I live up here along the front range in northern Colorado and I been using one of the old style potbelly stoves to heat my home here now better part of 16 years, and on average, I burn about 4 chords a year; give er take. I've tried various heat reclaimers from time to time but was never satisfied with their heating capacity. Seems they just didnt move alot of air. Although the little extra heat was nice I was never really impressed with their performance. Then last year I picked up one of these heat reclaimers and i was blown away. This thing is actually really amazing in that it heats my (modest 1200sq') home in no time at all. I mean its like 20 degrees outside and i can keep my windows open. Anyhow, the website touts cleaner emissions and 'dramatic reduction in creosote buildup' which i dont notice any difference yet. (i'm waiting till next year when i'm gonna replace all the flue pipe with fresh new stuff), but i was really impressed that i went through only about half my wood pile during the season. Can't beat that I say. Have any of you have any experience with one of these?
A wood user’s rejoice!
- Thread starter Ben321
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Ben321 said:
Ya know, Ben, I've read all three of your posts so far, and ordinarily at this point I'd be welcoming a new member to the forums. But somehow I just can't help but to feel that you're here trying to sell something. There's a very consistent theme through your posts that smells to me like you've a vested interest in selling this gizmo that goes in the stovepipe. Maybe I'm wrong, but if I'm right, you really ought to contact the webmaster and inquire about advertising rates on this website. We're here to share our experiences as woodburners, not to try to sell things to each other. Rick
I know i'm new to this forum thing but my daughter turned me on to it recently and I just thought I could share my enthusiasm for stove heating as i take pride in my wood burning activities, (not much else to do up here in the Rockies). I just thought others might like to know what i discovered as an excellent product. Like that one guy who was going for the exchange program might like to know its mostly a scam to get you to spend more money on a 'new' stove. He could save himself a bunch of money. I know I did. I mean if you bought something that cut your seasonal wood burning in half you might me just as inclined to tell others too. I certainly am not selling anything; I've been retired for 6 years now.
Where is this company located? The website is exceptionally devoid of location information and product history.
Constrictor
Member
Ben321 said:
I'm sorry if I jumped the gun and misinterpreted your posts, Ben. Welcome to the forums! If this is a product you've had personal experience with, and you want to share that experience here with us, then by all means, feel free to do so. It looks a lot like a product called a "Magic Heat" that's been around a long time. The general consensus around here is that these types of gizmos that suck a bunch of heat out of the flue gas stream may, indeed, add some heat to the living space, but at the cost of cooling the exhaust gases prematurely, leading to increased creosote build-up in the flue pipe. Tell us what your experience has been in terms of added heat to the space and the condition of your flue come cleaning time. And what about the device itself...does it accumulate a build-up of creosote and require cleaning? How easy is it to clean? Lots of questions, I know. I'm glad you're here to offer your first-hand experience with this device. Rick
precaud
Minister of Fire
Let's see... it "seperates the heat from the toxic fumes then redistributes this heat directly into the room." Sounds like high science to me.
If, as you say, you "take pride in your wood burning activities" you would have scrapped that pot belly long ago.
If, as you say, you "take pride in your wood burning activities" you would have scrapped that pot belly long ago.
Skier76
Minister of Fire
Constrictor said:
That's kinda what I was thinking too. I've seen similar products for sale at Northern Tool. I've never used one, so I can't really comment.
Yeah until I can see how it works, where you can buy one, what it costs, the UL listing and a lot more it is just somebody's basement dream business to me.
webbie
Seasoned Moderator
Company is located in same place as user. I think this is attempt at commercial ad and link.
Ben321 - please contact me by PM if you want to place paid ads.
Advertising and posting of links here which seem commercial - are against forum rules, especially for a new poster located in the same place as the company in question.
Ben321 - please contact me by PM if you want to place paid ads.
Advertising and posting of links here which seem commercial - are against forum rules, especially for a new poster located in the same place as the company in question.
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Certainly a great way to lose credibility fast. Plus I don't see where those things would reduce wood consumption in half!
fossileyezd said:
You take it outside and bang it against a Magic Heat. Over and over and over....
[quote author="Ben321" date="1253014645"] I been using one of the old style potbelly stoves to heat my home here now better part of 16 years, and on average, I burn about 4 chords a year; give er take. "
Um, anyone in the Rockies, heating with a smoke dragon and only burning four cords a year - pre gizmo, probably isn't heating with wood.
