choosing stove location based on asthetics vs. best spot for central heat distribution

[rmcfall]

My stove sits on an exterior wall in my family room with vaulted ceilings, which is obviously not a great place for a stove in terms of getting heat to the rest of the house. The vaulted ceilings trap the heat and the more distant rooms don't get much of the warmth put out by the stove. My house does have an area, however, which is completely in the center of the house and would be almost perfect for the stove. I say almost because the stove wouldn't be visible from the family room, which is where we spend most of our time. Because we spend most of our time in our family room, I decided to place the stove there so we can enjoy looking at the fire. Of course, the cost of this is that we don't get the same heat benefit from the stove as we would if it were in the more central location. I am beginning to question whether this was a mistake? So I am wondering, those who have their stoves in rooms other than their family rooms (or whatever room you use most), do you miss being able to see the fire?

 

[Corey]

I spent one winter with the TV in our 'formal living room' while the stove was in the 'family room' (gotta love 70's ranch houses). I missed the stove quite a bit - watching the fire is 1/2 (or more) of the fun for me. Hopefully others will chime in, but there should be some options for getting heat down from the ceiling. A good ceiling fan or possibly some way to duct air from the peak back to lower rooms might be the answer.

Corey

 

[rmcfall]

Yeah, there is something hypnotic about fire. I could pretty easily introduce cold air from the basement to the top of the room with vaulted ceilings. I wasn't sure whether this would help "push" the warm air outside the vaulted room? With some more effort, I could introduce cooler air from more distant rooms (e.g., bedrooms) to the top of the vaulted ceilings. My fear with doing this, however, is that I would suck warm air from these more distant rooms whenever the furnace kicked on, and would consequently be supplying more warmer air to the room with the vaulted ceiling. I'd prefer to avoid having doorway fans, etc., so I am willing to run ducts where need be.

I spent one winter with the TV in our 'formal living room' while the stove was in the 'family room' (gotta love 70's ranch houses). I missed the stove quite a bit - watching the fire is 1/2 (or more) of the fun for me. Hopefully others will chime in, but there should be some options for getting heat down from the ceiling. A good ceiling fan or possibly some way to duct air from the peak back to lower rooms might be the answer.

Corey

 

[JohnnyBravo]

if removing air from the bedrooms do so at floor level. that should take the coldest available air from the room.

 

[senorFrog]

The stove is in our family room where we spend 95% of non-sleeping time. It heats that area and the adjacent kitchen area well. Using the stove alone, the rest of the house would be cool, let's say "not freezing". Fortunately, the rest of the house is on a separate zone. I augment the stove heat in that area to make it "slightly less than comfortable" during the day, because no one is there. At night, I raise the temp to keep it "comfortable for sleeping".

 

[thephotohound]

rmc - Do I have a couple of threads for you! I have a similar problem... 20x24 great room, 12 foot ceilings, mesmerized by fire... what the hell do you do?! These might help:

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/7554/

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/8496/

Good luck!

 

[rmcfall]

Thanks for the links. Since making improvements, have you been able to maximize on the heat put out by the Keystone?

rmc - Do I have a couple of threads for you! I have a similar problem... 20x24 great room, 12 foot ceilings, mesmerized by fire... what the hell do you do?! These might help:

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/7554/

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/8496/

Good luck!

 

[thephotohound]

Unfortunately, I won't really know until we get some cold temps... I expect the biggest payback from sealing the recessed lights, adding another layer of insulation to the attic, and sealing up the exterior holes/cracks. I will keep everyone posted, though.

 

[hfjeff]

I would keep it where it is and figure out how to move the heat. It is nice having the stove in where you spend most of your time. They look nice and make you feel warmer just by seeing the flames. Also it's kind of nice to see what you spent all that money on rather than hiding it in another room. I am fortunate that mine is in the living room in the center of the house. But I also need some more insulation in the attic and need to replace my 50 year old windows. A ceiling fan in the main living room made a HUGE difference for me.

 

[thephotohound]

That's true... I almost forgot... I added two 60" fans at the top of my cathedral ceilings, and it helps a TON. Almost too much! I had to set them on low in reverse to not feel a breeze. Sure moves the air though!

 

[rmcfall]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone.

PhotoHound--when you say you added two 60" fans at the top of your ceilings, about how many feet down from the ceiling are they? Or how many feet above the floor?

That's true... I almost forgot... I added two 60" fans at the top of my cathedral ceilings, and it helps a TON. Almost too much! I had to set them on low in reverse to not feel a breeze. Sure moves the air though!