Here is my Ideal Steal install!

So your in the Land of The Giant Pumpkins

 

Yes? I'm not sure what or where you are referencing?

 

Finally closed on the house yesterday morning!! The IS is doing great keeping roughly 3000 sq ft nice and cozy with low 30s for temps. Indoor temps are 70-72. Running it in the 1/4 notch area +/- a notch w/ pipe damper fully closed. Its cooking right now at exactly 1/4 completely blacked out. Stove top 500, frt at 630 and cat at just shy of 1500. Should do the trick for tonight with the inside temp still at 72 and only dropping to freezing tonight. Simply amazing how well this thing heats. Hopefully it works this well when its colder! It took a full 24 hrs to heat the shell of the house up from the low 60ish range though.

The basement cement floor is a real heat sink, took alot to get it warmed up. From here on out it should be easy cruisin' I hope. Can't wait to see what this can do in the teens!

 

Good luck with the new home (and of course with the new stove).

KaptJaq

 

Just checked temps again before hitting the hay. This moving stuff really wears a guy out! Stove top 515, frt 635. Got to watch it kick over into secondary burn also. Just like a light switch. Boom secondaries galore!!

This thing is quite different than any stove I've run in the past. Alot more mellow, user friendly, and holds its temps alot longer. Quite pleased so far I must say. Especially heating from an unfinished basement to boot!

 

That's a large house to heat with any woodburner in Wisconson. Glad to hear your results are good so far. I have a simular situation as you with our main floor being on a slab. It takes a full 2 days to warm the home from 50 degrees to 75 or so. I now use my IR gun to measure the cement floor temps, but more out of curiosity. The good news is once all that mass is warm in 3 or 4 days, your heating needs should moderate. Of course when it gets in the teens or lower, that changes everything. Looks like your home is well insulated? I see spray foam?

Are you planning to supplement your IS with the furnace or something else? Is the heat getting upstairs effectively? Any cold spots upstairs?

 

All the builders in the area generally spray the rim with spray foam now. Seals up alot better.

I definitely expect the NG furnace to kick on in the colder temps, but with it being relatively cheap I'm not to concerned about it. And in all reality I like the processing of firewood and fiddling with the stove so even if it just kept the basement cozy I'd be happy! And its not an inconvenience to get loaded and cruising, 15 mins max and its set for the day. Unlike my old tube stove which was 45 minsof fiddling on average.

Temps are very stable. Obviously slightly warmer downstairs. Moving air with a box fan on the floor at the bottom of the stairs and a small fan gently blowing across the top of the stove. Seems to be doing the trick. Bedrooms are just a touch cooler (a degree or 2) which is fine for sleeping.

Funny you mention the IR gun. I do the same exact thing! Just for fun really. Its a toy that cures the curiosity.

 

Sounds like everything is going as planned.. I would be curious just how much the fans contribute. I also supplement with propane.

It's fun, isn't it? New house and new stove. Congrats!

Now all you need to do is cut more wood...

 

Here is some pics from last night before bed:

 

Sconnie, congrats on the new burden; errr I mean closing on the house and the move!

Sounds like you have the stove all dialed in and that is exceptional since it is new and usually takes awhile to "learn" the stove.

All is good!

I hope you can experience some sub-zero temps for a final grade!!!

 

I'm sorta in your boat. I have a natural gas furnace so if it has to kick on so be it.

I like it hot in the house during winter. Burning let's me get there without breaking the bank. My house is leaky. Plus I hate the utility companies.

 

I can walk down the stairs and feel the heat plume coming up the steps. I feel its the only way to heat from the basement. Mind you the steps are central in the house just off to the opposite side of the stove. House lays in a rectangle long ways North/South. Stairs are on the west wall in a C shape if you will, stove on the east wall facing the stairs.

Sequence of pictures is walking from in front of the stove.

 

Lots of reading while patiently waiting to move in and play!!

 

Sounds like you picked the ideal spot for the placement of the wood stove.

 

Up in that area of Wisconsin people compete at the local fairs growing like 800 pound pumpkins.

Joe Ailts Pumpkin