That was the way it was at my house at Christmas. I just ran the fireplace that is at one end of the house while the family was here. Very warm in one room and cooler than normal in the other parts of the house. The temperature was about 20 deg F outside.
In the 15 years I have lived here it has only been cold enough during the holidays to use the fire place about 5 times. I only use it just for effect and not for heat. If I want heat I use the wood stove in the basement.
If you want to dry lumber, cut it up first.
When we bought our house it had a Franklin stove, pretty much useless.Put in a Vermont Castings wood stove. It was in the family room but a fan in the doorway took care of most of the house.
The nice part of the stove was cooking on it. I'd sometimes open the doors to grill a steak but with doors closed a griddle on top worked too. Sit a Dutch oven on top for a pot roast or stew.
I liked to toast Triscuits on mine.
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