William LeMieux

Thank you all for the insight to my query. I had forgotten just how hot the exhaust gasses can get, so thank you Satamax for the reminder. And because I'm no engineer and also don't fancy the idea of going up in a violent water tank explosion from my lack of knowledge in that field, I guess I'll scrap the idea and resort to the more traditional use of an electric water heater, to my Stacy's delight.

It'll be two years yet before we move up to North Central Tennessee to our mountain retreat, but Stacy visited the property with me not long ago and fell in love with it and the remoteness of the mountain. I had to make some concessions for my city gal to live so primitively on my mountain, but not so many as to give up what I've strived so hard to achieve building my dream. I am one lucky guy! So thank you all for the kind words and encouragement. I've waited twelve long years for her to walk into my life. All seems right with my world. I am blessed indeed.

There are ways of treating water sir. Think Hot Tub. And the water would be changed weekly I should think. More often during rainy weather when there is an ample water supply.

A little backstory first. I found the girl of my dreams to share my dreams with, but she likes her baths. Living on a mountaintop with rainwater as our only source of water, there had to be some give and take involved. I promised her a bathtub if she would limit her water usage. The deal was struck. Tossing around some ideas for the perfect solution, maybe I could kill two birds with one stone. So I make my inquiry here to get some feedback on my latest idea.

Instead of using cob for the mass in a RMH, could a bathtub full of water be the mass instead?

I was thinking of a brick enclosure around the tub large enough to satisfy the exhaust requirements of the RMH, and a lid over the tub that would line up with the enclosure to double as a bed for company and also as a seating arrangement for ourselves during the day. And an adjustable outlet on the enclosure lid to regulate the humidity level in the house.

I know there's more involved than this simple description, but before I set out designing it I thought I'd get some feedback first.

Thoughts?
As always, thanks in advance.
Bill

Just to clarify folks, they are not "hot water" heaters, they are "cold water" heaters, or just plain water heater.

Jim Fry wrote:William,
As a small word of advice, …
As a sorta general rule, …
It's always good to meet a person before promising them everything.

...If we don't, we're gonna blow a fifty amp fuse.
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes
You just might find
You get what you need
Oh baby!
The Rolling Stones

*Takes a deep breath*
Dearest Mary,
Your words pull on my heartstrings, yet my heart breaks knowing that you are out there in the world wandering, as if lost. Wandering in search of a home and love. And it breaks because you do not know of my existence. If you should come across a man who will feed you when you are hungry, chase the raindrops to quench your thirst, clothe you with the finest linens from Goodwill if you are naked, shelter you from the storm, and protect you from all evil and harm, then you have found me. When you are sick, I will tend to you. When you are sad, I will make you laugh. If you are happy, I will laugh with you. If you are cold, I will build you a fire. If you are hot, I will fan you.

I will wait for you Mary. I will wait for your return. And while you are gone I will build you a house and a garden. And I will whittle you a chair fit for a queen. And when you sit upon your thrown I will be nearby, working in silence, working for my queen, for she is in need. For without you in my life there is no meaning. No meaning to my meaningless life at which I toil, under the sun. You would bring that meaning to my life Mary. A reason to get up before the sunrise. A reason to see that sunrise with new meaning. To see it’s beauty and think of only you.

There is work to be done. There is much work to be done. Mary needs me and I need Mary. For when she comes home, and if she is still lost, then she will know that there is a warm and dry home waiting for her. A home full of love, a home of love, a home built just for her. A home where music fills the air from her gentle finger tips floating across the ivories. We will sing and we will dance. On the porch we listen to the raindrops upon the roof and rejoice. Then watch the sun go down on another day, together again. No, nothing else matters, we’re together again.

I have nothing, yet I have everything. I braced myself like a man and I answered His questions. I was spared the jaws of death and destruction and was given two-fold, yes seven-fold, what I had before because of my patience and obedience. A simple life I can offer, for I have no more than that to give, nor do I want any more than that. I live within my means and owe no one anything. I own what I have because I worked hard for it. And I will share what I have with you Mary. It is there waiting for you. Play for me, sing for me while I work so there is gladness in my heart and meaning to my days.

