I don't want to install a fresh air intake, but do I need one?

I have an OAK on my Ideal Steel. It used to backpuff and spill smoke bad, especially since it's down in the daylight basement portion of our house. Installed the OAK and it I haven't noticed any backpuffing and the smoke spillage is less but not gone. The IS's door is really big but if I open it up a little and allow the fire some more air spillage is minimal.

 

Ive already gone to the Home Cheapo and bought the stuff.

 

It’s true. I didn’t want to put a hole in the hearth, and I was letting that guide my thinking. But, rile people up a little and play devil’s advocate, and you get to know what’s what and where people stand, and come to the realization of what you need to do.
When I think about myself I’m always reminded of what Melanie Griffith’s character told Paul Newman’s character in the movie “Nobody’s Fool”. “How can you always be so wrong about everything all the time”

 

I talked to my friend who is a contractor and am going to have him drill the hole into the basement. I can do the rest. He recommended using rigid dryer vent material along the entire course instead of the semi rigid stuff. It’s only maybe 4 feet? He suggested drilling a small hole at the lowest point to drain any moisture in case it builds any condensation inside.

 

I’m going to need to go out the back of the stove, down thru the floor into the basement, run along the bottom of the floor joists, then back up a little and out.

 

Okay. Thanks.

 

I know that when my wife is running the the clothes dryer, and I'm trying to get the stove going the draft will come down the chimney, pulling smoke into the house. Once the stove is running you can do whatever you want. It's just getting a cold chimney drafting right way at first is a problem.