The first thing i would do is check local regulations regarding wood burning stoves in general. Here in wonderful California there are major restrictions about what you can and can't use. We also have "spare the air" days when wood burning is banned.

 

We've used pellet stoves for several years. Check on the pellet prices in your area. Depending on how cold it is outside, and how well your home is insulated will decide how much pellets you will burn each day. We pay around $4.25 a bag here, even if you buy by the ton. Learn how to operate the stove, as far as getting it to light and not go out during start up. As in anything, there are pros and cons on both sides. Do you have inexpensive wood in your area, and what are the costs of pellets in your area. I chose pellets because I can always run to the store and by a few more bags if needed. Hope this helps.

 

Vermont Castings

We built our log home in the mountains outside of San Diego 28 years ago to raise our kids. Our winters are mild compared to the east, but we do get snow and it gets below 30 often enough. I put in a Vermont Castings stove as our only source of heat after a bunch of research. We heat our home the full winter on just one cord of wood and others are typically spending $200+ per month on other heating methods. The advantage of their stoves is they are dual chambers, which allow them to burn very slow and still put out a bunch of heat. There is a manual thermostat so you can set out much heat you really want. We can load it before going to bed and it pretty much lasts all night. I did not care for the pellet idea as it commits you to purchasing the pellets from just certain vendors and there are always trees that need to be fell, so getting wood is easier in my opinion. They are designed to meet all requirements in all 50 states.

They are not cheap, but will worth considering. And they are pretty good looking units too. They are easy to find on the web.

:anim_25:

 

If you fear losing your electricity don't get a pellet stove. They need power for the feeder at a minimum. Good thing is it doesn't draw much juice so you could run it off a generator. Around here, farmers burn their field corn instead of pellets.

 

Check with your insurance company. See how much more your insurance will cost. If you would have a fire due to the stove and that wasn't in your policy, you may not be covered. Something to think about.

 

It's a good idea, because the woodburner will be first to be blamed if you have a fire.

I had an insurance company cancel me because they drove by (we were'nt home) and saw a triple wall stainless steel chimney on my garage roof. The next company I went with (higher cost of course) had no problem with it, but couldn't accept the kids trampoline in the back yard. I had to sign a waiver to release them from liability of injuries caused by the trampoline.

 

I had this debate eith myself a few years ago. I decided on a wood stove after going without power and heat for 2 weeks the previous year.

-Pellets stoves require electricity to run but some companies sell battery back ups but at a cost.
-They also take less work to run since they auto feed and are a little easier on the back since you dont have to carry wood in every day or so.

-Wood stoves are very simple with less moving parts so less likely to break down on you.
-Wood stoves tend to raise your insurance more then pellet stoves
-if power goes out you can maintain heat and cook on it.

You said you have a young kid. If you go with wood stove I would recomend installing something around the wood stove to protect the kid. My old boss did a cool fence out of copper tubing that he heated and bent then poured cement inside it to make it strong enough to hold up to daily abuse. Sorry for the wall of text. Its a hard choice to make good luck

 

I have pelet stoves in both the shop and the house. I would suggest trying to get one with as little electronics as possible. I love the way ours heats everything. we have LOPI stoves.

 

be safe and do it or have it done to code. :anim_25:

 

Hearthstone Heritage

I have been heating with a woodstove as supplemental for over 30 years now.Since I'm retired on a fixed income I use it as my primary heat source the last 4 years.I also have a cape style home that was built in 1954.It looks similar to the ones I see in your album.I have used several different woodstoves over the years,buying most second hand. Two years ago I bought the Hearthstone Heritage new and I'm very happy with it.It will put out about 55,000 btu's when you run it at around 400*. I believe the stove is rated at 1900 sq ft. I have it in the basement family room and it does a good job for Denise and I.No kids at home so the two upstairs bedrooms are very cool,but does not matter.The only downside to this stove is the stones take a little while to heat up initially,but really holds the heat after that!I look for wood and have been getting it free so far since retirement.Right now I'm good for at least a few more winter.I use about 3 cords a year.I only go through about 200 gal of oil a year used mostly for hot water.:anim_25:
:bowtieb: Frank

 

I have a Harman wood pellet stove as a secondary heating device to my natural gas furnace. It will heat the house by itself. It's rated at 68000 btu. This year has been especially cold, so I've used it quite a bit. They are easy to use, and basically worry free. Buy the pellets here in bulk and you will save some money. I have a small generator to run the stove in the event the power is out. But I'm very happy with it. Good luck.

 

Depending on where you are in PA you may want to consider coal. Coal really puts out the heat, and a steady heat. We have an older wood/coal stove. When operating on wood, we can make it (barely) through the night, with coal, its no problem. Here in the Philly area coal supply is getting iffy. Make sure to get have a non-combustible surface behind and under the stove.