DH and I are looking at having a wood stove installed in our house soon. We had a local company come by this week and I just got the price quote via e-mail.
We live on a country road. When DD was a newborn we had a blizzard come through and it knocked out our power. Being on well water out here meant we lost water too. We had DD swaddled and bundled up. it was ok during the day; but as night fell and the inside temperature got near 50; it wasn't fun. We ended up being evacuated to my mother's house. So ever since we've talked about alternatives. DH purchased a hand pump that we can use to get water from our well in better weather (we've had hurricanes here too) but the heat is still an issue. I am NOT comfortable with things like kerosene heaters. From what I have read; things like that are often behind the increase in house fires when the weather turns cold.
I wasn't totally sure we had the room for one; but we came up with 3 options and had the company come through. If I heard him right; any of them should work. I'm not sure where is the best. We want it for emergency heat so it doesn't need to be very big. I do want it to look nice enough that it's an asset to the house if we try to sell it. I would prefer it go in the living room. One corner has more space; it's where I have a curio cabinet hanging that my Grandpa built and it's also the area of the room we use for the kid's toys. Rearranging that might be a pain; but in the long term it would look nice there. The other problem is the air return in that wall and the thermostat is on the other side of that wall.
The other corner available is where I have a small bookshelf for the kid's books. I was concerned that we didn't have enough space there with our L-shapped couch but apparently it's ok. I do think we'd have to move the curtains on the window next to it if we have the stove going. This was the first corner I thought of because it would be out of the way. I need to consider the kids keeping clear of it when it's hot. Also that the cats don't jump on it.
Does anyone have any tips or advice? Or thoughts on placement? DH's parents house had a fireplace; but I don't know that they ever used it for heat. He's familiar with camping/fire pit type fires. We will need to be sure we both have a better idea what we are doing with it.
We live on a country road. When DD was a newborn we had a blizzard come through and it knocked out our power. Being on well water out here meant we lost water too. We had DD swaddled and bundled up. it was ok during the day; but as night fell and the inside temperature got near 50; it wasn't fun. We ended up being evacuated to my mother's house. So ever since we've talked about alternatives. DH purchased a hand pump that we can use to get water from our well in better weather (we've had hurricanes here too) but the heat is still an issue. I am NOT comfortable with things like kerosene heaters. From what I have read; things like that are often behind the increase in house fires when the weather turns cold.
I wasn't totally sure we had the room for one; but we came up with 3 options and had the company come through. If I heard him right; any of them should work. I'm not sure where is the best. We want it for emergency heat so it doesn't need to be very big. I do want it to look nice enough that it's an asset to the house if we try to sell it. I would prefer it go in the living room. One corner has more space; it's where I have a curio cabinet hanging that my Grandpa built and it's also the area of the room we use for the kid's toys. Rearranging that might be a pain; but in the long term it would look nice there. The other problem is the air return in that wall and the thermostat is on the other side of that wall.
The other corner available is where I have a small bookshelf for the kid's books. I was concerned that we didn't have enough space there with our L-shapped couch but apparently it's ok. I do think we'd have to move the curtains on the window next to it if we have the stove going. This was the first corner I thought of because it would be out of the way. I need to consider the kids keeping clear of it when it's hot. Also that the cats don't jump on it.
Does anyone have any tips or advice? Or thoughts on placement? DH's parents house had a fireplace; but I don't know that they ever used it for heat. He's familiar with camping/fire pit type fires. We will need to be sure we both have a better idea what we are doing with it.