Heating a pole barn

  • 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.

Jh08558

New Member
Aug 28, 2025
3
Central NY
I’m new to the group. I’ve recently purchased a large pole barn…with a little house…lol. I’ve still got to weather proof it, as well as insulate it. In checking out some of the other posts, I have a question. If I was to install a double barrel stove, but were to modify it with fire brick inside the lower barrel, and sand with the flue pipe running from end to end embedded in the sand, would this be a way to increase the thermal mass, and have the upper barrel give off heat long after the fire has gone out?
 
I’m new to the group. I’ve recently purchased a large pole barn…with a little house…lol. I’ve still got to weather proof it, as well as insulate it. In checking out some of the other posts, I have a question. If I was to install a double barrel stove, but were to modify it with fire brick inside the lower barrel, and sand with the flue pipe running from end to end embedded in the sand, would this be a way to increase the thermal mass, and have the upper barrel give off heat long after the fire has gone out?
What is the pole barn used for?
 
I'm going to be building a sailboat....and whatever else I can thing of to get out of the house...lol
Just be aware solid fuel burners are not allowed by code in any garages in the usa
 
Does code allow barrel stoves indoors?
Ehhh thats kind of a grey area. On one hand code requires new installs to be ul listed stoves but on the other they give you clearance specs for unlisted stoves. Personally I would never use one. I have seen to many melted distorted barrels to ever feel safe with it.
 
I heat an insulated pole barn with a large woodstove. Permitted and insured. I would not recommend a barrel stove. Buy a cheap modern noncat from drolet. You’ll love the window and the point source of heat.
 
Having a bit of experience with this set up in a 24x48 uninsulated barn with a 16' peak... The second barrel is worthless and just a creosote trap that is difficult to clean, it never gets very hot and the theory of a heat sink only works within a couple of inches from the barrel and not what you need for a barn. I lined the bottom barrel with firebricks to keep the coals off the bottom. The barrel puts off a lot of heat, you can't get very close to the sides, and warmed the barn from 20f to 40f in a few hours and could hold it at 50 as long as you could haul wood. It burns a lot of wood quickly if you have it roaring, and dumps out all that heat quickly, I fill it every 2 hours. I have it 3 feet from the walls for clearance of a non listed stove and then I built a 8' tall metal surround that sits in-between as extra protection. I had all of the materials, barrel, and the build kit so it made sense to build myself. Highbeam's idea is a good one for a slower, longer burn.
 
Great to have a heated space to build. What design boat are you looking at? my The Inglenook forum would be a good place if any interest in continuing on that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jh08558