How to get the most out of the least

[Kempoguy]

Hi
I'm new to wood burning and just installed a pacific energy super insert into my fireplace and I ran a full 6" flexiliner it's length is 22'. So far the stove is sweet! I just want to know best way to get the most heat out of the least wood! The more my oil furnace is off the better.
The insert is located in the basement of a typical 2200 sq ft split level. I run the stove with damper open to get stove up to temp with a strong bed of coals and add wood as necessary but I typically damp it down about 1/2 to 2/3 down once I have a nice 4" bed of coals. Over the last 2 days the stove has been going. I damp it all way down before I hit the hay with a full load. I have the blower on high,and for now until I get a couple of wLl mounted corner fans I have a freestanding fan at the end of the room pointed up stairway to rest of house upstairs and a table fan pointing down hallway to bedrooms. The house has been 68 degrees pretty consistently but the thermostat is in the upstairs hallway close to the stairs. The bedrooms are obviously the coldest area as they are furthest from stove. Is this about what I can expect and is using ~ 15 pieces of 16" hardwood a day a fair amount of wood with the results I'm getting this far. Thank you

 

[Poindexter]

Every install is a little bit different, but you might try - just try- pushing cold air across the floor and down the stairs towards the stove rather than trying to pull hot air.

 

[begreen]

The best way to get more heat would be to move it up to the main floor. But that may not be possible. Try running it with the fan on medium speed. High may cool down the stove too much.

 

[Grisu]

2200 sqft is quite a large area to heat for a 2 cu ft stove. There are only so many BTUs in a cu ft of wood. You can maximize your insert's heating abilities by reducing heat loss to the outside. Do you have a block-off plate: https://www.hearth.com/talk/wiki/make-a-damper-sealing-block-off-plate/ and insulation around the insert (if the fireplace is at an exterior wall): https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/finally-got-around-to-insulating-my-fireplace.75755/
The other recommendation I would have is to reduce startup fires by keeping it going all the time and load the insert full every time. That way you can close down the air more quickly and reduce heat loss up the flue.

 

[Kempoguy]

Thanks for the replies, I have sealed off the damper and insulated around the stove and am running a full liner. In regards to cold air intake I was told that would only give me a 1% increase. Is this true and secondly my fireplace has some tight dimensions and the super fit perfect. So I guess all in all the stove is operating quite well given its size and location. Thanks for the help.