Wood Heat Thread ~ post pics

Stoves with a secondary combustion burn meet efficiency standards more economically w/o an expense of the cat. And then there is the time involved with keeping the cat clean! UGG

 

Yes and no; the secondary burn systems on newer stoves run cleaner because they're burning the smoke that would otherwise just go up the chimney. Burning the smoke produces more heat, so they run cleaner and produce more BTU's per cord than a traditional stove would.

Very true. Secondary combustion stoves (with the reburn tubes) do meet the EPA standards without the expense of a catalytic combuster. My Hearthstone does a great job of heating the house without a cat, for instance. But from what I've read, all other factors (wood species, proper seasoning, air supply, etc) being equal, a catalytic stove is roughly 5%-10% more efficient than a stove using reburn tubes, when it's used properly.

 

7 or so years ago I had one of those (as I call them) "potbelly stoves" for my detached garage. I actually got for $25.00 at a auction in the middle of July (it was 95F). I think people were so hot that day, they got turned off by the idea of a woodstove of any knd.
Back to the point- while the stove put a good amount of heat -it was FAR from airtight. Also it was finnicky as far as holding a fire for very long. Once my son-in-law put waaay to much really dry wood in it It was about to glow red - after I got it calmed down -I decided to get something else ASAP
I sold the pot belly for $200.00 to a collector and found a used little Timberline for $40.00.
The timberline has been superb and very easy to regulate.
You are to be admired for using and working with you have there. You have a lot of patience/perseverance!
Good luck with it -- just keep people who think they "know-it-all" away from your potbelly!

 

Yeah, they are not "high efficiency" by any means. If you add a "Magic Heat" to reclaim chimney losses they are pretty good though.

As far as air tight, mine has numerous leaks. However, you can keep the damper set to where those gaps are always drawing in air and no smoke escapes. My Dad, brother-in-law, and I all burn wood stoves in our garage and have never had any issues with over heating them.

BTW, I am in the process of installing a furnace in my garage. A friend owns HVAC business and he pulls <10 yr old units all the time as people upgrade home units for efficiency gains and to take advantage of incentives/rebates. Plan is to maintain about 45-50 degree temp and supplement with wood. Not in a hurry though. I live in an area where the local utility company has some of the highest rates in the US. Good lobbyist have helped them become owners of the state utility regulatory commissioners.

 

Ya I don't believe they make any non-catalytic stoves. I've got 4 trouble free seasons out of mine so far, but I only use very seasoned wood.

 

Great idea- I really don't know how our NG and Electric rates compare to other areas -- are there stats for this somewhere.
You've got a friend in HVAC -- not trying to one up you , but I have a son in the trade. Like your friend -- he gets good ones on take-outs now and then. He used to sell them as used ones , but -no more - despite that he told the buyer that they were used -people were mad when they went out within a couple of years. He does not sell them that way anymore. People nowadays!!??

 

Oh and BTW -- I would probably do the same except some dummy (ME) did not leave a un paved path to extend my NG line to my garage. when I get too old and tired of fooling with wood -- I may have him save me a propane furnace -or buy a new small one. I am lucky as I get all of my HVAC stuff thru him at cost.

 

I got lucky as previous owner, who had the the bldg put up, installed the gas service from the main in the road. He just never ran it inside the bldg. Unfortunately, I suspect his niece who still lives next door and was a lineman for the utility, may have pulled favors to get it installed, because...:

On my initial inquiry I was told only one gas meter per property deed. Basically, it is the utility being used to ensure only one residence per parcel of land. However, I have already found several properties with bldgs newer than mine with meters on the garages. So, I plan to approach them more forcefully before I run an new line from my house.

 

We supplement with a small propane heater in the kitchen end of the cabin. 250 gallon propane tank, kept as much as 40 - 60% full.
That little heater can put out some warmth.

 

We had a Vt Castings stove for many many years. Replaced the catalytic combustor once. Didn’t really notice a difference. Replaced it with a Jotul a couple of years ago.

There is no comparison, even remotely. The Jotul is far more efficient, far cleaner, far less polluting. We used to fill the neighborhood with the lovely aroma of burning wood. Now you’d not even know we burned wood except for the stacks of the stuff outside the house. There is almost no smoke and there is no smell. It all gets turned into heat.

 

We only have smoke rarely. Like when getting it up to temp for the combustor.

 

Here is my wood stove in my shop

 

This never ending string of winter storms has forced me to create a firewood drying rack in my utility room.

 

Getting started on the late season refresh with a cord of nicely seasoned deadfall madrona. Feels like summer today but it ain't over til it's over.

 

I like your taste in splitting mauls.

 

Thanks, that's the splitting axe, it's paid for itself many times over.

 

And then this happened...better get started I guess.

 

Sweeeeet.

Mine's still buried under 2 feet of snow
With the weather we're having here lately, it'll probably be a while before I can start sectioning it up to stove length...

 

90% green oak. Definitely rubbing the overload spring contact padding.

 

May have ended stove use for the season yesterday.