Woodstove Heat Exchanger

ADSR · May 9, 2013

Was sent this in my email.

Looks pretty damn good! Will be adding this to my wood stove for sure!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Woodstove-Heat-Exchanger/?ALLSTEPS

koditten · May 9, 2013

They work pretty good. Just remember that they cool the exhaust pretty fast. Be religious about cleaning the chimney yearly. The creosote will build up faster with a cooler chimney.

If you are good about taking the stack apart yearly and brushing it, then these things are worth it.

NUTTSGT · May 9, 2013

It a good idea but I would watch out for a possible build up of creosote on the inside. Using this heat exchanger may draw enough heat out of the chimney to cause a problem.

EDIT; I was reading the link while Koditten was posting.

Jackfre · May 9, 2013

I have done a lot of this type thing on wood stoves back in the 70's. Usually for DHW. I used to build them. With the efficiency of todays wood stoves, to me it is just not worth doing. Burn good seasoned wood properly and don't mess with your chimney. Whatever leaves the appliance is needed to drive the draft.

I have been the manuf rep for Metalbestos, Dura-Vent and Z-Flex. Keep in mind, I only got to see the catastrophes, but I saw substantial number of jobs where the flue gas temp was reduced to "get the very most out of the wood". It is simply not worth doing....imho.

Also, check with your homeowners policy. You are playing with fire and in my experience, insurance companies love to "pin the tail on the donkey".

trbomax · May 9, 2013

They pull so much heat out of your stack that you will get a creosote ring at the weather cap that will eventually plug your chiminy. Your draft will also be seriously comprimised. I have tried a couple different models of them over the years and always ended up takeing them off and haveing to brush out the chiminy halfway thru the winter,always when you dont want to be up on a snow covered roof pushing a brush thru. I actually have a Magic Heat 8" unit that was only used about a month before I had to take it off.Its free to anyone that wants to come get it.

Rigpig · May 10, 2013

That's a cool idea! We did something similar a few years ago with sched.40 pipe/elbows welded in a zigzag pattern on the bottom of the fireplace with a fan on one end and it was amazing the amount of heat we got out of it!
Cheers!

walrus · May 12, 2013

Go to www.hearth.com and post that you think that thing is a great idea, the flaming will be hotter than your woodstove :lol_hitti

5lima30 · May 12, 2013

Jackfre said:
I have done a lot of this type thing on wood stoves back in the 70's. Usually for DHW. I used to build them. With the efficiency of todays wood stoves, to me it is just not worth doing. Burn good seasoned wood properly and don't mess with your chimney. Whatever leaves the appliance is needed to drive the draft.

IAlso, check with your homeowners policy. You are playing with fire and in my experience, insurance companies love to "pin the tail on the donkey".

^^^THIS!^^^. Some of the newer woodstove manufactures reccomend not using these devices.

Highbeam · May 12, 2013

walrus said:
Go to www.hearth.com and post that you think that thing is a great idea, the flaming will be hotter than your woodstove

I'm a big hearth.com guy too and while I like the creativity, this is a stupid idea for a modern stove.

Old stoves, well, maybe but the risk is high.

If you need more heat, get a bigger stove or wood furnace that are designed to work with an unobstructed flue.

Woodstove Heat Exchanger

ADSR

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koditten

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NUTTSGT

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Jackfre

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trbomax

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Rigpig

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walrus

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5lima30

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Highbeam

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