Heat Your Home and Save Energy With a Super Efficient Wood Buring Rocket Stove
Posted on Jun 14, 2009 - 06:05 PM
By: Brian Liloia
If done responsibly and efficiently, wood heat can keep your home warm without you having to spend hundreds of dollars every month. A rocket stove is a super efficient type of DIY wood stove that can be built using reclaimed and salvaged materials. Rocket stoves typically burn dramatically less wood than typical wood stoves that lose much of their heat right through the chimney. Instead, a rocket stove has a flue pipe that can be run through cob furniture, providing you with a warm sitting surface and the benefit of having stored heat that will dissipate into your living space over an extended length of time.
A basic rocket stove can be built using easily acquired materials, including firebricks, a 55 gallon steel drum, cob (which is a mix of sand, clay, and straw), stove pipe, and a few other simple materials. You can build it yourself using Ianto Evans’ and Leslie Jackson’s Rocket Mass Heaters book as a guide. (Although I must say that it helps to have someone experienced to help, because there are a few construction tricks that may not come easily to novices. But the experience is great!)
The biggest benefit of using a rocket stove is the ability to store heat in the thermal mass of a cob bed or bench. The horizontal run of a flue pipe can directly heat the furniture that you sit on, providing comfortable radiant heat. The heat in this furniture will slowly be released into the room over time, too. This means that you get much more bang for your buck - every bit of energy from the burning wood is efficiently captured. In typical wood stoves, most of the heat goes straight up the chimney, and you do not get any radiant heat benefits.
For more information on how you can build you own super efficient rocket stove heater, check out Rocket Mass Heaters!
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Show/Hide Comments (5)
By Sell Royalties on 11/29/2009
I read your article.Its very useful information for energy saving.Thank for your information.
By cob house on 07/10/2010
Is there anyone from or near Missouri that has ever build a cob home? My fiancee and I are planning to build one next summer. I would like to receive tips on how to build one and possibly get some volunteers!! Any tips you have would be greatly appreciated!!
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By Designer Radiators on 12/23/2010
Timber for fuel remains at a premium for many locations. Yet a huge boiler that takes large timber pieces can be an efficient approach to heating your whole house. There are many ideas available if people are interested.
By Thermostat on 01/17/2011
This seems to be a very effective system. The materials for this Rocket Stove are cheap and the project is perfect for installation in my basement. My gas bill is coming in and the price is absurd! I love this idea! It is eco-friendly, simple and easy to do at home. : )
By wood burning stoves on 01/15/2012
I believe rocket stove has long been used in Romania and is now gaining popularity because of its DIY aspect and its fuel efficiency.