You have talents that I lack. I have talents that you lack. What we don’t know we will learn together. And together we can do all things and together we will build a life. A simple life, by choice. The simple is already in place. All I need now is you. My eyes will look upon you only for there is no one that can compete. My choice is made. And I choose you, sight unseen. For your words pulled on my heartstrings Mary.

Meaningless! Meaningless! Says the teacher. Utterly Meaningless! Everything is meaningless! What does a man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?
Forever and always,
William

Thank you Sarah for your insight into my query. Although the people of Permies seem to be mature and have outgrown the need to interfere in others' affairs, i.e. criticize posts made by others' opinions or comments, I am still hesitant to comment publicly for that reason. Much less tell someone (or everyone) about my private life. There's always some smart-ass out there just waiting to dig his or her claws into you or me just because they can. It just blows the whole mood of the thread or post, at least for me.

Although I still don't share your view on the matter, I think I understand where you're coming from. Thank you again for sharing your personal thoughts with me.

William

Sarah Koster wrote:
Hi Richard! Yes I am more comfortable talking publically at first and progressively moving to more private means of communication. Basically if I enjoy talking to you in permies, I'll eventually feel comfortable talking via PM, and if that goes well, then I'd consider contacting you via phone. I'd rather limit interactions to what you're willing to say publically at first, so like.... people don't be double dipping and making stuff up and whatnot. Please don't take that personal, I've had horrible experiences with dudes in my life so far. I want to see how open and honest people are in front of everybody, not in secret. Okay??? So if you're still interested you can tell me whatever about yourself seems most important to you.

Hi Sarah,
May I hijack your thread in order to better understand what you mean by the above statement? First of all, I am not a potential suitor, hence the hijacking, so if I'm out of place here I sincerely apologize. But if I was a suitor, and being a very personal sort, I might be hesitant to write anything to you at all if it meant that everyone else would read it as well. As I write to you I would have the understanding that a lot of other people would be reading my thoughts as well. I'm not sure that what I write would be what I actually want to portray.

For example, if you and I were to go out to a restaurant and sit in a booth, I would be comfortable talking to you in that crowd as I doubt anyone would be interested in our conversation as everyone is having their own conversation so ours would be relatively private. I would say what's on my mind without hesitation. But sharing my thoughts in a public forum is different. It would be like everyone in the restaurant gathered around us giving us their full attention, hearing every word. Again, I'm a very private person and I believe that my personal life is nobody's else's business. I don't want anybody else to know my personal stuff, only those whom I choose. And the information they get is a slow process, because the human race prey on other humans for personal gain. I don't mind sharing my beliefs with the world at large but when it comes to personal and private things, nobody gets that until I know I can trust them with that information; that they won't use it against me and for personal gain.

It's hard to know who we can trust and who we can't. Especially on a dating site or a singles forum. And if I may be so bold Ma'am, you have the disadvantage over everyone else because you are the one looking for someone. You may be susseptable to words that are written to you. And if someone is cunning enough, it doesn't matter if it's written in front of public view or in private. They are still going to achieve their end game, whatever that might be, for good or for bad. Again, I apologize if I'm out of line here, but if I'm not and you are not offended by my intrusion, since I shared my thoughts on the matter, will you please share yours with me?

Maybe it's as simple as- if they are willing to show the world they are interested in you, and spend that time with you in front of the whole world, that they are worthy of further discussion in private? Help me understand a woman's perspective.

Thank you,
William

Thank you gentlemen for your insight into my query. It gave me a lot to ponder. And Graham- that was an interesting article, I thank you for that.

Now about the Ceramic blanket (which is also available in board form) on the inside of the heat riser, etc. I immediately saw how that would be useful. Being exposed to direct flame, does the blanket, or board, ever need replacing? Does it wear out over time?

Also, if the insulation was on the inside of the firebrick, I would think the firebrick would expand and contract less and therefore less likely to crack at the mortar joints? Is this a correct assumption? I'm asking because of the video above where the guy said his brick bell eventually cracked and leaked real bad. If the ceramic blanket were below the top layer of brick (at the top of the heat riser), perhaps the cracking, and therefore leaking, might have been prevented?