I just had this pellet stove installed last week. I did some research on the stove that was recommended, and purchased from a well known, and what appears to be, a reputable dealer. I have thought about a pellet stove for 2 years as oil prices are so rediculous that it brings tears to my eyes when I hear the beep beep beep of the oil truck backing in. In my last house I had an old (probably 70's?) woodstove that had been left there from the previous owners and that's all I used for heat. Due to the cost of a chimney and the mess of wood, I thought a pellet stove was an option. I was clear with the salesman that the only room I had for it was in an area of the basement which is unfinished, and asked if it would still heat the whole house. I have a small ranch, 1,000 sf, which is in the shape of an L with a one car garage under. The stove is away from the garage along about the middle of the back wall, which is right under my kitchen (other than where the garage is, the basement is below grade). I was told it shouldn't be a problem, and that a lot of people have their stoves in the basement. A site visit was conducted a week before the install, and again, no comments from the two guys that came out that this would not be a good idea. They took their measurements, and told me they would have to vent the pipe through the cement (not enough room to go through the wood where the floor joists are), but that this was pretty standard. The pipe goes up (about 5ft) and then out, 18" above grade. I was so excited when my new stove came, and when the first fire was lit. The salesman and the installers were very thorough about how to clean and care for my new stove, and I read through the manual just to make sure I didn't miss anything. Well imagine my disappointment as I sit here listening to my furnace kick on even though my stove is cranked up to 85 degrees and my thermostat for my furnace is set at 60 (not to mention going through 2 bags of pellets a day). I have yet to see an upstairs temp of over 63 degrees when running just the stove. And that's if it's during the day and the sun is shining. Granted it's cold, but it's only Dec. While I don't need it to be like grannys house, 68 would be nice. After plugging in some different key words than what I originally searched on this sight prior to my purchase, I found some of the negative posts about basement installs. It seems to be a very debateable topic. In any event, I have to do my best to deal with it, since with the stove, piping, installation, 2 tons of pellets & tax I'm in for $4k. And please, please, please don't say 'you should have known better', this will just be rubbing salt in to an already gaping wound. Science was never my strong suit, so I relied on the 'experts' to give me the facts. I am starting to shop around for an insulated garage door, as I know I am losing heat with the old wooden door I have. The heat is very concentrated to the direct area where the stove is. It blows at a partition wall with a finished room on the other side, and I've cut 2 heating vents in that wall (just wallboard, and the door of the stairwell to that room is always kept open). This helped a tiny bit. In the manual, it talks about a low draft voltage adjustment, which I am going to call the salesman on since a draft meter is needed (and in my opinion should have been done upon installing). Not sure how much impact this has if not set correctly. Before I start cutting holes all over my house, what other suggestions might the real experts have? I want to know what I'm in for, but break it to me gently Sorry to go on and on, but this has been quite a letdown.