Thought I'd share our experience with a new wood stove we just got in case anyone's wondering how well they might really heat a home.
Background: We didn't buy the stove for Y2k; we bought it because we live in the woods and love all the aspects of burning wood; from working in the woods, to cutting/splitting/stacking, to cozying up next to a warm wood stove with a good book. Our primary heating source is a standard gas-fueled, forced-air furnace. We have always had a wood-burning fireplace insert located at the opposite end of the house from where our new stove is. The new stove is located in our living room. Very classy looking on a ceramic tile, oak trimmed pad. (I only mention that because some of our friends said they thought a wood burning stove in our formal room would not look good. On the contrary, you should hear them "ooh" and "ahh" now.) It's a high tech stove (high efficiency) but a "non-cat" (not catalytic).
Results: I got the stove stoked up to about medium heat and put a thermometer in the farthest room from the stove and a thermometer upstairs. It was about 15 degrees (F) outside and dropping. I turned off the furnace. Our house is approx. 2,650 sq. ft; a basic two-story house.
Five hours later I checked the thermometers. It was 72 degrees (F) in the room farthest from the new stove and 72 degrees upstairs. I'd say we have an *average* air circulation pattern in our home.
Needless to say I was thrilled with the results. The new stove is a *medium* size model; certainly not a biggie. The fellow at the stove store said it would heat the living room where it is located and an adjoining dining room. A major understatement. Based on my experience and experimentation since, I'd say we could easily heat our whole house with the stove; although, of course, the heat distribution is not as even throughout the house as a forced air furnace or other *system*.
Caveat: We have not had a chance to test it on a truly cold day (-20 degrees (F) around here). Also, there are a lot of variables that influence the results; everything from the particular stove (a major factor), to location, to size of structure, to type of wood, to air circulation patterns, to chimney design, ... (all are significant factors).
Anyway, I thought there might be some people out there who might be interested in what our experience was with this. We really weren't sure what to expect, either. ...Tim
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