PE Ash Build Up

[begreen]

Creosote builds up when the flue gases get cool enough to condense on the interior walls of the flue system. This happens when the gases fall below about 250ºF. When and where this will happens depends on the flue setup. The more exterior exposure the chimney has the more opportunity for the gases to cool down. Your temp range of 400F to 900F is ok as long as the 900F temp is only briefly on startup. Once at the coaling stage don't worry about it.
Heating from a basement is often poor. The stove is an area heater. Post a sketch of the basement and 1st floor plans showing stairwell and stove location and maybe we can help.

 

[Ricky g]

Here is a sketch of my floor plan inclusive of all floors. PDF attached. Hope you can open it.
We also performed a paper test.- closing the door on a piece of paper and pulling it out. This is supposed to check the sealing of the gasket. Top and 2 sides could not pull out. But bottom pulled out with medium resistance.

 

[begreen]

Yes, I can see why heating would be a challenge. There are 4 zones. To help move some heat to the bedrooms try this. Put a table or box fan in the hallway, placed on the floor, pointing toward the woodstove room. Run it on low speed. It will blow the cooler air down low, toward the woodstove. The denser cool air will be replaced with lighter warm air from the stove room. Running this way you should notice at least a 5F increase in the hallway temp after about 30 minutes running and a corresponding decrease in temp in the stove room.

 

[Ricky g]

Now that I wouldn't have thought of! Definitely going to try that. Did you give some thought to the paper test? have you heard of it?