Good morning all!
After 7 years of living in a 600 sq. ft. condo in the city we finally moved out to the suburbs into a new house. After 6 months of wallet shock due to oil heat costs we are looking for an alternative way to heat our house. I'm hoping that you all might be able to help steer us in the right direction. I understand that there are a ton of threads that I could read to probably obtain the information that I'm looking for but as a traveling consultant, father to a 2 year old and expecting another any day now my time is extremely limited, so I'd like to extend my appreciation in advance for any help. Here are a few things about us to help guide the conversation:
I think this is everything that I can think of. Again I appreciate all your help.
After 7 years of living in a 600 sq. ft. condo in the city we finally moved out to the suburbs into a new house. After 6 months of wallet shock due to oil heat costs we are looking for an alternative way to heat our house. I'm hoping that you all might be able to help steer us in the right direction. I understand that there are a ton of threads that I could read to probably obtain the information that I'm looking for but as a traveling consultant, father to a 2 year old and expecting another any day now my time is extremely limited, so I'd like to extend my appreciation in advance for any help. Here are a few things about us to help guide the conversation:
- We live on the south shore of Boston, Massachusetts
- Our house is approximately 4,500 sq. ft. with the downstairs being wide open and approximately 1,500 sq. ft.
- My wife works as well, but there is usually someone at the house (mother in law) during the day for daycare for our 2 year old
- We currently have a fireplace and bought a cord of wood this past summer and have been enjoying fires in the fireplace about 3 times a week
- We are interested in both pellet stove inserts and wood stove inserts
- I travel quite a bit for work but my wife could handle putting wood in the stove (this may change as I may be home more in the next few years)
- We have a 2 car garage that has space to store pellets if needed
- Our basement does seem to get quite humid during the summer so we have a dehumidified running down there year round. We are at the bottom of a hill so our yard is usually a bit damp for several days after a good rain
- I grew up on a farm in CT so I'm familiar with cutting, splitting and stacking wood (although I'll probably just buy cords if I go with wood) - oddly enough we never had a wood stove growing up
- My buddy's family has a fireplace store in town but they only sell gas and wood inserts (vermont castings & napoleon) so there is potential for me to get a deal through him (which would guide me towards wood. If we went with VC I'd like the montpelier since it looks like it provides better ambience
- I'd like to not lose the ambiance of a fireplace with whatever we go with. My wife and I really enjoy our fireplace
- I've attached a picture of our fireplace (sorry its dirty!)
I think this is everything that I can think of. Again I appreciate all your help.