T6 install in basement. Any words of wisedom are welcome.

I ordered my PH over the phone and it was a pleasant experience. I could only image being able to pick out your own stone. When I ordered I did ask for stone that had a lot of variation and character and was overly impressed when they delivered on it. Your in a good place that your wife can pick everything out.

 

After a ton of research on this board and another I was very comfortable with PH or the IS but still had a few questions (thanks guys).

I am away from the house for work around 10 hours a day and wanted something I could load in the morning, then have short hot evening fire and finally a 8/9 hour overnight burn. Based on feedback here the PH should be able to maintain this schedule.

Agreed, she seemed to really like being able to pick out the leg and frame coloring. Then when Penny showed her some of the unique stones, she was hooked.

You all may have gone through this, but its just difficult to imagine getting such long hot burn times and using less wood. Have about 16 "face" cords of Ash and Maple and usually burn 7 or 8 a year. My stacks are 16 feet long, 4 feet high and I cut my pieces at 20-21". It would be nice to buck, split and stack less....

After 7 hours last night insert was just able to light off without matches but no longer producing any useful heat.

 

During the shoulder season I was burning my junk wood. Maple that was starting to rot, sassafras and elm that was starting to rot. I could still burn overnight with junk wood an easy 8 hours. Good seasoned locust and ash get me 9-12 hours of good heat.