Linda Cozzini-McKirgan

I get condensation too, but my stack is outside. Hot fires and dry wood help:)
I had quite a stalagmite outside in the first winter. When we increased the height of the stack we got a better rocket, and less water.
I just added mass this summer, so I don't know how the water production will be when the weather turns.
Also, my heater uses outside air, and has door that I can close.

Thanks for your lengthy reply Erica.

Our ice monster was defiantly under control with the birch that was 12% or less.
I don't mind putting up with a bit of moisture knowing that all the heat is staying in the house (exit temp is about 120f). The only time we get a smoky start is when the system is cool or we get a chunk of wet wood.

Also, this summer I am going to finish my cob work and put a finish coat on the bench. Does your new book cover finish work?
Thanks !

We have a fan under the house in the air intake tube that we can turn on, but it doesn't really help with the burn. Making a taller outside stack and using very dry wood is better than a fan. The fan can be used when the stove is cooled down to get the air moving the right direction up and out the stack.
Also, we have a door on our stove and we feed it horizontally. The air vent tube is passively providing air, and only gets dampened when the coals have burned down.
Alaska homes are encouraged to be very airtight and don't feed the dragon well.

Happy Spring! We can feel the heat of the sun now in Fairbanks.💛

Update about water output...
We get a much better burn because we put up a taller outside stack (8ft to 16ft). And pre splitting the wood smaller (dries better than quarter split) as kindling brought the moisture down quite a bit.
Our interior Alaska winter has been mild, and we heated our 1000 foot cabin with only a bit of help from the boiler November-February.

Is there any easy way to measure stack particulates?

Hey Deagen,
We are using the heater as we continue to add mass. It is a crazy warm winter, so it is hard to compare energy costs with last year...no complaints.
It will be cool to see your project continue in May.
Some of my middle school students said they saw good clay by the new Tanana recreation area this summer? I ordered some extra clay from Oregon to continue with my bench.
Take care, Linda

Thanks Derek,
it's nice to hear that there wasn't a lot of ash. Do you have a picture of your can set up?
I know a couple of folks in Fairbanks that have already had stack fires with their wood stoves this year. Do you think there is enough creosote in the exhaust liquid to be flammable? Have you ever hear of a fire caused by buildup in a RMH?

Peter and Thomas, thanks for the help.
We were pushing into winter, and I was thinking more about the mass than the stack...also cut most of our wood after July (super rainy summer!).
It will be interesting to check the performance when it is really fully complete, and wood has had a year to dry.

I knew water was a by product, but I didn't really "know". We have a stalagmite and stalactite situation outside(see picture), and we have a bit of seepage from some cleanout joints inside.
We are adding some heat return pipes to our bench, and may add some domestic water pipes later.
There was too much smoke for our J tube arrangement, so we shifted to front feed with a door.
I am amazed that it heats the whole house. We haven't had to really test it at sub zero, because we have had the mildest winter I can remember.

Deagen Demientieff, how goes the project? Our Fairbanks RMH is coming along with some design adjustments. We are using a front feed with fresh air supply and a sealable door.

Thanks again for your extensive answers!
I added a wind diverter to the stack and that helped quite a bit, but not quite enough when gusty.
We also added a fresh air intake, and a door to close when not in use(or to close when things go backwards).
I capped it with bricks that can be uncobbed when we make a final design top lid. So far, the fire burns best in the mouth of the tunnel.
Still a work in progress.