GoldenRod 18"... summer protection

[Ashful]

So, I never noticed it looking at them in person, but I noticed a while back in some photos that there's a bit of rust forming on my two stoves. No surprise, they sit in closed-up and somewhat damp old stone fireplaces all summer, doors closed with ground moisture no-doubt eminating from the rubble stone walls.



So, taking note from my gun safes, I decided a heater type dehumidifier was a good way to drive out a little moisture (i.e. lower the RH) from these confined spaces, when the doors are closed. I got two of these:



Check back in the fall, to see how they worked (or didn't!).

I'm wondering what others have done, for the same purpose.

 

[Rickb]

I like to run a candle in my stove during the summer so there is some kind of fire running. I would assume you get the same effect but a nice nite light out of it.

 

[Ashful]

I wonder, does the combustion of a candle actually add water to the stove? I know the burning of most fuels produces h2o.

For the record, I did not place the heater rod in the stove, but under it on the floor. My enemy is moisture emanating from the stone fireplace, rusting the outside of the stove.

 

[pen]

.I guess it depends on how much air will move through there for the heating rods to be effective or not.

Any chance you have a hygrometer or two so that one could be placed in there and the humidity could then be compared to the room?

In combination, I'd also suggest putting a damp rid bucket in there http://www.amazon.com/DampRid-FG50T-Hi-Capacity-Moisture-Absorber/dp/B0029EGUNG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1400939636&sr=8-3&keywords=damp rid

I actually use the closet type damp rid bags for inside a safe.

pen

 

[ailanthus]

I usually put a container of damprid inside the stove during non-burning months as a precaution. I don't know if it does anything or not, but we do not have air conditioning and it gets very humid for much of the summer.

Joful, that's a good idea. I would think that dehumidifier in a confined area like that would probably make a huge difference.

 

[Ashful]

These things work by simply heating the confined space (i.e. my fireplace with the doors closed), thus lowering the local RH%. Not truly a dehumidifier, but provides the same end result!

 

[fbelec]

how much power do these rods use? how big of a area can a rod do? and how often are they running 24/7?
and cost? can you put up a link to these units?

thanks
frank

 

[BrotherBart]

When they rust away, I just buy a new stove.

 

[Ashful]

how much power do these rods use? how big of a area can a rod do? and how often are they running 24/7?
and cost? can you put up a link to these units?

thanks
frank

There are several different wattage models, made to heat various spaces, but I think it works out to roughly 7 watts for 100 cu.ft. They just run 24/7, like the old lightbulb trick. Google GoldenRod dehumidifier, or DriRod.