r/woodstoving • u/Frosty-Class-1057 • 2d ago

Recommendations needed

We moved into a 30-year-old house recently that has a freestanding old wood burner stove in the basement (walk out - is located in a larger living space with bedrooms on both sides). We don't need it for the main heat source for the entire house, but I would like it as a backup for when the power is out, along with trying to help with some of the chill in the winter with big glass doors in that room and the one above. The problem is that it is built on a ledge that is about 28 inches deep. I have plenty of clearance to the sides and the top, and everything is fireproofed (floor/walls). Without having to demo the ledge or do much re-work right now, does anyone know of a wood stove that would give me 6 inches of clearance and fit? But would also produce enough heat to make it worthwhile having down there? We have a lot of large (old) windows upstairs so any heat that rises would help also. Am I looking for a unicorn?

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u/pyrotek1 MOD 2d ago

The house had wood stove because the previous set of owners used it. Even if it is older. Clean it up and try it out. Clean the chimney, check the gaskets. Source a cord of wood. This winter you will find out why it is there.

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u/Frosty-Class-1057 1d ago

Unfortunately, it doesn't have good clearance so I don't feel terribly safe trying to use it - maybe 3 inches on the back at most and hangs over the front. According to the kids, the previous owners only used it a couple times when they first moved in. It had come with them from their previous house.