My first post; I've researched on several sites and joined this one...seemed the best. Question: I checked out of my work library a new book titled: "Modern Hyronic Heating" by John Siegenthaler, Third Addition showing 2012 date of print??. After exhausting research of almost three years, I've chosen my stove. Trying to draft out plumping details and have not read this book yet, but thumbing thru it, I ran across his recommendation of utilizing a plate heat exchanger between the stove and the rest of a system he calls "closed" and pressurized. Is ANYONE running this out there and if so, what are the advantages or disadvantages of this. I can see where this would virtually eliminate cold water shock going back into the stove which would/could keep down stress on your welds and internal condensation, but wouldn't a primary/secondary system do this also??? I can understand the house system would be kept cleaner, and any boiler chemicals whether soda ash/lime or store bought chemical mix would not be pumped by your zone pumps which would improve seal and impeller life, but what about ENERGY LOSS in the plate heat exchanger, and it becoming clogged up down the road on the stove side??? I can think of several more "thoughts" but I guess I was asking for help in if this is a sound direction to go. Pretty expensive looking at some of your guys pictures of complex headers,valves, check valves, throttling electronic valves etc... I like simple, sound, ultra reliable and energy saved as in "burn less wood", get more heat. Any thoughts about this? I started this project to beat the high propane heat prices, have access to lots of free wood. Will end up feeding two air furnace heat exchangers and two sidearm water heaters... two of us don't use much hot water, mainly need to heat two levels, one furnace in basement, one in attic above second floor area...so up vertically about 28-30 foot of head, second unit. Both water heaters down in basement. For now, I'm reading above named book... thanks for any help.( East Tennessee )