I am new to pellets and loving every second of the heat from my stove.
Madame Defarge is a different story. While she loves the heat, and the savings over oil, she constantly worries about the pipes in the basement freezing during a prolonged cold spell and is decidedly not happy with the cold floors on the first floor.
Our basement is unfinished and I (at 6' even) can't stand erect down there. I have been thinking that, perhaps, for next year, it might be a good idea to put a stove in the basement to keep the pipes (and the wife unit) happy, as well as warming up the floor on the main floor. Seems to me, little as I know (but tons more than I would have without you guys!) than a utilitarian stove with a big hopper (or an extension) in the basement, set on low to run 24/7 in the cold months, might alleviate the domestic situation.
Any suggestions on a good stove for that purpose or thoughts on the idea generally? My guess is that keeping the floor warm on the lower level would also generally help keep the house warm.
The house is about 1500 sq. ft of living space on two levels, although the first floor includes an integral garage that we use for storage and do not heat. The basement is half below grade and formed of the stone foundation and a cement slab. We take some water, as we are halfway down a hillside, but nothing the sump pump can't handle. We are generator equipped thanks to a blackout in our second year here during a heavy rain storm when we almost lost the boiler - yes, the same one I am now happy not to be using. Of course oil was 89 cents a gallon then.
All suggestions and help gratefully received.
Madame Defarge is a different story. While she loves the heat, and the savings over oil, she constantly worries about the pipes in the basement freezing during a prolonged cold spell and is decidedly not happy with the cold floors on the first floor.
Our basement is unfinished and I (at 6' even) can't stand erect down there. I have been thinking that, perhaps, for next year, it might be a good idea to put a stove in the basement to keep the pipes (and the wife unit) happy, as well as warming up the floor on the main floor. Seems to me, little as I know (but tons more than I would have without you guys!) than a utilitarian stove with a big hopper (or an extension) in the basement, set on low to run 24/7 in the cold months, might alleviate the domestic situation.
Any suggestions on a good stove for that purpose or thoughts on the idea generally? My guess is that keeping the floor warm on the lower level would also generally help keep the house warm.
The house is about 1500 sq. ft of living space on two levels, although the first floor includes an integral garage that we use for storage and do not heat. The basement is half below grade and formed of the stone foundation and a cement slab. We take some water, as we are halfway down a hillside, but nothing the sump pump can't handle. We are generator equipped thanks to a blackout in our second year here during a heavy rain storm when we almost lost the boiler - yes, the same one I am now happy not to be using. Of course oil was 89 cents a gallon then.
All suggestions and help gratefully received.