Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

ConcernedCanuk

(13,509 posts)
Mon Oct 28, 2013, 08:32 AM Oct 2013

Hot water from wood heat ideas

.
.
.





I have friends who have a large factory built cook-stove with pipes inside the firebox just for that purpose.

They save alot of wood by having the 60 gallon tank hooked permanently to the cook stove.

Their tank is not insulated, on purpose.

When the fire goes out during the night, the tank radiates heat well into the daytime.

They have an enclosed porch outside their door, all screened in for hot water and cooking in the summer time.

Add to this thread for others if you please.

CC

5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Hot water from wood heat ideas (Original Post) ConcernedCanuk Oct 2013 OP
You might want to talk about a pressure relief valve.... catnhatnh Oct 2013 #1
These are on gravity fed systems, no need for pressure relief valves. ConcernedCanuk Oct 2013 #2
That is a good idea. Curmudgeoness Oct 2013 #3
We are building a Rocket Stove for our greenhouse PuraVidaDreamin Nov 2013 #4
Second photo BobUp Dec 2013 #5
 

ConcernedCanuk

(13,509 posts)
2. These are on gravity fed systems, no need for pressure relief valves.
Mon Oct 28, 2013, 12:32 PM
Oct 2013

.
.
.

A gravity fed system has no check valves, no pumps, no foot-valves like a well.

When the water expands, it simply backs up to ones resevoir, be it an above or below ground tank.

These tanks simply have a vent - to allow the water in (it has to displace the air so a sealed system will not work on gravity-fed systems), and then the air in to allow the water to flow to it's destination.

My neighbors/friends DO have a well with a foot valve, but it merely fills the vented reservoir, which is buried in the ground below frost level, but well above the well level, so they pump up from the well to the reservoir/tank which is 30 feet above the house discharge level, giving them 10# of pressure at the house(each 3 foot lift gives you 1# water pressure).

Here's a link to the first picture's website - as you can see, this is in a trailer, so definitely not hooked up to a pressurized system.

Look closely, you will see a rain gutter/eavestrough on the back side of the trailer's roof - I suspect they catch rainwater - doubt they haul it up on that bicycle.

http://tinyhouseswoon.com/teach-nollaig-tiny-house/

BUT - in response your concern -

IF HOOKING UP TO A SEALED/PRESSURIZED SYSTEM, A PRESSURE/TEMPERATURE RELIEF VALVE IS A MUST.

CC

ps: - I doubt most municipalities or insurance companies would cover or allow the above installations.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
3. That is a good idea.
Mon Oct 28, 2013, 07:22 PM
Oct 2013

I can see how the heated water tank would produce additional heat. I love innovative ideas like this, even if I don't have the right house or setup for it to work in my house.

I am passing this on to a friend who is in the process of building a straw bale house because she may be able to incorporation something like this in her plans.

BobUp

(347 posts)
5. Second photo
Tue Dec 31, 2013, 03:07 PM
Dec 2013

looks like an old water tank from a water well system. I bought one of those made into a wood burner years ago from my wifey's uncle, and I installed it using triple wall stainless steel vent pipe.

To take this a step further, one could have welded brackets to the top and placed another water tank with pressurized water in and hot water out, not only would one have hot water, but the heat retention of the water would keep heating the structure long after the fire in the lower stove went out.

I've seen double barrel stoves too, made out of 55 gallon barrels.

Latest Discussions»Support Forums»Frugal and Energy Efficient Living»Hot water from wood heat ...