So the mild winter, especially this last week, has me seriously thinking about putting a freestanding pellet or multifuel stove on the main floor of our house. My big biomass furnace can really put out the heat, but it's hard to dial it down for our recent high winter temps. It doesn't have auto ignition nor does it have thermostat capabilities. Everything is controlled manually through the control board. To burn this thing as low as possible and keep it running, it's difficult to effectively move this lower temp air through the ductwork before it cools. The lowest fuel setting I can feed at is 2lbs per hour. I can go to 2.5lbs per hour and this provides a decent maintenance temp in mid-40 degree weather...if it's not really windy. (feedrates based on medium sized corn - not pellets - adjust as necessary)
I'm thinking about adding a stove on the main floor of our two story house. I'm thinking that as long as I can move the air, I can burn far less fuel on these mild days than when running "the beast". Maybe something with auto ignition and certainly with a thermostat?
I'd be looking to heat about 2100sq. ft. with approximately 400 of that being upstairs bedrooms. Currently all ductwork is blocked off to the upstairs as enough heat rises to keep them comfortable up there. The stove would be located in the dining room which is fairly centrally located in an open floor plan layout. If put in the NW corner of this room, it would be facing in such a way that I could blow heat towards the living room, stairwell to upstairs, and office. The office and living provide access to the far reaches of the house....master bed and bath. These are traditionally the hardest areas to heat due to distance from furnace.
So, do you think that the 2.5lbs/per hour being burnt down in the beast with minimal heat delivery to the house would be better off being burnt in a stove on the main floor? I wonder if it'd be cheaper and more comfortable given the right weather circumstances. It'd also be nice for when you want or need that quick warm up.
Stove location puts me either venting to the north (prevailing winds WNW usually) or up through the ceiling and roof. I have a new roof so not thrilled about going through it...but...am worried about a 3' indoor rise then going out to north. Maybe this would be ok?
I guess I should've mentioned that this stove would be more of a supplimental heat instead of primary most of the time.
Your thoughts on all please?
I'm thinking about adding a stove on the main floor of our two story house. I'm thinking that as long as I can move the air, I can burn far less fuel on these mild days than when running "the beast". Maybe something with auto ignition and certainly with a thermostat?
I'd be looking to heat about 2100sq. ft. with approximately 400 of that being upstairs bedrooms. Currently all ductwork is blocked off to the upstairs as enough heat rises to keep them comfortable up there. The stove would be located in the dining room which is fairly centrally located in an open floor plan layout. If put in the NW corner of this room, it would be facing in such a way that I could blow heat towards the living room, stairwell to upstairs, and office. The office and living provide access to the far reaches of the house....master bed and bath. These are traditionally the hardest areas to heat due to distance from furnace.
So, do you think that the 2.5lbs/per hour being burnt down in the beast with minimal heat delivery to the house would be better off being burnt in a stove on the main floor? I wonder if it'd be cheaper and more comfortable given the right weather circumstances. It'd also be nice for when you want or need that quick warm up.
Stove location puts me either venting to the north (prevailing winds WNW usually) or up through the ceiling and roof. I have a new roof so not thrilled about going through it...but...am worried about a 3' indoor rise then going out to north. Maybe this would be ok?
I guess I should've mentioned that this stove would be more of a supplimental heat instead of primary most of the time.
Your thoughts on all please?