posted 1 minute ago
Okay, I've got a question, but it's not so general, so I'll understand if you don't want to use it in the video.
Can a fireplace insert be converted to a rocket mass heater?
There is a building here that has what looks like a fireplace with brick chimney, but seems to be an insert of some sort that's supposed to be used like a regular chimney.. Nobody knows what's up with it, but it appears the real bricks used for the wall around it inside and the chimney itself are a facade to a metal (not cast iron) exhaust tube and enclosure for the wood pile area. It does not seem to have been intended to have glass to enclose the fire. It hasn't been used by anyone here. You can actually see the back of the brick wall inside as it seems the whole thing was built into the corner of a rom and you can see/get to the gap between the curve of the bricks and the corner of the room. You can also see the exhaust tube going up the brick chimney. It is doubtful this was ever a functional brick fireplace, and probably always had the metal insert.
The question is: could this be converted to a rocket mass heater? If so, what would be involved?