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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On Oct 24, 2007, at 1:28 PM, tom wrote:

> We heat the small house we're rehabbing (approx. 500 sq. ft on the
> first floor, 450 sq. ft on the second) with a centrally located wood
> stove on the first floor, which aside from the bathroom is one open
> space.  There is no heat on the second floor, and for the coldest
> parts of the year we'll probably close of the upstairs and sleep
> downstairs, but I'd like to put a register between the two floors to
> get some heat upstairs if we want it.  Does one follow the
> conventional wisdom for ducted heat/radiators and put the register on
> an outside wall under a window to avoid drafts?  Or would it be
> better to put the register as close to the location of the
> woodstove.  The upstairs rooms have no plumbing to worry about and
> are only bedrooms.

Shall we presume that it's just you and another, no children? And  
that just propping the door open does not allow sufficient heat to go  
upstairs?

I would not put the openings near the outer walls. That will simply  
send more heat outside faster. I would place the openings where I  
wanted the heat, like where my feet hit the floor in the morning.  
Make the grates of wood so you don't burn your tootsies.

And make them closeable. Otherwise you are mostly just diminishing  
downstairs heat.

Btw, the upstairs floor may be your best place to keep sweet potatoes.