Masonry Heaters: A Bit of a History
Comments on my Summer Project List Progress post expressed an interest in our masonry heat stove project. In the US (Canada too?) we are probably more familiar with either fireplaces or what we call a wood stove, which is a cast iron box with a chimney sticking out the top. Masonry type heaters, on the other hand, is more popular in other parts of the world.
The technology for this method of heating is quite ancient. Wikipedia reckons there were forerunners of it as early as 5000 BC. The gist of the masonry stove is that they are designed to retain heat for as long as possible. This is basically accomplished by two things. One is an indirect pathway for the heat and smoke. The second is a thermal mass, which is basically something to retain the heat so that it radiates slowly to the house. Commonly, it’s an empty box. Something like this . . .
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Lucien Clem, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons |
Because it retains and radiates heat so well, a masonry heater typically only needs a fire twice a day. You can see how this would save on wood. There are many styles to accomplish this, and following are some examples.
This one is a typical Eurpoean Kachelofen (tiled stove). Usually these are quite huge and ornate.
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CC BY 2.0, Werner Kratz, via Wikimedia Commons |
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CC BY-SA 3.0, Alex South, via Wikimedia Commons |
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Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons |
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Yoshi Canopus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
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Derrick Parker, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Lots of interesting examples at permies.com. |
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Source: Rocket Mass Heaters by Ianto Evans and Lesile Jackson. Click to enlarge |
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Waroomniet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
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Credit: Ernie and Erica Wisner. |
Source: https://www.5acresandadream.com/2024/08/masonry-heaters-bit-of-history.html
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Ancient old world technology. The Russian frontiersmen knew how to build these furnaces, and would build the furnace first, then build the house around it. Every old house in rural Russia has one, including the huge, ornate buildings.