Thank you for the welcome!
I am really glad to find this forum and so many interesting topics and active users!
So good to hear, that having a wood floor is not a total "no go" for a rmh project in our house.
We were thinking abour placing the rmh close to the "middle" wall of the house. (it's the one on the left on the picture) It is a big 50cm thick stone wall, there is the chimney running. Would you then also recomment to keep a distance between the wall and the heater if it is a "inside" wall of the house? My first impulse was to put the heater "attached" to the wall to help to support the weight. I came across such recommendations, but it seems resonable to keep a distance for not "loose" the heat in the wall?
thomas rubino wrote:Hi Anja;
Big Welcome to Permies!
You will be able to have a Rocket Mass heater in your house.
Yes, a solid concrete floor is ideal but most are built on a wood floor.
You simply need to spread the weight over many floor joists and maybe add some extra support in the basement.
Depending on the style and size RMH (piped bench or brick bell) your RMH will weigh in between 2000-5000 lbs.
That sounds like a lot, but a waterbed weighs about 2000lbs. People have been putting them in bedrooms without ever thinking about supporting the floor.
Your issue after floor support is protecting that wood floor from the high heat.
A bell design RMH has very few issues with floor heating as the highest heat is at the top.
A floor mounted core and a piped bench must be elevated apx. 2" above the floor. Generally bricks laid flat with cement board on top is suitable to elevate the core and mass.
Do not attempt to attach you rmh to the stone walls of your house. It must be isolated from them or your heat will transfer to the great outdoors.
