I just installed a new Drolet escape 1800 free standing oven. Love it. Would a fresh air intake make a big difference? I've got a dog door into the house, so I think I get alot of air from that. Also, would a cast iron humidifier on the stove make a difference? I live in northern Utah, so the air is pretty dry anyway. Thanks!
Hooking up a fresh air intake is really only done if needed in my opinion. Most homes have enough make up combustion air as is. Do you have a smoke rollout issue when starting or reloading? If not don't sweat it. Leave the cast iron on a shelf. Plug in a cheap electric humidifier. Your stove will thank you for not slopping water on it and rusting it etc.
I use a cast iron pot on my wood stove and I don't have issues with rust or slopping water on the stove. If any splashed, odds are the stove is hot and that water steams off immediately. I use a trivet so that helps. On it's own though the pot isn't going to be enough but it helps add something back. Between the electric humidifier and the stove pot it isn't bad but ohio is no where dry like utah, you probably are going to need a decent size humidifier or two.
We don't use cast iron but do have a pot of water on the stove. Cast iron looks great though. Water on the stove can be useful for more than humidity. For example, when washing dishes we get hot water from the pot on the stove. Sometimes even get hot water for use in bathroom. It is a lot cheaper than heating water with electric or gas! In the Pines is correct in that you will need much more humidity than what you can get from heating water on the stove.