Um, anyone in the Rockies, heating with a smoke dragon and only burning four cords a year - pre gizmo, probably isn't heating with wood.
Wow you sure are a zesty bunch. And yes, i been using the ol "smoke dragon" for many years. My home isnt really that big, plus it goes with the decor. I've got an old franklin out in the work shop but im rarly out there much anymore since the accident. Anyhow, yall seem to have a lot to say about their website, though when i bought mine they didnt have one. The rep i talked to was a guy i met while i was at home depot buying a grillmaster. We started chatting and afterwards he gave me a brochure and his card.
Well i can tell you what i know: this thing gets super hot. its got a thermostat on it that turns it on/off, and its a sturdy build. It does make some noise when the fan kicks on but the kind of hot air it blows out is really a major difference from the magic heat. I mean its much much hotter. I can't hold my hand up to more than a second or two when it really gets cookin. The fan blows a lot of air hense the noise but i tell ya, it heats up my living room far better than the magic heat ever did. Not to say anything bad about magic heat, i think their a decent product, but this thing is a heating beast.
The rep told me that the heat collectors inside superheat which is what burns off a lot of the smoke and thus reduces creosote buildup. The brochure I have mentions "momentary entrapment and compression" but doesnt describe 'how' the process actually works. At the bottom is says "all electrical components UL listed" and it comes with a 10year limited warrany. As for cleaning, i'm not really sure. The rep said i probably wont need to clean it but if i do just to use a wire brush. When looking down thru the unit there are several metal plates on either side but you can see all the way through the center section. I dont have a digital camera else i'd post some pictures. Maybe when my daughter comes up this weekend she'll let me use hers and she can show me how to post them. Kids these days, know more than we do huh?
Well i can tell you what i know: this thing gets super hot. its got a thermostat on it that turns it on/off, and its a sturdy build. It does make some noise when the fan kicks on but the kind of hot air it blows out is really a major difference from the magic heat. I mean its much much hotter. I can't hold my hand up to more than a second or two when it really gets cookin. The fan blows a lot of air hense the noise but i tell ya, it heats up my living room far better than the magic heat ever did. Not to say anything bad about magic heat, i think their a decent product, but this thing is a heating beast.
The rep told me that the heat collectors inside superheat which is what burns off a lot of the smoke and thus reduces creosote buildup. The brochure I have mentions "momentary entrapment and compression" but doesnt describe 'how' the process actually works. At the bottom is says "all electrical components UL listed" and it comes with a 10year limited warrany. As for cleaning, i'm not really sure. The rep said i probably wont need to clean it but if i do just to use a wire brush. When looking down thru the unit there are several metal plates on either side but you can see all the way through the center section. I dont have a digital camera else i'd post some pictures. Maybe when my daughter comes up this weekend she'll let me use hers and she can show me how to post them. Kids these days, know more than we do huh?
What is the rep's name and contact info? They are missing from the website. Sounds like a basic heat exchanger with a thermostatic fan. The brochure posted would be helpful.
North of 60
Minister of Fire
Hmmmm, isnt the stove supposed to put out the heat? How do you superheat the smoke to burn clean when this magical fan is being so efficient taking it away without any source of catalyst? Ya cant get something from nothing unless its a new perpetual breakthrough. Just wondering. :-/
Not sure exactly what you mean there, but he said basically the metal collectors get really hot and some of the smoke gets burned off as it passes up past them. When i have a fire going it seems to build up with heat and the fan kicks on and off usually in 5-10 minutes intervals sometimes depending on how big my fire is. I find myself not feeding the fire as often because the room gets hot so dang quick. My house is only 1250sq' and it normally takes an hour or so to take the chill off the place except for the two back rooms. Now, its light a fire then twenty minutes roasty toasty. Took me a little while to figure out the right amount of wood to use so it wouldn't cook us outa here. To be honest though it is a bit noisy. Than fan is pretty beefy, it stands off the back over six inches.
Ratman
Feeling the Heat
Webmaster said:
I agree.
After reading Ben's first posting it was clear of his free ad attempt.
Now after three lets please prohibit his commercial ad attemts.
What would be worse is if his product is in any way dangerous.
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