First winter in our new home. Heating with forced air free gas.... and Im still busy splitting stacking and hauling wood around. Coworker asks "Why are you still burning wood?" "Because we love having a fire" Coworker responds "Why don't you just setup the fireplace to burn gas, and not have the mess and hassle of wood?" "You don't get it....." Missing my woodburner(s) this year, but the fireplace is keeping the joy in is for now. Accidentally busted the glass out already (fallen log) - 2 weeks should have new pieces cut and ready. My wonderful wife and I are true hoarders. Just something about the wood fire burning and the smoke from the chimney (although minimal - wood 3yrs dry) that warms your heart and makes home feel like home.
Comfort is the ultimate drug. Some folks won't be satiated until they reach this point and many are trying to drag the rest along with.
For a couple years, I used a wood stove in my basement, near my forced hot air oil burner. When I remove the blower motor door and turn that fan on, it circulated warm air pretty good. Then about 5 years ago, I switched to an Englands add-on wood furnace. I connected the output to my plenum and that works excellent. Any room for something similar to get you back to strictly wood heat? That being said, I do agree with Dave. That looks like a great place for an insert.
Couldn't agree more. Some folks would never understand the joy of gathering tinder and building up a fire, adding wood, scooping out the ash. They'd rather show off to their friends that they have a remote control instant fire that makes no mess. Yes, an insert has been my plan from the beginning. In fact, I kept my Buck 74 stove from my old house to use for just this purpose. Unit is ment to be either free-standing or insert - just a matter of removing the legs, adding a surround, and internal liner connection. Although we do appreciate the "fire place" crackle, I expect I would probably triple my heat and overall safety of the burning operation. After burning for 3-4 days straight over Thanksgiving weekend, I was surprised how much heat thr fireplace did generate though once the whole chimney warmed up. Giant heat sink. AND, even with a wide open damper (its currently not adjustable- rusted up real good), I wasn't burning as much as I thought I would- keeping a small fire going consistently. Next summer, I have exterior masonry repairs to tackle (crown, tuckpoint, ect) and I plan to drop a liner and get the insert installed. The only thing I don't particularly care for with the insert is that the surround will probably cover up that nice brick arch.. oh well. On other news, Tomorrow the Forester is coming to walk my woods. Getting a commercial timber plan written up (mostly for tax reduction purposes). Can't wait to hear what he has to say about my forests!
Over the years I had 2 houses where I put in a fireplace insert. Of course there can be options to put a freestanding stove in front of the fireplace also. If one has the fireplace, an insert can be an easy DIY option. Of course you won’t get as much heat as a freestanding stove, but not bad. My two were in more temperate States, coastal WA, and just South of Atlanta. Another thing would be heat if the power went out. I know a fireplace gives a little, but much more livable with an insert, should one lose power.
I was thinking the same thing. Putting the quadrafire insert in my open FP years ago was one of the best decisions I've made with this house. I think my next addition of a wood burning appliance to the house will help even further.
