So, for years have been cutting and burning in an older smoke dragon and in the last two years, upgraded to a simple, no frills Napoleon 1400. Went with the Napoleon given that while this is Colorado, felt this was an adequate stove for this area and house. It can get bitter cold, but it rarely stays that way for too long and we can be sub zero one day, and 60s or 70s the next. Not so if one lived in the mountains, but along the front range, things are more forgiving.
Anyway... I placed a simple ozonator fan unit behind the stove and had it working last year. And, had ceiling fans distributing air around the house. Things went I thought fairly well, until.... recently after cleaning the ozonator unit (it is a dual fan, home built and has performed fantastically for 7 years), I moved the unit back into place except moved 3" forward to directly under the intake vent where a blower unit bolts in. Not having one, I thought last year I was getting reasonable air flow. Well, moving it all of 3" forward, I am getting much more air flow through the venting for the stove, and WOW, what a difference. Am finding it dramatically heats up the entire house by having the ozonator do the blower unit's job.
I know... what a concept right? But a mere 3" and running the unit in intervals to keep not only ozonated air flowing which keeps the whole house fresh and dandy, but by increasing the air flow through the stove, I am amazed how much heat it produces or rather, claims. I am burning approx little more than 1/2 the wood, am getting way more efficient heat distribution, and way better performance than just the ceiling fans were doing, and I am able to extend the burn times a lot longer as it extracts heat when things have burned almost down to a thin layer of coals. It has changed my technique for how I load, and I can now depend on a longer, quite a bit longer heat distribution into the mornings. Hence am not anxious about getting up to tweak up the fire like I have been.
I know I know I know... some numbskull in Colorado discovered why blowers exist... but what for one who was merrily going along without, what a discovery! Air flow through the intended venting of the stove. Who would have thunk... I can't believe how the entire house heats up whereas using two ceiling fans and far more electricity didn't produce this. I keep learning that the art of wood stove heat is just that, a wonderful art. Makes me consider how much heat I am losing up the stove pipe.
Toasty in Colorado....
Anyway... I placed a simple ozonator fan unit behind the stove and had it working last year. And, had ceiling fans distributing air around the house. Things went I thought fairly well, until.... recently after cleaning the ozonator unit (it is a dual fan, home built and has performed fantastically for 7 years), I moved the unit back into place except moved 3" forward to directly under the intake vent where a blower unit bolts in. Not having one, I thought last year I was getting reasonable air flow. Well, moving it all of 3" forward, I am getting much more air flow through the venting for the stove, and WOW, what a difference. Am finding it dramatically heats up the entire house by having the ozonator do the blower unit's job.
I know... what a concept right? But a mere 3" and running the unit in intervals to keep not only ozonated air flowing which keeps the whole house fresh and dandy, but by increasing the air flow through the stove, I am amazed how much heat it produces or rather, claims. I am burning approx little more than 1/2 the wood, am getting way more efficient heat distribution, and way better performance than just the ceiling fans were doing, and I am able to extend the burn times a lot longer as it extracts heat when things have burned almost down to a thin layer of coals. It has changed my technique for how I load, and I can now depend on a longer, quite a bit longer heat distribution into the mornings. Hence am not anxious about getting up to tweak up the fire like I have been.
I know I know I know... some numbskull in Colorado discovered why blowers exist... but what for one who was merrily going along without, what a discovery! Air flow through the intended venting of the stove. Who would have thunk... I can't believe how the entire house heats up whereas using two ceiling fans and far more electricity didn't produce this. I keep learning that the art of wood stove heat is just that, a wonderful art. Makes me consider how much heat I am losing up the stove pipe.
Toasty in Colorado....
