Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - Ideas for a pellet stove with Air Ducts?

I am looking for a nice utilitarian (low cost, not fancy) pellet stove which I could possibly hook up to my furnace return air duct, to distribute the heat. Does anyone have suggestions or examples of what they have done? I've seen some pellet "furnaces" that have their own fan, which are pretty expensive. Maybe I could build a cabinet around a basic "workhorse" pellet stove, and draw air through that or something.

Thanks!

if you have forced air heating all you have to do is turn the circulator fan on in the furnace when you fire up the pellet stove, that wil circulate teh heat through out the house.




chris

That is true- what I failed to mention is that the area I was wanting to hook it up is an unheated portion of the basement. I thought ducting a jacketed stove to the return might make better use of the heat. I haven't found many jacketed ones other than the "furnaces". Best option may be to put it in a heated area of the house, and circulate with the furnace fan.

if you have forced air heating all you have to do is turn the circulator fan on in the furnace when you fire up the pellet stove, that wil circulate teh heat through out the house.

chris
http://www.homebuildingclinic.com

It would not be such a good idea to connect a pellet stove as you describe.
The problem you will have is that you will likely void your home owners insurance.

In order to operate a wood burning appliance you first must have it noted on your insurance policy.
They will make sure that it is approved by a recognized inspection agency and that it is installed according to the mfr's instructions.

No freestanding heating appliance would be approved with any kind of makeshift adaptation to a furnace.

You even have to be careful of any modifications you make to furnace ductwork to capture heat from a wood burner.