Annual Cleanout of RMH - PEP BB rocket.sand.clean

 - 6 pictures
      o pic of rocket mass heater
      o pic of ash in general barrel area
      o pic of general barrel area with significantly less ash
      o pic of ash in ducts or stratification chamber
      o pic of ducts or stratification chamber with significantly less ash
      o pic of restored rocket mass heater
 - 2 minute video of starting a fire in rocket mass heater after cleaning with no smoke coming from cleanout points

The RMH:


Ash in General Barrel Area:


Cleaned out:


Duct area :


Cleaned out duct (I also fed the vacuum hose down the duct):


Cleaned out J-tube:


Video of burn:

While at Wheaton Labs for the 2022 Rocket Mass Heater Workshop, I did an annual cleanout of the solarium rocket mass heater. I found that the barrel was very easy to remove and reinstall and the cleanout+cold start access to the exhaust was clean already. Also, the soot was not sticky indicating no evidence of creosote. I used a shop vac specific for ash. Hopefully the pics are in order, below! I did not vacuum the sides of the wool around the riser to ensure no damage to the wool. *I'm sorry for the bad after shot of the inside of the riser, I could take the barrel off again to get a better shot but I'd rather not lose the ash seal between the barrel and the flange since I've already done 2 burns since reassembly.

I cleaned out the ashes and wiped down the RMH in the red shed.

I did an annual cleanout of the solarium rocket mass heater. I found that the barrel was very easy to remove and reinstall and the cleanout+cold start access to the exhaust was clean already. Also, the soot was not sticky indicating no evidence of creosote. I used a shop vac specific for ash. Hopefully the pics are in order, below! I did not vacuum the sides of the wool around the riser to ensure no damage to the wool.

To be certified for this BB you must provide:
  - 6 pictures
       o pic of rocket mass heater
       o pic of ash in general barrel area
       o pic of general barrel area with significantly less ash
       o pic of ash in ducts or stratification chamber
       o pic of ducts or stratification chamber with significantly less ash
       o pic of restored rocket mass heater
  - 2 minute video of starting a fire in rocket mass heater after cleaning with no smoke coming from cleanout points

See youtube link for the 2 minute video:  https://youtu.be/fFsRYSa7Tjo



Clarification:
  - the rocket water heater at the WL shower station counts for this BB

Well, I should have known… if Beau said it was a doozy back in 2020, I was in for a rough go of it.

I spent more than an hour trying half a dozen techniques to get the bung cap off the lid of the barrel, all to no avail.
Wrench, screwdrivers, punch and mallet, flat bar with vice grips, heating with a propane torch, penetrating oil, combinations of all of them… nothing could overcome the rust.

With the sun going down, I opted to charge ahead and do the best with what I could.

I cleaned out the wood feed, burn chamber, ducting, and reached the ash vac up into the barrel area as far as I could from the duct.

My sorrows were further compounded by finding a little bird who had made its way into the ducting (probably from the chimney) … it did not fare well.

All in all, I’d give this a 2/10.
Really hammers home why Ernie and Erica recommend highly accessible clean outs.

Link for firing video: https://youtu.be/ixygdV0UQXc?si=lJ9XNwR0OFghSmg-