Congrats!
I have three rooms downstairs that don't get enough heat, the three most recently added rooms to boot. You would think those would have the most efficient heat, but no siree they do not. I put a small wood burning stove in the middle of those three, and only use it on the coldest of days. It seriously reduced my electric bill! And the heat is just yummy as can be. I have to feed it a log every hour or so, a bit of an inconvenience, and where am I supposed to keep all that wood? Your pellet stove is an excellent idea.
Thanks! I've learned that these split-level homes are a nightmare to heat. I really wish we knew that before buying this place. Our furnace was thirty years old so it needed to be replaced anyway but it sure was a kick in the pants when it didn't solve the problem.
The ambiance of a wood-burning stove or fireplace beats a pellet stove any day in my book! There's something so comforting about them! It seems to warm you from the inside out. A pallet of 40lb wood pellet bags run around $300 and I think we should be able to manage most of the year with one pallet. The only issue is where to store them. No matter what I'll be getting a decent workout in the wintertime. : )
I think I feel happier when I am in wood-generated heat. I love the way it smells, too. My animals congregate around the stove when it's hot. Unfortunately, my neighbor does not feel the same way about the smell, and I can only light it when he is away. Luckily, that is most of the winter.
And yes, I do get a bit of a workout, mostly having to get down on the floor and back up again.
It's one of my favorite scents in the world! How could someone not like it? That's one thing I loved about our old neighborhood, all of those Victorian homes had fireplaces.