[NICKG]

we put in a Jotul like 4 years ago, it heat the whole home..easily. wood costs have tripled in the past 2 years by me, but in the 4 years we have used it, it has (by my estimates) paid for itself 2 or 3 times. (we had 2500 in the install with the stove and a chimney insert/reline)
combine this with all new windows, siding/insulation etc and we are saving huge compared to what we had been paying. We installed a new furnace when we bough the hhouse, and that alone save 3-4 tanks of oil a year. We are currently using 600 gallons (2.5 tanks) a year...compared to 2000+ of the home when we first got it.

we paid someone to install the chimneylining and stove because the insurance would be grey on covering it if there was a problem. By having it done by a liscensed contracter, we are covered. Also the building code was pretty strict and we just felt it was better to have it done.