Is a rocket heater feasible in my basement ?

Hello all, just joined as I have a question.

I’ve been reading up on alternative heating as a fireplace insert is not working for my situation.

I’m not new to heating with wood stoves as it is the primary way I’ve heated the main floor and bedrooms of my brick (walls) and poured concrete (floors/ceiling) home for 30 years, but now that my daughter wants to renovate the basement into a full time apartment, I need a way to adequately heat it from November to March/April  

In the basement, there is already brick lined fireplace built into the north wall, with an added on/external brick lined chimney that goes above the roof line. I estimate the total pipe length is about 40’ ( 6’ underground and 30’+ above) We installed a second wood stove insert, with a fully insulated pipe, there when we first bought the place, and planned to use it as supplemental heating on particularly cold days,  but the draft has always been very poor, causing smoke to billow into the basement when lighting the fire, even with a nearby window opened, and waste builds up very rapidly in the chimney, so much so that it has completely plugged it mid-season. I’ve been told it is because the external chimney is too cold and the smoke from the fires condenses right around ground level.

We pretty much  gave up trying to get it to work properly and haven’t used the insert in 18 years. The basement never freezes, but is certainly not warm enough in the winter to live in 24/7 and we rely on portable radiant or electric  heaters if we need to be down there for any extended amount of time.

PS The north side of our house is VERY sheltered and gets practically no wind. Our neighbours large double garage is 10 feet from the chimney wall, and we’ve  turned this alleyway into a densely planted shade garden.

So, my questions…

Do you think a rocket mass heater is a viable option?

I know they have less smoke, but also less heat, could the existing 40+’ chimney even draw out the exhaust from a RMH?

Could I have a new exhaust hole punched in the existing chimney, closer to the ground, to solve this problem?

Or is there not enough air flow in the area to draw it out?

Thank you

Your situation, as you describe it, sounds very much like my build situation.    I have an old Heatilator fireplace in my basement which I tried to have fires in from time to time, with a bit more smoke back than I cared for.  After deciding to convert it into a Dragon, I discovered it had a broken flue damper.  After removing that damper, I discovered I had lots of draft that I didn't before.  Is there perhaps a problem with the damper in your insert?

You mention your chimney is on the north wall.  Anything you can do to insulate that chimney will help you.  I've seen people in my area cover their chimney's with foam board and stucco.  It looks good and is very effective.  Something to think about.

Also, the water content of your wood will have a lot to say about at what point it may want to condense on it's way up the chimney.    Another concern I have is the potential for any obstructions in the chimney.  We've had folks neglect to clean rodent screens of debris which led to their Dragon's behaving in all sorts of undesirable ways.  Must start with a clean flue path.

Other's will chime in soon.  I hope these ideas give you something to go on.

Good luck, and no.  I wouldn't give up if I were you.

You say "fully insulated pipe" for the second wood stove insert; does that mean up the chimney, or just a connector? If the insulated pipe goes all the way up and you still get poor draft, there is some external issue, either from surrounding terrain and buildings or from the house competing with this chimney as a draft route. If the house is seriously competing, that means there are lots of gaps or holes in the upper floor envelope which need to be found and sealed.

That's a great observation Glenn.  Eliminating as much of that unwanted airflow is the first step in controlling your temperature envelope.  Even if you can't insulate everything.  Make sure all those holes are plugged or caulked.

I wonder if you so radiant floor heating, with PEX piping and your hotwater tank?
How do you currently heat your hot water?