I've posted before regarding my difficult heating situation. Basically, I have an open ~600 sq ft basement, with an equally open main living floor above that (although that is a little larger at ~840 sq ft). The basement is half below grad with a walk-out entrance (block wall). The exterior walls of this are insulated, but the interior is still block wall. The ceiling of the basement is also insulated with fiberglass batting and sheathed with 1/2" MDF. I have a Shenendoah wood stove in the basement (~30 yrs old) heating the basement and supplementing the upstairs through natural rising of heat (I have one register and two returns). Basically the basement stays toast warm, and we really don't see too much of an effect in the main floor (it helps, but it certainly isn't 70+ degrees).
Now, there is NO main access to the basement from the main floor. This will change this spring/summer. The plan is to make a stairway from the foyer above, down into the basement. Obviously this will help move warm air into the living area much better, but am I better off finding a more modern/newer stove? Is the ~1500sq ft I'm trying to heat with this old Shenendoah asking too much?
I know sheathing the INTERIOR walls would also be ideal, but how much of a difference would it make?
Now, there is NO main access to the basement from the main floor. This will change this spring/summer. The plan is to make a stairway from the foyer above, down into the basement. Obviously this will help move warm air into the living area much better, but am I better off finding a more modern/newer stove? Is the ~1500sq ft I'm trying to heat with this old Shenendoah asking too much?
I know sheathing the INTERIOR walls would also be ideal, but how much of a difference would it make?