steamers- do they work?

micaaronfl · Dec 28, 2011

hello all,

i have a merrimack and my wife brought a giant wrouth iron steamer. i took temps with a gun and the merrimack is at like 500 degrees and i usually have the fan on medium to high so i know that cools the top. Are these things supposed to steam? are u supposed to see it? i have even put potpourri in but it doesn't get hot enough to make it smell nice.

water does dissipate a little.

Should i get a smaller steamer made of metal? or is that a waste of money?

Adabiviak · Dec 28, 2011

I have an enamel-covered steamer, and over the course of time it's rusting and chipping. It will definitely start steaming when the stove gets going though, although I only see vapor shooting out like a stove-top steamer when the fire is raging; normally it's just wisping out. I personally wouldn't get a smaller one just because I don't want to have to refill it as much, but a smaller one should produce more steam, just because there is less water that has to be brought to evaporation temperature at any given time.

remkel · Dec 28, 2011

Had a steamer, went to a humidifier instead. Needed more moisture than the steamer could provide.

gogreenburnwood · Dec 28, 2011

We've always had a pot of water on the stove. Then about 6 years ago I was watching a news story about maple syrup and thought, I could replace the water with sap and have the same effect, so I tapped 3 trees and made syrup. The sap never really boiled, so I would finish it off on the cook stove. Because it's usually mid-February to March I usually collect more sap then I can evaporate since we don't require as much heat. I usually end up with about 3/4 gallon of syrup. This year with the T5 I am thinking of tapping 4 trees. I've experimented with putting our pot directly on the firebox (with the wings open) and I can actually get the water boiling, not the case with my old Dutchwest. Making the syrup has given me something to do at the end of the winter when normally people start feeling the winter blues.

GAMMA RAY · Dec 28, 2011

I saw a super cool dragon steamer at my local stove shop. I asked the salesperson if the steam really comes out of the snout and she said it does. I did not get it though because it was 90 bucks. :eek:

hh:
I may spring for it some day.
I have a pot of water on the stove with cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. It smells yummy, although if it is on the trivet, you can't really smell anything. I don't use the trivet all the time.
Everyone commented on how good our house smelled on xmas.

I have several humidifiers in the house because that lil pot ain't givin off enough humidity.

kenny chaos · Dec 28, 2011

gogreenburnwood said:
something to do at the end of the winter when normally people start feeling the winter blues.

Hello neighbor Sodus-
I got feeling the winter blues when I walked outside this morning. lol

Garand06 · Dec 28, 2011

gogreenburnwood said:
We've always had a pot of water on the stove. Then about 6 years ago I was watching a news story about maple syrup and thought, I could replace the water with sap and have the same effect, so I tapped 3 trees and made syrup. The sap never really boiled, so I would finish it off on the cook stove. Because it's usually mid-February to March I usually collect more sap then I can evaporate since we don't require as much heat. I usually end up with about 3/4 gallon of syrup. This year with the T5 I am thinking of tapping 4 trees. I've experimented with putting our pot directly on the firebox (with the wings open) and I can actually get the water boiling, not the case with my old Dutchwest. Making the syrup has given me something to do at the end of the winter when normally people start feeling the winter blues.

Be careful !!!

!

The steam from maple sap is VERY sticky.

I've made a fair bit of syrup, but only do the finishing on the kitchen stove. The majority of the evaporation is best done outside.

pen · Dec 28, 2011

Garand06 said:
Be careful!

The steam from maple sap is VERY sticky.

I've made a fair bit of syrup, but only do the finishing on the kitchen stove. The majority of the evaporation is best done outside.

I make maple syrup every year. This is good advice IMO. We do the majority of our boiling an a "sap house" (read old garage) and you should see the ceiling after a period of heavy boiling. Definitely more than straight H2O coming out of that pot.

As far as steamer's go, I have one made of ceramic (Gamma hates it) and it works fine but it's a PIA. I took it off the stove for Christmas to make room for keeping food warm and I don't think it's going back on unless the humidifier can't keep up w/ the moister. The steamer I have won't keep up w/ the amount of moisture we need. Maybe if we had an OAK we would require less moisture in the house and it would be enough, but I'm not sure.

pen

gogreenburnwood · Dec 28, 2011

I've never actually boiled the sap on the wood stove. My old Dutchwest top never really got hot enough to cause boiling, just evaporation. Like I said, I know now I can actually boil on top of the stove. I will heed your advice and will keep the boiling to a minimum. Even with 4 trees tapped in the beginning of the season, evaporation will probably still be the main form of concentrating the sap. I can't imagine much sticky stuff coming off the pot this way, at least I haven't noticed it over the last 6 years. I never intended to produce copious amounts of syrup, just enough for our consumption (never wanted to really work at it).

pen · Dec 28, 2011

gogreenburnwood said:
I've never actually boiled the sap on the wood stove. My old Dutchwest top never really got hot enough to cause boiling, just evaporation. Like I said, I know now I can actually boil on top of the stove. I will heed your advice and will keep the boiling to a minimum. Even with 4 trees tapped in the beginning of the season, evaporation will probably still be the main form of concentrating the sap. I can't imagine much sticky stuff coming off the pot this way, at least I haven't noticed it over the last 6 years. I never intended to produce copious amounts of syrup, just enough for our consumption (never wanted to really work at it).

