NOT counting my processing expenses and time. I'm almost 62; still can do it, but can visualize a scenario where I couldn't. Would have to build a wood shed off the walk out basement. The HI300 does a good job of heating the house, especially downstairs, but it'd be nicer if the second floor would be warmer (2000 ft2 10-yr old colonial), and warming the basement so it could be used would also be nice.
Don't think bulk pellets are available here yet, so would still be lugging around 40 lb bags. I guess I could dump the pellets down a chute through the little window into a hopper bin. The automatic nature of something like the Windhager or other premium pellet boiler is very appealing, but the fuel cost is a concern: comparison to my bulk wood bad, but maybe not so bad compared to my oil heat. Need for no or little water storage also is attractive. Heating with pellets is a foreign concept for me though.
A wood or pellet stove in the basement could be a way to heat the basement, but don't anticipate using it that much and it would do nothing for the second floor.
On the more fun side, this whole thing is kind of a hobby, though, which could excuse just about anything.
I pay for wood: log lengths. Comes out now to about $100/cord NOT counting my processing expenses and time. I'm almost 62; still can do it, but can visualize a scenario where I couldn't. Would have to build a wood shed off the walk out basement. The HI300 does a good job of heating the house, especially downstairs, but it'd be nicer if the second floor would be warmer (2000 ft2 10-yr old colonial), and warming the basement so it could be used would also be nice.
Don't think bulk pellets are available here yet, so would still be lugging around 40 lb bags. I guess I could dump the pellets down a chute through the little window into a hopper bin. The automatic nature of something like the Windhager or other premium pellet boiler is very appealing, but the fuel cost is a concern: comparison to my bulk wood bad, but maybe not so bad compared to my oil heat. Need for no or little water storage also is attractive. Heating with pellets is a foreign concept for me though.
A wood or pellet stove in the basement could be a way to heat the basement, but don't anticipate using it that much and it would do nothing for the second floor.
On the more fun side, this whole thing is kind of a hobby, though, which could excuse just about anything.
