Well, first off-thanks to everyone who gave advice and answered my borderline ridiculously naive questions. The 30 NC was installed three days ago in an unfinshed basement/garage. The basement is set to be finished with insulation/drywall/ceiling fans, etc next week. However, I am not sure if some of you recall my last few months LP bills which were $630 for December and $470 for January so I needed something save me from the poorhouse. Well, the 30 NC is the savior. My LP furnace has not kicked on since the install. And while the house is not as cozy as I'd like, the wood stove is still maintaining three floors of 2400 SQ ft at around 66-68 and much warmer in the basement. I imagine that figure will go up dramatically as I throw some insulation on the walls and take out the aluminum grage door and replace it with an insulated wall. The way I see it, the $600 30 NC I bought at Home Depot will pay for itself in a little over a month. I am happier that I expected to be.
One final question--as a first time stove owner, I still get that pucker factor when I go to bed or leave the house with the fire going in the box. It seems to go against my natural cautious instincts as far as fire in the house and I imagine crazy scenarios playing out while I sleep. Is this normal for someone new to wood stoves?
Regardless, many thanks to everyone-particularly BrotherBart with his advice.
One final question--as a first time stove owner, I still get that pucker factor when I go to bed or leave the house with the fire going in the box. It seems to go against my natural cautious instincts as far as fire in the house and I imagine crazy scenarios playing out while I sleep. Is this normal for someone new to wood stoves?
Regardless, many thanks to everyone-particularly BrotherBart with his advice.