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.
