Keep Wood stove in Earth shelter house?

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
S

snaple4

Feeling the Heat
Dec 18, 2017
284
AR
We picked up a 2200 sqft Earth sheltered house this month. Sides, back, and roof are below grade. Not sure of insulation levels but assume 1-2" of foam board. This is in North West Arkansas/South West Missouri. Stove is in the in the living room. Sierra 2200. It looks like 1980 on the plate but hard to see. I just replaced the gaskets but haven't fired it yet. Should I keep this thing or replace it with a newer epa stove? If so what size would be best in an underground house? I'm coming from a regency i2400.

286eb2129bc608832753964b01d8cd74.jpg 9980a571f5f4180514ad1756638d0649.jpg fa760e096e418fd6ffcc917ea72031ae.jpg b8bad089e3c9d3392ac3f1401e1ad920.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
That is one funky set up! It’s a fireplace insert, without the fireplace.. That’s a ticking time bomb!
 
Believe I'd get rid of the stone enclosure? A giant heat sink. Never seen anything like that? Bet you would get much better heat dispersion as a open corner install and straight up pipe. Just my opinion! Not trying to offend. I have zero knowledge of your current stove. Guessing any stove will struggle in that setup.
 
I'm not a fan of the setup and would like to change it to a corner but that will have to wait for a year or two. It is an actual stove, they just made it look like an insert.

Something else interesting... The HVAC system pulls the return air from around this thing. Actually an interesting idea but not what should be done.

From talking to the neighbors he thinks it originally had an open fireplace but not sure when they changed it to what it is now. House is recorded as being built in 92.

If I replace it with a stand alone stove, what size do you think i should get?

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
 
snaple4 said:
I'm not a fan of the setup and would like to change it to a corner but that will have to wait for a year or two. It is an actual stove, they just made it look like an insert.

Something else interesting... The HVAC system pulls the return air from around this thing. Actually an interesting idea but not what should be done.

From talking to the neighbors he thinks it originally had an open fireplace but not sure when they changed it to what it is now. House is recorded as being built in 92.

If I replace it with a stand alone stove, what size do you think i should get?

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


Read this https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...first-burn-of-season-why.170641/#post-2288456
 
Good link. Several things lead me to believe they didn't have things inspected during construction. I'm actually in the HVAC field; I wasn't surprised by the setup because of all the things I see but still don't like it. I made some changes and now only some of the air is pulled from around the stove. No way to fix completely because of the 8" thick concrete wall.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
 
That sounds like an awesome house. I bet it doesn't need much heating or cooling.

With the entire house below grade, I'd take a look at air intake and venting as part of the new-stove process. You may not be allowed to use an OAK.

When the stove/dryer/exhaust fans/etc run, how does air get back into the house?

How does the flue get outside? Especially if it's directly buried, what condition is it in?

The HVAC air intake at the stove is dangerous in a regular house, and I'd be ten times as scared if my flue was directly cooled by earth- more potential for draft reversal there. If your draft reverses, you have combustion byproducts including CO flowing out of the stove and straight into the air intake above the stove.
 
I am not sure what pipe that liner is hooked to but i really have to question if is is rated for use as a chimney for a woodstove. It almost looks like l vent to me.
 
Looks like dura-vent dura liner to me. It’s a really sketchy setup, I sure wouldn’t use it.
 
webby3650 said:
Looks like dura-vent dura liner to me. It’s a really sketchy setup, I sure wouldn’t use it.
Click to expand...
Could be i have never worked with that. Absolutly sketchy regardless
 
Posted before about this stove when we picked up the house.

1st I will be taking out the wood frame of the doorway and the rock enclosure.

We will also be redoing the ductwork. Wi have a trunkline on both sides of flue pipe. We will remove the furnace b-vent and will go with PVC out the front of house. Furnace will be moved to in front of doorway with plenum going up.

What I need help figuring out is how to put in new flue pipe and seal up the doorway. Was thinking of using a ceiling support on the chase but not sure this will work. Could I just use some metal studs and durock to seal up the door way?

I'll be able to post measurements in about an hour.

867a6150c30e77e688215cb44c3b6bb0.jpg adabed64c8dbacf298c46d355beff803.jpg 81fa02bccdd0a66b5ef75da3eece8757.jpg 171b133caf70ea44a2f49d0d90f1bd3b.jpg 790b377dcba9e198d798644da7a9686d.jpg d4377f54de484f5e0c404ee521deeda6.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It's good you are tackling the problems. This is a nightmare of a setup. Funky is much too kind a description. As you've gathered, there are multiple code and safety violations. In planning, note that the return air intake is supposed to be at least 10ft away from the wood heater. Clearances to combustibles, insulation around the class A, and who know what else has been ignored with this install. Personally, my approach would be taken from the old song Tobacco Road - Bring dynamite, and a crane. Blow it up and start all over again.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

jessiebird
Replacing insulation board on top of wood cook stove oven
Replies
2
Views
967
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
jessiebird
jessiebird
agbegin
Newbie looking to buy my first wood stove. Have a few (many) questions
Replies
17
Views
2K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
agbegin
agbegin
H
Keep or toss VC resolute acclaim 2490 . . replacement?
Replies
5
Views
1K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
begreen
begreen
CentralVAWoodHeat
Osburn 3500 Wood Stove Review
Replies
4
Views
3K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
HighHeat22
HighHeat22
P
Increased our house from 1000 sqft to 2000 sqft. Undecided on a new stove to replace the Jotul f400, or keep it and add a 2nd smaller stove?
Replies
24
Views
2K
Jotul
rijim
rijim
Top Bottom
Back