I think you are right. The key would be not to let it boil and I bet a lot of that residue would be reduced (if not all). Just be careful if you have a large pot up on a trivet that it isn't tippy.

pen

firefighterjake · Dec 28, 2011

Enamel covered cast iron steamer . . . I've never seen it steam . . . but I can smell the potpourri in it . . . and I do have to refill it every other day . . . and that's with it being elevated off the top of the stove (slab of elevated soapstone). It puts some moisture into the air . . . but not as much as was needed . . . which is why we now have a humidifier.

backpack09 · Dec 28, 2011

a fish tank will put more water in the air than any steamer will

woodmiser · Dec 28, 2011

Backpack09 said:
a fish tank will put more water in the air than any steamer will

Yea but it would look kinda funny on top of the stove.

WellSeasoned · Dec 28, 2011

We just picked up a steamer last night at plough & hearth for about 50 bucks. So far in the stove room the humidity levels increased 7%, not bad I'd say. It's a nice addition to the stove.

Jags · Dec 28, 2011

With a cast iron steamer pot directly on the cook top of the wood stove, I can get a hard boil and put 2 gallons through it in a 24 hr period. With that said, I don't do it any more. The thing only holds about 2 quarts and I can't even fill it or it will boil over. I have to constantly chase it with a pitcher of water. If using a trivet underneath, I don't get enough evaporation to even make it worth while.

Now on the other hand - I do have a fancy smancy steamer from our forum brother Adios Pants. I use that with smell good stuff and the little feet are just right to hold it off of the stove surface. It works as a steamer also, but I primarily use it when I want to stink up the house with good smells.

woodgeek · Dec 28, 2011

Depending on airtghtness, humidifying a typical house to a healthy 30% RH will require between 0 and 10 gallons of water per day, versus the <1 gal/day a steamer provides. Even iF you happened to be right in the zone where that gallon made a difference, putting the water in the air right next to the stove will just guarantee the moisture a short trip up the flue and outside.

If its too dry, get a (big enough) humidifier, and don't put it right next to your stove. Or a small humidifier in your bedroom. Or airseal your house.

Flatbedford · Dec 28, 2011

I keep an enameled iron steamer and kettle on the stove. If we stay on top of it we can go through at least a gallon of water every day, maybe 2 if the stove is working hard. I use no trivets, they sit right on the stone lid.

Highbeam · Dec 28, 2011

No, steamers don't work. They are for decoration. I fart more moisture into the air then a steamer does.

Flatbedford · Dec 28, 2011

I'd rather have my steamer than your stinky ass in my house.

WellSeasoned · Dec 28, 2011

Flatbedford said:
I'd rather have my steamer than your stinky ass in my house.

+20 mine has worked so far enough. I think every application will vary.

SteveKG · Dec 28, 2011

For years, I kept "steamers" atop the stoves, really some old tea kettles. If you have hard water, they will build up serious amounts of residuals. I have found that if you scrub them out with a plastic scubber pad or etc. once every day or two, the minerals can be rinsed away. I no longer use the kettles for humidification, they really did not do much, but they do provide us with some hot water for whatever, washing dishes and etc.

LLigetfa · Dec 29, 2011

woodgeek said:
...putting the water in the air right next to the stove will just guarantee the moisture a short trip up the flue...

A while back there were some anecdotes posted that a kettle on the stove increased the amount of creosote in the flue.

On many old homes with fireplaces and brick chimneys, a lot of the deterioration can be attributed to the humidity from the air leaving the home via the flue.

JV_Thimble · Dec 29, 2011

I'm tending to stay away from a steamer with an enameled stove. Seems like a good way to get the enamel chipped if I splash water or get a boil-over.

begreen · Apr 1, 2012

gogreenburnwood said:
We've always had a pot of water on the stove. Then about 6 years ago I was watching a news story about maple syrup and thought, I could replace the water with sap and have the same effect, so I tapped 3 trees and made syrup. The sap never really boiled, so I would finish it off on the cook stove. Because it's usually mid-February to March I usually collect more sap then I can evaporate since we don't require as much heat. I usually end up with about 3/4 gallon of syrup. This year with the T5 I am thinking of tapping 4 trees. I've experimented with putting our pot directly on the firebox (with the wings open) and I can actually get the water boiling, not the case with my old Dutchwest. Making the syrup has given me something to do at the end of the winter when normally people start feeling the winter blues.

Did you end up trying this with the T5 this season? If so, how did it work out?

Beer Belly · Apr 1, 2012

Highbeam said:
No, steamers don't work. They are for decoration. I fart more moisture into the air then a steamer does.

I'd hate to be the one doing your laundry

steamers- do they work?

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