Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

Outdoor Furnaces - Manufacturers WITH EPA-Certified Models => Heatmor => Topic started by: heat550 on February 02, 2015, 05:47:03 AM

Title: preheating outdoor wood
Post by: heat550 on February 02, 2015, 05:47:03 AM
Here's a thought My woodshed is about 12 feet from stove door. Its 16 feet by 35 feet . could I save enough BTUs by heating woodshed to 45f . instead of wasting BTUs heating the blocks up inside the stove.  Has anyone done math on this.
Because I'm thinking it be worth the effert. If I did this insulate woodshed really good. And put in ceiling fan. Maybe I'm dreaming. Now the ideas in cyber space. :o

Heat550
Title: Re: preheating outdoor wood
Post by: Jwood on February 02, 2015, 03:54:24 PM
I doubt you will benefit in any wood savings from heating something of that size.
Title: Re: preheating outdoor wood
Post by: heat550 on February 03, 2015, 04:13:44 AM
I doubt you will benefit in any wood savings from heating something of that size.


Well heated part I could make smaller 15x12  just put wall in.It was just a thought
I still have to install tin on the sides.  Got plywood for now just to get by. Next summer
Project thats why I was thinking warm wood storage.

Heat 550
Title: Re: preheating outdoor wood
Post by: Jwood on February 03, 2015, 06:12:25 AM
You could always try it and report your findings to us!
Title: Re: preheating outdoor wood
Post by: hondaracer2oo4 on February 03, 2015, 07:20:17 AM
I have thought of the same thing before. When it is cold like this you are basically throwing in 150 pounds of ice cubes!
Title: Re: preheating outdoor wood
Post by: mlappin on February 03, 2015, 09:05:26 AM
I have thought of the same thing before. When it is cold like this you are basically throwing in 150 pounds of ice cubes!

Yes and no, ice cubes don't burn unless you can get them hot enough for the hydrogen to separate from the oxygen.

Unless you're burning complete junk the amount of BTU's to get the wood warm enough in the stove for combustion to occur wouldn't be anywhere near what it would take to get the wood preheated and keep it preheated unless of course you can build a super insulated storage shed that rivals the newest eco houses on efficiency.
Title: Re: preheating outdoor wood
Post by: atvalaska on February 03, 2015, 09:38:39 AM
i have my boiler in a 9x12 walking cooler, I place enough wood (36"unsplit on end) in it to get by for the week, no 30 below wood goes in my stove ...more like 60deg ....if I  take a bucket of coal into the  shed it "sweats" till it gets up to temp/warm....I have to think  wood is similar  ???   
Title: Re: preheating outdoor wood
Post by: Jwood on February 03, 2015, 10:30:08 AM
I don't think wood is going to sweat I used to have a woodstove inside my old house and brought wood in at -20 and never once saw it sweat.
Title: Re: preheating outdoor wood
Post by: hondaracer2oo4 on February 03, 2015, 12:27:38 PM
Mlappin, yes you are right. I was making a more generalized statement about throwing some really cold fuel into a hot boiler. I notice the difference in the time it takes for the fire to really take off when it gets real cold like this( below 10) and I load it up with a fresh load of cold wood. I think it is a combo of cold fuel and cold air being blown into the firebox. I don't know why boiler manufacturers haven't tried to use the hot flue temp to warm the incoming air. Maybe it doesn't make that much of a difference with a fire? I understand how combustion engines work and how cooler air is more 'dense' meaning leaner fuel running conditions when it is cold on a fixed jet carbureted engine.