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Tent in a high tunnel with wood burning stove

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posted 3 months ago

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My friend is living in a year round tent on an 11 acre pasture from her family and is gradually building a homestead. She was donated a high tunnel and I suggested that she put her tent inside the tunnel for the winter, since last winter was so cold that the mini wood burning stove couldn't stay stoked enough to get much sleep. She got a little bigger stove and we're working out details for the chimney without melting the plastic but has anyone experienced this? You can see the tent inside and we're setting up the stove chimney.

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R Scott

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Location: Tennessee 7b

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posted 3 months ago

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Glad to see you are using proper insulated chimney. One possible issue I see (not sure, hard to tell from the photos) is your horizontal run inside the tunnel may be a little high—too close to the peak plastic. I would add a metal heat shield between the plastic and that pipe. It can be a scrap of metal siding, just something to block the radiant heat from going directly to the plastic.

Humidity/condensation control is a learning curve. Don’t be afraid to open vents even when it’s cold, it’s better to be cold and dry than cool and wet.

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John F Dean

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posted 3 months ago

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I installed a wood burning stove in my high tunnel by buiding a concrete block L cove for it. The pipe stays 4’ away from the plastic … and even then the high tunnel is protected by a sheet of plywood. I have a screened chimney cap to deal with any stray sparks.

I learn from the mistakes of others who take my advice.

Jay Angler

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posted 3 months ago

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The issue I see is the lack of thermal mass to help smooth temperature changes. Buckets of water, dirt, rocks/gravel, stacked used bricks placed so they will absorb some of the winter sun or woodstove heat, and give it off gradually when the sun sets or fire goes out, will improve the comfort a lot.

I also suggest for extra safety, you get appropriate battery sensors - smoke detector and Carbon monoxide detector are the two common ones I see in tent trailers, but there may be others nowadays.

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craig howard

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posted 3 months ago

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I have a chimney cap just like that.
I used to put a screen on the inside, lining the pipe.
But it kept getting clogged.
Now I put the screen in the area around the central pipe but still inside the cap.
Larger surface area keeps it from clogging and the wind hits it so on windy days some of the build-up gets knocked off.
Also keeps birds from nesting there or curious birds from falling down the chimney.

Pics from the inside are next right?

John F Dean

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posted 3 months ago

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Regarding venting, I have installed older metal storm windows at each end of my high tunnel. It gives me a little better control in the venting process than only having the option of raising the skirting.

I learn from the mistakes of others who take my advice.

C. Letellier

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posted 3 months ago

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Mass, mass, phase change mass.

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John F Dean

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posted 3 months ago

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Regarding the plastic going to the ground, I have a wainscoting of old boards about a foot high going around the outside. It provides substantial protection from animals, lawnmowers, weed wackers, etc. I attached it to the metal frame. In hindsight, I am wondering if I should have driven in wooden stakes and attached the boards to those. This would have made it easier to tuck the plastic all the way to the ground behind the boards.

I learn from the mistakes of others who take my advice.

Charolett Knapic

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posted 3 months ago

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R Scott wrote:Glad to see you are using proper insulated chimney. One possible issue I see (not sure, hard to tell from the photos) is your horizontal run inside the tunnel may be a little high—too close to the peak plastic. I would add a metal heat shield between the plastic and that pipe. It can be a scrap of metal siding, just something to block the radiant heat from going directly to the plastic.

Yes, thank you! We've been thinking about that too. Instructions said to leave 2' and we are a little closer even than that.

Charolett Knapic

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posted 3 months ago

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craig howard wrote:I have a chimney cap just like that.

Pics from the inside are next right?

Thanks for the screening experience!
Here are a couple of photos from inside the tent.

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Charolett Knapic

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posted 3 months ago

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John F Dean wrote:Regarding the plastic going to the ground, I have a wainscoting of old boards about a foot high going around the outside. It provides substantial protection from animals, lawnmowers, weed wackers, etc. I attached it to the metal frame. In hindsight, I am wondering if I should have driven in wooden stakes and attached the boards to those. This would have made it easier to tuck the plastic all the way to the ground behind the boards.

Good idea, John. We've been wondering what to do to prevent cat and goat damages. I think we need to do something similar. Thank you!

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