Brooke Dryden

If it helps to clarify anything, the chimney is 4’ and is triple wall insulated. It just looks short because it’s at the back of the roof, and the other one for the furnace is at the front of the roof. Maybe this pic is better. My roof is flat.

Thank you so much everyone. I definitely did not load it from the front, I loaded the sticks from the top of the J box, but there was very little “suck” at the flames and so the flames were burning straight up towards my living room ceiling like an indoor campfire, sparks and all.  So I shoved the sticks down flat at that point and into the bottom of the J.

And if anyone wants to come get it, I paid a good bit of money for it and it is very well made, and I don’t want it to go to waste… you are welcome to come get it.  But it weighs 350 lbs.  I had it made by a guy in Ohio and I’m in Colorado, so it’s not getting sent back. So if you know what you’re doing and you’re willing to work with it’s design and fix it, you are welcome to it.  I am sad and I don’t want it to go to waste.

Here are some screen shots off the video, before and after the reversal.

There were about two sticks of wood in the wood area. Very small pieces, split.

The top of the barrel was hot, and the sides weren’t hot.

Hi guys and thank you all for your responses.  I’m going to try to answer everything. The wood was super dry, so dry for so many years that it was almost feather light.  I think this was the guy who built it’s first time with this design. It is lovely craftsmanship, but maybe there is a design flaw as suggested. He has built them before but as pellet stoves so the design was very different. The hole out the side of the 55 gallon drum is 5”, and I needed to connect it to 6” pipe, so the connector that comes out goes from 5” to 6”, so it’s going from smaller to bigger.  I wish you guys could see the videos but I can’t post them on here but they are on my Facebook if you have it, mine is Brooke Dryden, you can find me if you want to see the smoke video it’s crazy 😂.

I really believed in the rocket mass heater. I really believed in it!! I read and researched all about it.  I had it fabricated in Ohio and sent here. The concept is genius.  And I worked so fucking hard on the hearth and the chimney and making it all come together.  

The rocket mass heater worked ok when the fire was lit, although it didn’t seem to be having the “rocket” draw or rocket noise from “the suck” at all, but the smoke was going up the chimney.  But then the fire went out and the smoke reversed and began to POUR into the house.  There was smoke everywhere and I couldn’t see, it was burning my eyes.  

I called Hopper, he lives close and is a fireman.  He came right over.  He said it would be good to have the whole fire department come because they could remove the smoke, and they did! But I was resistant to the idea at first because I was picturing toxic foam sprayed on everything, and not being allowed to go back into the house.  

But they came and they didn’t use anything toxic, and they got rid of the smoke, and they put out the smoking remains.  And they went up on the roof and checked out my chimney with a infrared heat camera and said all looked good! I am so very thankful…to Hopper and the entire crew…there were SO MANY!!!

I am heartbroken and disillusioned about the rocket mass heater.  And also it wasn’t cheap and now I’ll need to buy a “regular” wood stove.  I guess I’m just really sad, not just for wasting money on it, but because I really wanted it to work.  But I’ve lived with a normal wood stove for the last 30 years, so it’ll be fine.

I’m thankful that everything is ok.  I smell like a fucking pit barbecue.

I am a single mom with a full time job and two little kids.  I listen to a lot of the podcasts, so I know that often times, people go to a jamboree and tweak and fine tune RMH’s for days. That is not the kind of time that single working moms have.  It also could be user error, but I don’t have anyone here to ask that even knows WTF a RMH is…the firemen were mystified…never seen one. I will upload all video and pics that I have if you guys want to look.

I am just sitting here crying because it cost me a lot of time and money. And I REALLY wanted it to work.

Nevermind, it won’t let me upload any video.

Yes, I have 2 55 gallon rainwater barrels, and one 310 gallon.  Each collects from a greenhouse or shed roof.  They are put away for winter now because if they freeze when it’s below zero, they could crack.

Oops sorry, I don’t have $200 to chip in right now, but I do love the idea!