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AndrewJ · 02-11-2008, 08:40 PM

I've just finished reading a book on the topic of home heating. "Natural Home Heating" by Greg Pahl

I think the best idea in the whole book was using masonry heaters. I've long wanted to build a passive solar home, but even then you need a backup heat source. Masonry heaters sound like the best option.

They were invented in Europe after traditional wood-stove use got rid of most all of the usable firewood on the continent. They're essentially a really HEAVY woodstove made of masonry. Most weigh in at 1-10 tons

The great thing about them is that you only fire them up twice each day. You simply burn a load of small wood (even twigs work!) with a lot of air (making a short hot fire) and all that masonry stores and releases the heat throughout the rest of the day.

Unfortunately, with all that weight they require a very solid foundation, and they're apparently pretty tricky to design.

02-11-2008, 08:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
AndrewJ Awesomeness personified Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 642 Harold - '94 Honda Civic CX 90 day: 54.51 mpg (US) Margot - '08 Surly Big Dummy Thanks: 0 Thanked 28 Times in 18 Posts	I've just finished reading a book on the topic of home heating. "Natural Home Heating" by Greg Pahl I think the best idea in the whole book was using masonry heaters. I've long wanted to build a passive solar home, but even then you need a backup heat source. Masonry heaters sound like the best option. They were invented in Europe after traditional wood-stove use got rid of most all of the usable firewood on the continent. They're essentially a really HEAVY woodstove made of masonry. Most weigh in at 1-10 tons The great thing about them is that you only fire them up twice each day. You simply burn a load of small wood (even twigs work!) with a lot of air (making a short hot fire) and all that masonry stores and releases the heat throughout the rest of the day. Unfortunately, with all that weight they require a very solid foundation, and they're apparently pretty tricky to design. __________________ "I got 350 heads on a 305 engine. I get 10 miles to the gallon. I ain't got no good intentions." - The Drive By Truckers.