MASONRY HEATERS -- AN ENERGY SOLUTION THAT IS KIND TO
THE ENVIRONMENT
A masonry heater
is a different way to heat the home by burning a large charge of wood very
rapidly and cleanly. It stores most of the heat in a large thermal mass of masonry
radiating the heat for the next 24 to 30 hours.
Even though
masonry heaters have been used for centuries in many European countries they
are the space age way of burning wood.
If they were used to heat homes throughout the US it would be a giant step
toward energy independence as well as a major improvement in the environment.
Each year
approximately 12,000 of these efficient heaters are built in Finland compared
with approximately 650,000 fireplaces built in the US and Canada of which only
a tiny percentage are even remotely efficient resulting in air quality
problems.
BENEFITS TO THE
ENVIRONMENT
Masonry heaters
are made of reusable materials including bricks and various types of stone.
They are low maintenance and have a long lifecycle compared to woodstoves. They
burn the combustion gases and particulate making them CO2 neutral. In Denmark
all stoves are required to burn with a carbon dioxide neutral emission. (This
means stoves must not produce any more carbon dioxide than if the wood were allowed
to rot in the forest). This helps to reduce greenhouse gases thereby lessening
global warming. The combustion is so complete that you get only a vapor from
the chimney similar to that of natural gas.
These heaters are
extremely efficient burning about 60% as much wood as a woodstove to heat the
same space. Older woodstoves and open fireplaces are a major source of
pollution wasting tons of our valuable wood resources, sending most of the heat
up the chimney and spewing tons of particulate into the environment due to
incomplete combustion of the wood.
Masonry heaters
burn firewood a renewable fuel that is available in vast amounts. Firewood can
provide an economic boost by providing extra cash income for farmers and
landowners. Firewood is obtainable locally so fuel for transportation is also
reduced. There is little environmental
impact when sustainable growing practices are used.
Masonry heaters can also include a bake
oven for cooking and baking and a hot water coil for heating domestic hot water.
This can result in further savings of gas or electric during the winter months.
SAFETY
The safety of
masonry heaters cannot be overemphasized. They are safer than open fireplaces,
woodstoves, or even oil or natural gas heaters which can be a fire or explosion
hazard. The danger of chimney fires is eliminated because they produce no
creosote buildup and the tiny amount of fly ash can be swept out occasionally.
Woodstoves must
burn 24 hours and are often left unattended when asleep or away. The outside
temperature of the stove can reach 600 or 700 degrees F which can cause severe
burns and can ignite combustibles. They also produce much creosote when the
damper is turned down for a long burn.
A masonry heater is
never a fire hazard and can be located up to 4 inches from combustible walls.
It burns hot and clean for about 2 hours, but the outside surface temperature
only reaches approximately 140 to 160 degrees F which cannot ignite
combustibles or cause severe burns. The internal contra-flow design captures
and stores heat in thousands of pounds of masonry and heats for 24 to 30 hours
without a fire.
Insurance companies should encourage the use of masonry heaters for fire
safety.
COMFORT
What a peaceful
sleep knowing there is no unattended fire burning while you are asleep. It is
wonderful to wake up to a warm comfortable home in the morning and not have to
struggle trying to bring a woodstove back to life. Since masonry heaters use
outside air, they effectively isolate the living space and provide longwave
radiant heating for a healthy indoor environment (Outside air is now mandatory
in most states).
Radiant heat does
not circulate dust or dry the air like hot air systems.
A short fire
(about 2 hours) every 24 hours can provide continuous heat.
In warmer
climates, or in Spring and Fall, to take the chill off, smaller charges of wood
are still burned fast and clean.
Masonry heaters
operate without any electricity so with a bakeoven and/or a hot water coil they
can provide heat, hot water and cooking during power outages for additional
peace of mind.
Masonry heaters
are efficient in both the coldest northern as well as the warmer southern climates
and they complement modern energy efficient housing. While the initial cost is high, the long term fuel efficiency and
benefits to our health and the environment make it a reasonable investment. In
addition to all the other positive benefits including safety and efficiency, a
masonry heater is a beautiful complement to any home.
Note: These
heaters must be constructed by a trained and experienced heater mason.
Prepared by: Raymond D. Williams
P.O. Box 1943
Binghamton, NY 13902-1943
Email: osmia1@echoes.net
Additional
information and pictures can be found on the following websites:
http://www.mha-net.org/html/gallery.htm
http://www.virginiaradiant.com/products.html
http://www.mha-net.org/html/mall.htm
http://www.pyromasse.com/portfolio1f.html