Can a rocket mass heater be used indoors?

A rocket mass heater can be used indoors, as long as it is vented to the outdoors through a reliable ducting system. A poorly designed or assembled rocket mass heater can “smoke-back” into the room, providing a serious risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Indoor rocket mass heaters are a comfortable and efficient wood-burning home heating system.

What kind of materials can be fed into a rocket mass heater?

A rocket mass heater can burn wood, wood pellets, and sometimes (but not usually) charcoal. Most rocket mass heaters are designed and approved to burn wood, so it is not recommended you burn other forms of biomass before consulting with your manufacturer or a skilled professional.

How hot will a rocket mass heater get?

The average heat range of a rocket mass heater is about 600-800°F (425°C) while some burn as hot as 1,200°F (648°C).

Do rocket mass heaters produce smoke?

Rocket mass heaters don’t release much smoke as they use most of the fuel ends up as heat. A properly built rocket mass heater will exhaust any smoke and carbon dioxide through the chimney to the outside. A common problem with some configurations is “smoke-back” where smoke is released back into the interior of the home, causing a serious danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. This issue is either a result of poor stove design or an error with assembly.

Are rocket mass heaters efficient?

Rocket mass heaters are significantly more efficient than traditional wood-burning stoves. Most of the heat in a traditional fireplace escapes out the chimney, while a rocket mass stove absorbs most of the heat through the thermal mass and slowly releases it into the home. A rocket mass heater will use 80% - 90% less wood than a traditional wood stove.

Can a rocket mass heater heat a whole house?

A rocket mass heater can heat an entire house, with some heating homes up to 1,800 sq/ft. Many factors affect the effectiveness of the heat, including your home’s square footage, the tightness of your building envelope (insulation, etc.), your climate’s temperature lows, the location of your heater in the home, and your expectation of room temperature. The main factor that you can control is the amount of thermal mass in your rocket mass heater system. More thermal mass material surrounding the heating chamber and exhaust duct will store more heat and release it slowly into any room it touches. Examples of thermal mass materials are stone, metal, brick, and cob. The exhaust duct can be lengthy and weaving throughout a home, but be mindful of your fuel needs.

How does a rocket mass heater work?

Rocket mass heaters consist of four main components: a feeding chamber, a combustion chamber, a heat storage chamber, and an exhaust duct. The biomass (wood, charcoal, pellets, etc.) is fed through the feeding chamber and burns at extremely high temperatures inside the combustion chamber. The heat rises into the heat storage chamber, where it radiates heat into your home. This chamber, along with the exhaust duct, is often surrounded by thermal mass like bricks or stone to capture, store, and slowly release the heat into your home. The exhaust duct is horizontal, so it vents very slowly, eventually releasing only water vapor, carbon dioxide, and minimum smoke.

Can I insure a home with a rocket mass heater?

It can be challenging to find an insurance company that is willing to write a policy for a home that has a rocket mass heater (RMH). It's important to ensure that local building codes allow for the use of RMH. Secondly, you will want to seek quotes from insurance providers that will cover homes with RMH. As RMH's popularity is very new, building codes and insurance regulations are based on years of data resulting in a slower adoption by building codes and insurance companies.

Do rocket mass heaters produce carbon dioxide?

Rocket mass heaters product less than 2% of the CO2 emissions of natural gas or electric heat.

In-Depth Product Guide

Rocket Mass Heater

FAQs

·Related

A rocket mass heater is a space heating system that uses a highly efficient wood burning rocket stove. Rocket mass heaters are considered a very efficient wood heating method, using 80%-90% less wood fuel than a traditional fireplace.

Rocket mass heaters are an efficient way to heat a home using woody biomass. They are a smart option if you have access to an abundant and affordable supply of wood. Rocket mass heaters work best if the system incorporates a large amount of thermal mass such as metal, stone, brick, or cob. This mass stores heat like a battery, and steadily releases it into the space it is warming. Horizontal exhaust vents, like those used in rocket mass heaters, aren’t compatible with all local building codes, so do your research before buying your building your own. Combustion heat sources like rocket mass heaters produce harmful carbon monoxide, so be sure that it is properly vented to the outdoors.

Rocket mass heaters can reduce the consumption of home heating fuel by 80-90% compared to conventional stoves.

Rocket mass heaters are known for being constructed from very affordable recycled materials. A rocket mass heater can be built for as little as $20 using re-claimed barrels, pipes, bricks, and other materials. There is a prominent DIY community online for curious and handy homeowners

See All Articles and Videos

Tobias Roberts

Last Updated: Jan 19, 2022