Kosmik
Member
Its called an Outdoor Air Kit (or OAK).
If your house is buttoned up enough, you will need it or have to crack open a window for combustion air.
In really well sealed houses one issue is fresh air exchange for the occupants.
But your house, with proper sealing and insulation won't be hard to heat at all. Put an insulated basement in keep the cows and goats there you can heat it medieval style.
Looks like you got a good bit of window exposure in those plans, situated S, SW with some nice windows you could get a lot of solar heat too. If you have some sun in winter.
To reduce creosote formation placing as much of the flue in conditioned space as possible is helpful. Exterior wall chimneys need good insulation.
It's a bit harder 'off the grid' to make your own wood pellets. But it can be done with: wood chipper, hammer mill and pellet press. People also make pellets out of many agricultural wastes.
The one thing I do like about pellet stoves is easy venting and heat when needed. But they are very drafty if not installed with OAK. I really notice a difference in the draftiness of the house between a ~30-120 cfm blower (intake - outtake) and the natural draft of the stove.
Of course pellet stove would up your electrical needs.
But may require less alteration of plans and the convection blowers move that heat pretty well.
A good one costs more than an similar quality EPA stove.
I like wood stoves, but pellet stoves have their merits.
I think in a 440 ftsq/ floor house in mild climate they'd do well.
