What's it like to live with a RMH in your home, as your primary heat source?

I"m very keen on the rmh from what I've read. But before I plan my house, I'd love to know all the ins and outs of living with one year-round. I've read lots of posts and watched lots of vids, but can only piece together some few facts about living with one.

Will anyone be kind enough to enthuse and grumble a little so the rest of us know what we're getting into?

Some questions: When do you light your Rmh and do you need a full 6-8 hours? Do you feed it several times an hour or only once? Is the bench so nice that once you sit on it you don't want to get off except for food and to let the cat in? Do you often spend the night on it because it loves you more than your bed does? Do you stroke the cob and wonder how you could ever be so lucky as to live like this?

Does it warn you when it needs feeding? Do you have to react immediately to its needs or do you have time to wipe your hands or finish washing the dishes? Do you have to explain it to every numbskull who walks through the door and do they understand or just look askance at you as they silently put you in the "nothing in common' category?

Do you strive to find branches to feed it and dread having to chop logs into sticks? Do you wonder why anyone would bother with a wood stove when the rmh seems so superior in safety and economy?

Do you find your rmh has flaws in it that you've learned to live with because rebuilding it would take so much effort? and that you might not put it together again any better than the first attempt?

JUst wondering about these beasts because I did come to realize recently that it would be an adjustment from the wood stove we now use as our only source of heat. (We need quite a bit of wood and kindling and we Always get smoke.)

-GraceB

Grace Birdie : Look in the Forum Thread list for the video '' Two more Working Mass Heaters - - - - - '', This will give you a little more information direct from
the mouths of people like yourself who had no special knowledge of Rocket Mass Heaters R.M.H.s before being blessed with them, other than regular experience with
a wood stove !

Watch them, and come back here with your (generalized) location and I am sure that someone will try to fairly answer your questions. I must say that on 1st read,
it seems that you really only want us to tell you the 'good things ' about R.M.H.s .

Welcome to Permies, and a Big Welcome to the Permies Rocket and Wood Stove heater Forum Threads, If there is a R.M.H. in your future you have come to the right
place ! For the good of the Craft .

Think like fire, flow like a gas, Don't be the Marshmallow! As always, questions / comments are solicited and Welcome PYRO - Logically BIG AL !