By Parry on Feb 17, 2010 in heating, Masonry Heaters | 0 Comments
It would be good, at first, to have an idea of what a masonry heater actually is and what it is not. A masonry heater is the combination of a firebox (built from firebrick-šamott), a series of pathways for the smoke from an intensely hot fire to travel to the chimney (with at least one [...]
By Parry on Dec 30, 2009 in heating, Oven maintenance | 0 Comments
There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is out of concern for the environment. Much of the plastics, magazines or other garbage have been manufactured using toxic chemicals. The burning of these materials releases these toxic chemicals into the environment, sometimes in an even more dangerous form than before. I strictly discourage [...]
By Parry on Dec 22, 2009 in heating, Ovens | 0 Comments
The reason for this is simple. Once the heater is loaded with wood and set afire, the firebox will begin to heat up. And, if built correctly, should continue to heat up to the point at which secondary combustion begins to take place. Secondary combustion is the burning of the gases contained in wood which [...]
By Parry on Dec 13, 2009 in Fire safety, heating, Oven maintenance | 0 Comments
How much is too much? For a large heater, one that heats an entire apartment or 3 or more rooms in a house, no more that about 45 kilos of wood should be burned in a 24 hour period. This amount of wood is usually burned in two cycles, one in the morning, one at [...]
By Parry on Dec 13, 2009 in heating, Ovens | 0 Comments
The wood used in a masonry heater should be dry and seasoned for a number of different reasons. The first one is for concern of the environment. A masonry heater, if built correctly, should burn very efficiently, but this efficiency is only diminished when wet wood is used. When the improper wood is burned, it [...]