I did this Scotland. I owner of the place provided the whole setup, worked well. We have used it for years, with and hot water bottles you can stay
very warm very cheaply. This time of year Baja can get chilly and many places don't have heating. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brHqBcZqNzE#t=119Barry A. - 11-16-2013 at 06:09 PM
That's petty incredible!!! Who would have thunk it. Wonder just how MUCH it will "heat the room"?
Barrywessongroup - 11-16-2013 at 06:35 PM
Thanks, it all helps ... BajaBlanca - 11-16-2013 at 06:50 PM
what an ingenious idea.elizabeth - 11-16-2013 at 07:02 PM
Pretty cool...it works on the same principal as the contra flow masonry heater used a lot in Finland...considerably larger and more masonry mass
there...but same idea.
And a fresh air intake and a chimney!
[Edited on 11-17-2013 by elizabeth]Skipjack Joe - 11-16-2013 at 07:47 PM
Is the air safe to breathe with that heating system in an enclosed environment?chumlee57 - 11-16-2013 at 08:50 PM
my thoughts as well ( about the air ) I would think you would need some kind of fresh air feature. Either way, still sounds like a great option in
areas where energy is at a premium, thanks for sharing thatwessongroup - 11-16-2013 at 09:49 PM
Depends if ya smoke tobacco
Fresh air concerns with flower pot heater
Whale-ista - 11-16-2013 at 10:01 PM
Burning candles wouldn't be a problem with enough fresh air from normal ventilation.
However, We used to do a similar heater set up in the family RV, over the low flame of the propane stove. We had to be careful. Incomplete burning of
propane or natural gas can create a buildup of carbon monoxide (CO) and that is deadly.
CA law now requires CO detectors be installed in homes to prevent these deaths, but they still occur in the early winter in many places when people
first use heaters and may not realize they are malfunctioning.
Originally posted by Whale-ista
Burning candles wouldn't be a problem with enough fresh air from normal ventilation.
However, We used to do a similar heater set up in the family RV, over the low flame of the propane stove. We had to be careful. Incomplete burning of
propane or natural gas can create a buildup of carbon monoxide (CO) and that is deadly.
CA law now requires CO detectors be installed in homes to prevent these deaths, but they still occur in the early winter in many places when people
first use heaters and may not realize they are malfunctioning.
CA law REQUIRES this??????? That is news to me. Since when? I sure don't have them, and I don't know anybody that does. (tho not a topic of
conversation)
Barry
CO detector laws in CA
Whale-ista - 11-16-2013 at 11:28 PM
As of July 1, 2011 the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act (Senate Bill - SB 183) requires owners of all single-family homes with an attached
garage or a fossil fuel source to install carbon monoxide detectors within the home by July 1, 2011. Owners of multi-family leased or rental
dwellings, such as apartment buildngs, have until January 1, 2013 to comply with the law.
Originally posted by Whale-ista
Burning candles wouldn't be a problem with enough fresh air from normal ventilation.
However, We used to do a similar heater set up in the family RV, over the low flame of the propane stove. We had to be careful. Incomplete burning of
propane or natural gas can create a buildup of carbon monoxide (CO) and that is deadly.
CA law now requires CO detectors be installed in homes to prevent these deaths, but they still occur in the early winter in many places when people
first use heaters and may not realize they are malfunctioning.
CA law REQUIRES this??????? That is news to me. Since when? I sure don't have them, and I don't know anybody that does. (tho not a topic of
conversation)
Barry
MMc - 11-17-2013 at 08:41 AM
I used them in my home in Baja for years. I am cheap. Heating it was with a electric heater was expensive, we only used when it got really cold. We
would put one in bedroom and one the living room it would add about 10 to 15 degrees to a room. We never worried about airflow as it was a Mexican
house, plenty of airflow. Just be aware the outer pot does get hot, so don't
touch it. That was biggest safety issue.Santiago - 11-17-2013 at 08:46 AM
If you pull a permit for anything, new roof, water heater, doesn't matter, anything, they will require the home to have the required number of smoke
and CO deflectors.
My neighbor refinanced their mortgage last month and one of the requirments of the refi was the same.
Fortunately, the law allows battery powered units so no wiring needs to be done.wessongroup - 11-17-2013 at 09:51 AM
Barry ... we put ours in
Candles vs. propane heat & CO poisoning
Whale-ista - 11-17-2013 at 10:00 AM
in general, candles are much safer for low cost heating than propane, natural gas etc. heaters. Heat/fire/burns from open flames are more likely
problems vs. CO poisoning.
However, You can purchase combo detectors for both smoke and carbon monoxide, battery operated, for under $30. Good idea in boats and RVs as well as
homes, esp if using Heaters that haven't been checked for blocked lines, leaks etc. for a while.
CO poisoning can look like flu: victims develop headaches, nausea etc. in worst case, people die in their sleep as CO replaces oxygen and suffocates
them before they wake up. This is the most common cause of death from CO exposure.
Be safe this winter!
Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
If you pull a permit for anything, new roof, water heater, doesn't matter, anything, they will require the home to have the required number of smoke
and CO deflectors.
My neighbor refinanced their mortgage last month and one of the requirments of the refi was the same.
Fortunately, the law allows battery powered units so no wiring needs to be done.
Barry A. - 11-17-2013 at 10:03 AM
uhhhhhhhh errrrr, Wiley, that is a "heat detector", not a "Carbon Monoxide" detector--------a violation, for sure!!! (and their coming for you as I
write)
Interesting about the CA law---------I was totally unaware of it. I just had a "house intrusion alarm" system installed, and they did put something
strange on the ceiling of our hall------maybe that's one of those things. (I thought it was another "smoke alarm".)
Thanks folks.
