Post by tardis on Jan 24, 2012 9:56:34 GMT -8
So- my partner and I are planning a major addition to her tiny off-grid house. While almost tripling the floorspace, our little place will be in the 600ft2 range (I said it was small, right?). It's currently a 200 ft first floor with a small sleeping loft. The addition will be a two story cube tacked onto the side.
RSMH have been on our radar for a few years now and we've decided to attempt to make one the primary heating system for our new home. I wanted to run a few things by the collective, and hopefully get a little more info on a few ideas I've had. Any information or tips on constructing a space with a RSMH in mind would also be super helpful.
We're in Northern New York (Basically Canada), Hardiness Zone 3. We hit -20F a couple times this year, and sustained sub-zero temps happen a few times a season.
1) The plan right now is a frost-protected shallow foundation, finishing it, and making it into a nice concrete floor. The idea is to incorporate the floor as a part of the thermal mass. One person has suggested an in-floor heating system of copper pipe coiled around the stovepipe, pumping glycol. I have no experience with in-floor heating, but it does seem like a good way of linking the mass of the bench and the foundation, but I wonder if this would cool the flue gasses too much, or simply prove too costly and headachey for such a small space. Any experience on these matters?
2) What are people's experiences with heating the rooms above a RSMH? The master bedroom will be directly above the stove and bench. Should we plan on building some mass up to the second floor (Please tell me "no". I prefer simplicity, though my lady prefers not freezing to death.)
3) Ventilation sounds like a lovely idea, and it would be nice to give the stove a source of outside air to burn, rather than sucking it through the tiny holes in the house. I was thinking some kind of piping going outside, running into the cob mass, rising vertically while the air is being warmed and circulate some fresh air into the house while providing the stove with all the air it needs. Good idea? Concerns? Specs/resources?
5) What are other people's experience with cold climates and rocket stoves? Thoughts about size of system, with consideration for R-ratings?
4) At present our goal is heating, and going the simple route for our first stove seems like the best idea, but in the future it would be nice to incorporate water heating and cooking, probably in separate stoves with a shared stack, making as efficient use of space as possible. With this in mind, are there any design elements we can incorporate now that would make this process easier in the future?
The plan is to break ground this spring, and start with the stove construction as soon as the framing and roofing are complete. Expect some pictures! Thanks!
C
RSMH have been on our radar for a few years now and we've decided to attempt to make one the primary heating system for our new home. I wanted to run a few things by the collective, and hopefully get a little more info on a few ideas I've had. Any information or tips on constructing a space with a RSMH in mind would also be super helpful.
We're in Northern New York (Basically Canada), Hardiness Zone 3. We hit -20F a couple times this year, and sustained sub-zero temps happen a few times a season.
1) The plan right now is a frost-protected shallow foundation, finishing it, and making it into a nice concrete floor. The idea is to incorporate the floor as a part of the thermal mass. One person has suggested an in-floor heating system of copper pipe coiled around the stovepipe, pumping glycol. I have no experience with in-floor heating, but it does seem like a good way of linking the mass of the bench and the foundation, but I wonder if this would cool the flue gasses too much, or simply prove too costly and headachey for such a small space. Any experience on these matters?
2) What are people's experiences with heating the rooms above a RSMH? The master bedroom will be directly above the stove and bench. Should we plan on building some mass up to the second floor (Please tell me "no". I prefer simplicity, though my lady prefers not freezing to death.)
3) Ventilation sounds like a lovely idea, and it would be nice to give the stove a source of outside air to burn, rather than sucking it through the tiny holes in the house. I was thinking some kind of piping going outside, running into the cob mass, rising vertically while the air is being warmed and circulate some fresh air into the house while providing the stove with all the air it needs. Good idea? Concerns? Specs/resources?
5) What are other people's experience with cold climates and rocket stoves? Thoughts about size of system, with consideration for R-ratings?
4) At present our goal is heating, and going the simple route for our first stove seems like the best idea, but in the future it would be nice to incorporate water heating and cooking, probably in separate stoves with a shared stack, making as efficient use of space as possible. With this in mind, are there any design elements we can incorporate now that would make this process easier in the future?
The plan is to break ground this spring, and start with the stove construction as soon as the framing and roofing are complete. Expect some pictures! Thanks!
C