This spring, I've been slowly working through the "The Rocket Mass Heater" book by Erica and Ernie Wisner because I'm interested in building a stove to heat my home. From what I've read in the book and a few other on-line sources, indicates that a rocket mass heater functions best when located directly in the living space of the home. The physical layout of my home does not allow for this. I have been heating my home for over 20 years with a basic down-drafter wood stove located in the unfinished basement of our house. The heat from the basement passively maintains the entire house at a comfortable temperature throughout the winter (1600ft^2, ~5 cords). We live in the mountains of northern Vermont and -25F or lower is not at all uncommon. The basement has plenty of space to accommodate a rocket stove with a thermal mass structure typical of what the book designs show. What I'd like some input on is whether locating the rocket stove there would be able to heat the entire house as we are currently doing with the wood stove. Does anyone have a similar setup? I'm really liking what I read about having a cleaner burning stove and more efficient heating in general, if this will work.
-Mark