Barrybajaguy - 11-17-2013 at 10:25 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Barry A.
Interesting about the CA law---------I was totally unaware of it............Barry
Careful, Barry.....yiou live in a Nanny State, and they think they know what is better for you than you doMexitron - 11-17-2013 at 12:18 PM
A CNN article, for what its worth. I had no idea there was a National Candle Association (and of course they concluded that candles don't pollute the
air...surprise, surprise!)
Study: Some types of candles may pollute indoor air
A soak in a steamy tub, surrounded by candles sure seems like a great way to unwind. But new research suggests that burning certain kinds of candles
may generate indoor air pollutants.
Frequently lighting many candles in an unventilated space could lead to problems, say the study researchers.
Researchers at South Carolina State University studied petroleum-based and vegetable-source candles to determine their emissions. They let candles
from different manufacturers burn for up to six hours in a small box (8 inches x 8 inches x 26 inches), and then collected and analyzed substances
released into the air.
They found that paraffin-based candles -- the most popular kind -- emitted toxic chemicals like toluene and benzene. Soybean candles did not,
according to the study, which was presented this week at the American Chemical Society meeting in Washington, D.C. Candles made of beeswax or soybean
tend to make mention of that ingredient on their label; paraffin candles may not.
The researchers say that lighting a paraffin candle once in a while is unlikely to pose a health threat. However, frequently lighting many candles in
an unventilated space could lead to problems, and may aggravate asthma, cause allergy-like symptoms, or irritate the respiratory tract. Health.com: 10
ways to fight indoor mold
However, whether some candles are safer than others is still debatable, according to one expert. "I think there's some controversy out there as to
which candles are better than others," says George Thurston, Ph.D., an associate professor of environmental medicine at the New York University School
of Medicine.
Thurston urges people to be prudent about lighting any kind of candle -- whether it's paraffin, beeswax, or soybean -- in an enclosed space. "Just
lighting a match to start a candle creates sulfur pollution in the air," he adds. "It's one of the big sources of sulfur in the indoor environment, so
using a lighter would probably be cleaner." Health.com: Why belly fat is bad for your lungs
While you aren't putting your life on the line by lighting a candle, he says you should exercise at least some caution. "You ought to try to minimize
your exposure to paraffin wax candles," says Thurston. "And when you light any kind of candle, you might turn on the exhaust fan; even if it ruins the
mood, it vents out the fumes. People just need to use common sense."
Don't Miss
10 tips to allergy-proof your home for fall
In Depth: Living with Allergies
Candles are only one potential source of indoor air pollution.
"A lot of household products give off volatile organic compounds, or VOCs," says David Rosenstreich, M.D., the director of the division of allergy and
immunology at New York's Montefiore Medical Center. Cleaning products, hair sprays, and mousses all contribute to indoor air pollution. "We live in a
highly chemically infused environment where people use tons of products," he adds. "Just because it's on the supermarket shelves doesn't mean it's
safe."
Central heating and cooling systems, as well as gas fireplaces, can generate indoor air pollution too. "People have these fake fireplaces that are
unventilated and the pollution just sits in the room," says Thurston. "You need ventilation, just like you do with candles." Health.com: Air purifier
buying guide
People with respiratory problems such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should make an extra effort to cut down on indoor air
pollution, says Rosenstreich. And it's easier than it sounds. "You can wipe down your counter with a little soap and water," he says. "You don't need
to use these powerful cleaners."
He also suggests ventilating your home as naturally as possible by opening the windows at night once the house has cooled down. "That way you're not
breathing in the same old stale air," he says. If you are prone to outdoor allergies, use a filter in your central air and heating systems to cut down
on dust.
Health Library
MayoClinic.com: Carbon monoxide poisoning
MayoClinic.com: Asthma
Simply thinking twice about the chemical products you use in your home can go a long way toward improving air quality. "A lot of things we take for
granted aren't really safe at all," Rosenstreich says.
Barbara Miller, a spokesperson for the National Candle Association, says "no candle wax has ever been shown to be dangerous or harmful to human
health."
"Paraffin wax is neither toxic nor carcinogenic," says Miller. "All types of properly formulated candle wax have been shown to burn cleanly and
safely." Health.com: How to make your own all-natural home cleaners
She notes that a 2007 industry-funded study found that none of the candle waxes tested -- including paraffin, soy wax, and beeswax -- produced
benzene. The levels of volatile organic compounds were less than 2 percent of the indoor air-quality standard.
In that study, nine 6-ounce candles of each type containing no fragrance or dyes were burned simultaneously in a test chamber. The test simulated four
hours of daily burning of one container candle in a room about 1765 cubic feet (50 cubic meters) in size. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend | Mixx
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COPYRIGHT HEALTH MAGAZINE 2009wessongroup - 11-17-2013 at 12:54 PM
Barry, use these for the "other"
seed is cheap, at this time
But, back on topic ... heating, I think that was what this was about
Here's another way ... passive solar .. on the cheap
The big box is made from scrap lumber, an old window, some aluminum pop cans and a couple of old computer muffin fans. The fans are powered by the
small solar panel on the left. In full sun, it puts out about as much heat as a 1500 watt electric heater, and doesn't cost a penny.
[Edited on 11-17-2013 by wessongroup]chuckie - 11-17-2013 at 06:57 PM
What is California?durrelllrobert - 11-18-2013 at 10:55 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by wessongroup
Barry ... we put ours in
That's my redneck smoke detector photo I posted on another thread.wessongroup - 11-18-2013 at 11:01 AM
Knew I'd seen it somewhere, couldn't remember .... Google search ... thanks
. Just be aware the outer pot does get hot, so don't
touch it. That was biggest safety issue.
(I thought it was another "smoke alarm".)
