Having wind issues

Wind is blowing into my flue pipe and putting rock-it out when Im trying to light it

Joe Sylwestrzak : A late welcome to Permies and The Rocket and Wood Stoves Forums.

Along the way you have modified your Build into something while still a Rocket Mass Heater RMH, it is unique enough, and has Had several variables added to it,
to the point that your list of problems can have many Sources ! Generally, if we are asked, we counsel getting the Book * and building a more conventional RMH.

The RMH's creator live in a very stable (west Coast) Micro Climate with very Stable Local Winds for virtually the Whole heating season ! The Houses HE builds are
mostly squat one story <15' button mushroom shaped Structures, designed to promote the advantages of the RMH, and are always vented to the outdoors on the
Lee or Downwind side of the house.

Many people who try to retrofit a Rocket Mass Heater into an existing structure have periods of problems with getting the RMH to Draw when the wind is from a
certain direction, the answer is exactly the same as for a conventional Wood Stove, Exhaust your RMH into a vertical chimney on the lee side of the house, and
extend the Vertical Chimney 5' - 10' above the highest point of your house or its immediate surroundings ! ( Some times a special storm cap is needed! )

Many people find with both the RMH and a 'Wood Stove' that a candle, a twist of newspaper or a Bernzomatic type torch, placed with-in a Clean out in the Base of
the vertical chimney will warm the chimney enough to contract the downward fall of cold air at that location nd then the clean out can be closed and a fire lit in the
RMH in the usual manner. Again, this trick is as old as wood stoves and is often used irregardlees of 'Stove-type'

If you have not already done so, i recommend go ing to Rocketstoves.com To Download a copy of the Third Edition of the book "Rocket Mass Heaters",
There is a Box to enter the Discount Code 'Fakeboob' for a 25% Discount, I am sure you will find it Engrossing reading, and much of what your Fellow Rocketeers
have been sharing with you will begin to make more sense ! I do hope you find this timely and Helpful as well as within your Skills set and Pocket Book! For the
Good of the Crafts ! Big Al * If you are still being bothered with 'Wind' look at your diet or your RMH's!

Thank you Allen. I didnt say b4 that my current heater was a cheap experiment. This was a hard concept to believe. Hell its still hard to believe and I have it heating my home LOL. And my heater actually convinced my brother to let me build a full size conventional RMH in my home this summer. My heater also was designed to get me through the rest of this heating season without buying propane till I get my home heating credit back and its doing that and more even my brother is pretty impressed. I should tell you about 30 years ago I was walking down the side of the road and a 1 ton van hit me in the back of the head at 45 mph. Was in a coma 3 days and they didnt expect me to live but I woke up after 3 days but didnt know who I was or anyone else either. No broken bones not even my skull but mentally I was a mess. and they sent me home wtf. After a few months of learning to walk and talk again things started coming back to me also. Miraculous recovery six months after being hit I was back to work as an auto mechanic in a muffler shop same place as b4 I got hit.. Not a fully certified master mechanic but am BAD ASS at what I do. Bending custom exhaust for crazy hot rods and huge 4 wheelers and anything brakes related or front end related or suspension related. I was always the fastest and least come backs due to being wrong. Have 30,000$ in mostly Snap On tools and box. Crazy for a muffler shop guy but I was into it. Brother is not a jerk either he is just over protective sometimes even from myself Im pretty crazy sold 2 choppers b4 I moved here but kept the 2 best ones and I drink more than anyone I know. I did add some things to my heater like 1/2 inch ceramic blanket insulation to riser major improvement. Allen will residual heat in mass help initiate draft in flue

Joe S. : We are rather kindred spirits, I was much to close to an exploding 5'' mortar! Cracked my skull and face bones, and I ended up with Air in my Brain Pan!
Zero loss of Spinal fluid but was blind for a few hours ! then the fun really started ! The good news is I'm No Longer a Unibrow and I don't Scare the grand kids !

Still, Like my hammock camping friends say- Any day above ground is a good Day !

Yes residual heat will help initiate draft in flue, If we build the Rocket Mass Heater Combustion Chamber With Heavy/Dense Fire brick (and then insulate around that)
The whole system will be pre-warmed and easier to light. This is a trade-off as a lighter More insulating fire brick will come up to super freaky hot Operating
Temperatures sooner !

So having got through this last heating season, now is the time to get ready for next fall, Again I add my voice to the other people who have Suggested 'The Book'
It will definitely End up saving you Time money and materials! Think about it thats all I'm Saying ! As Always, your Comments or questions are Solicited and Welcome
Big AL !

Al I am way badder. Im going on the attack The book I believe in is the Bible Im going for freaky hot.

Al I did not mean any offense was a little drunk drank a 5th + you have to understand when I got hit it was no accident they were tryin to kill me and the police set me up for it. Maybe you can understand my anger. Those who are supposed to serve and protect tried to kill me. Most responsible are either dead or seriously fuged up. I did not lift a finger. Sitting here in my tv room Rock-it is jamming after I realized my feed tube was gettin to hot and tryin to create a draft Al Im sorry for your injury obviously it was in service of our country I appreciate that.

Joe S. : Don't be too eager to jump to conclusions ! "Uncle Sam's'' Side doesn't have a 5'' mortar ! Big AL !