Hi All,
Thank you for being here!
I am trying to solve multiple problems in our new old home.
7000 sq foot 3 story old inn built in 1889
Insulation not bad and have improved it since we've been here
Building is L shaped with each leg of the L about the same length.
2 lower floors are about the same size and 3rd floor smaller as it is built into the eaves.
So maybe 2500 sq feet 1st and second floors each, and 1000 sq feet 3rd floor.
It was heated with oil burner hot water base boards with previous owner who let the building freeze
Pipes were damaged before we bought it...took them all out and replaced with direct vent propane heaters in each room with their own thermostat.
This is working but don't like the propane bill (and the electric bill running the fans)
This system will work without the fans in a power outage but less effective.
We want to add wood or pellet stoves (one or two) into the mix to save money and to get further off the grid.
We've noted that the heat rises quite nicely from floor to floor (bottom floor boots and coat, third floor bare feet)
We are not sure if we can spread ground floor heat to both legs of the L so may get a second stove.
One of the arms of the L is dominated by a 1000 sq ft great room so we plan to put the stove in there.
Problem we are trying to avoid...putting in very high (and expensive) chimney.
Can't use the fireplace which has a very old chimney.
About 10 feet away from one wall of our great room is a Type A stainless steel chimney that was installed to work with the now de-commissioned oil burner. Right now it leads into the basement (have to access basement --crawl space actually--from outside). It looks in excellent condition (we know the oil furnace was only a few years old). and goes up to some feet above the highest point on the roof of the building. (Over 40 feet?)
We could access or enter this chimney part way up and quite high up so any turns in the chimney or stove pipe leading to it from a new stove could go up on a 45 degree angle (approx). 90 degree angle may not be required.
Assuming the chimney is in good health, is this doable?
Other questions: Should we instead go with pellet stove that may not require such "high" venting and is more efficient and less polluting? I am concerned about surviving off-grid and therefore not keen on being dependent upon pellet manufacturers...have found material on making one's own pellets from various materials but noted they require electricity or gas to function.
What sized stove is best? Should we go for the largest...3,000 sq foot stoves for instance?
Goals are to
1) be warm without spending a fortune in propane bills
2) Be able to be warm when power goes out or availability of fuel is limited
3) Save time and money in installation (not putting in another chimney for instance)
Any suggestions?
Thanks so much!
Thank you for being here!
I am trying to solve multiple problems in our new old home.
7000 sq foot 3 story old inn built in 1889
Insulation not bad and have improved it since we've been here
Building is L shaped with each leg of the L about the same length.
2 lower floors are about the same size and 3rd floor smaller as it is built into the eaves.
So maybe 2500 sq feet 1st and second floors each, and 1000 sq feet 3rd floor.
It was heated with oil burner hot water base boards with previous owner who let the building freeze
Pipes were damaged before we bought it...took them all out and replaced with direct vent propane heaters in each room with their own thermostat.
This is working but don't like the propane bill (and the electric bill running the fans)
This system will work without the fans in a power outage but less effective.
We want to add wood or pellet stoves (one or two) into the mix to save money and to get further off the grid.
We've noted that the heat rises quite nicely from floor to floor (bottom floor boots and coat, third floor bare feet)
We are not sure if we can spread ground floor heat to both legs of the L so may get a second stove.
One of the arms of the L is dominated by a 1000 sq ft great room so we plan to put the stove in there.
Problem we are trying to avoid...putting in very high (and expensive) chimney.
Can't use the fireplace which has a very old chimney.
About 10 feet away from one wall of our great room is a Type A stainless steel chimney that was installed to work with the now de-commissioned oil burner. Right now it leads into the basement (have to access basement --crawl space actually--from outside). It looks in excellent condition (we know the oil furnace was only a few years old). and goes up to some feet above the highest point on the roof of the building. (Over 40 feet?)
We could access or enter this chimney part way up and quite high up so any turns in the chimney or stove pipe leading to it from a new stove could go up on a 45 degree angle (approx). 90 degree angle may not be required.
Assuming the chimney is in good health, is this doable?
Other questions: Should we instead go with pellet stove that may not require such "high" venting and is more efficient and less polluting? I am concerned about surviving off-grid and therefore not keen on being dependent upon pellet manufacturers...have found material on making one's own pellets from various materials but noted they require electricity or gas to function.
What sized stove is best? Should we go for the largest...3,000 sq foot stoves for instance?
Goals are to
1) be warm without spending a fortune in propane bills
2) Be able to be warm when power goes out or availability of fuel is limited
3) Save time and money in installation (not putting in another chimney for instance)
Any suggestions?
Thanks so much!
. Where in Canada are you? 
