I do some of the same things in the house I live in also to save on heat. I live now in an old farm house that needs lots of work (looks good but leaks bad) so it’s quite drafty in the winter. We have heat in our living room (propane stove) and the bedrooms feel like a cooler.
I knew there were things you have to do to put in a wood burning stove but really my main concern was the cost of one. Wood would be free because of the area I live in. The only people I know personally that own a wood burning stove live in the city and buy wood so they really just use thiers for looks. I want to use ours for many things. We have almost grown childern so safety isn’t one of our big issues as far as them getting burnt.
My Husband grew up with fireplaces only so I know he knows some issues with this kind of heating. We wondered if anyone had any experience with certain kinds of stoves and which brands anyone would recommend.
Thanks so much for answering some of our concerns.