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| The Masonry Heater almost finished |
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Although this may look like a fireplace it is not. This is a Masonry Heater that was designed over 300 years ago yet is more efficient and less polluting than the vast majority of heating systems used in modern houses today.
In the 17th century the kings of Prussia, Sweden, Norway and Denmark commissioned their craftsman and architects to produce a better wood heating system to lessen the energy crisis that was upon them. This concerted effort and the added incentive of freezing to death produced radically new heat-storing masonry heater designs, which showed enormous improvement in efficiency and corresponding wood conservation. Many of these designs survived and are still in use today in countries such as Sweden, Austria, Finland and Germany.
Masonry stoves are still in widespread use throughout northern Europe and are highly regarded for their excellent heating abilities, safety features and environmentally positive aspects. Notably, the Finnish government encourages the use of masonry heaters through tax incentives, to reduce the use of natural gas, oil and electricity. The result is that 90% of the new homes built each year in Finland are heated with a masonry stove.
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| This is the Masonry Heater almost completed |
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Essentially the masonry heater is a large heat sink that radiates an even heat that warms the solid objects in the home, such as walls, floors and furniture versus heating the air. The concept is to burn a fast hot fire around 1500 degrees which will last about three hours and then be allowed to go out. The high temperature allows the stove to burn not only the wood but the gases as well.
The wood gases do not go directly up the chimney like most wood stoves and fireplaces but enter multiple channels and traverse up the stone mass then back down and in this design through a number of stone benches and then back up the stone mass again to exit the chimney. By the time the gases exit the chimney the temperature is nominal. The high temperature gases heat the stone mass and benches and radiates it back to the space slowly and evenly for many hours.
One can stand next to or sit against the heater when it is at its maximum surface temperature, a moderate 200 degrees. It will not cause burns if accidentally touched, making it safe for children. In the middle of a New Hampshire winter lighting the stove twice a day is all that is needed.
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Radiant heat is distributed more evenly than convection heat. It does not dry the air or circulate dust particles. Since heating continues after the fire is out, one can leave the home without concern for an untended fire. Since the main room of the Barn House is over 30 feet high the radiant heat eliminates the heat stratification that a conventional forced hot air system would produce.
EPA monitored tests show that the high burn temperature results in very clean combustion with significant reductions in particulate emissions compared to EPA certified Phase II catalytic and non-catalytic woodstoves. Certified woodstoves must meet a 7 gram per hour particulate emission rate. Masonry stoves emit 1-2 grams per hour. This minimum hourly emmission and the fire only burns for a few hours per day versus burning most of the day with other heating systems.
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| Supporting foundation in the Lower Level |
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Because of the weight of the stove it must be adequately supported by a proper base if the stove is built above a basement. The base is built with concrete block and has an ash storage compartment and combustion air channel incorporated in it. The base is built roughly the same size as the stove above. Support for hearth extensions can be cantilevered beyond the edge of the block when the capping slab on top of the base block is poured.
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| Aug 17 2006 initial drawing rendition of Masonry Stove |
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| August 17 rendition of schematic |
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| Masonry Fireplace Schematic |
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| Soapstone Bench Sketch for bedrooms |
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| This is an example of the soapstone that will be used on the shelves on the stove and on the benches that will be in the bedrooms |
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The soapstone example above is used for the shelving and the backside of the stove that heats both the main floor master bedroom and the second floor bedroom. All the other stone used in the masonry heater came from the property and was picked and shaped by hand.
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| Internal Masonry Structure with Heater Channel |
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| Hearth of Masonry Heater |
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| Back part of heater in Master Bedroom showing heater channel |
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| Back part of heater in Master Bedroom with soapstone outer cover |
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| Backside of heater on second floor bedroom showing heater channel |
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| Backside of heater on second floor bedroom showing heater channel |
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| All the rocks for the stove came from the property, they are sorted in the middle of the floor |
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| This view from the second floor showing the various flues |
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| Sandy is using the excavator to place the capstone on the top of the chimney |
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| Wood Waiter to transport wood to the second floor |
Wood for the masonry heater will be brought in by tractor into the lower level of the barn house. The wood then be loaded into a Wood Waiter to be lifted into the main floor. The company we used for the wood elevator is Woodwaiter.com.
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| Masonry Heater Craftsmen Website |
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| Go to Thermal Mass Homepage |
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