fireplaces

[kani-lehua]

what is the difference between direct vent and natural vent? look at this fireplace http://realestate.aol.com/photo-gallerie...alous?pg=2

malia paha o lohe aku

perhaps they will hear

[Les C]

Having had a direct vent heater, I can tell you that it vents directly to the outside (ooh, that's useful!). Kidding aside, the heater sits next to an outside wall and a double-walled, "two transport" pipe goes horizontally out. One carries exhaust out and the other carries fresh air in for the combustion in the heater. It's efficient because you don't lose a lot of heat out the exhaust. I imagine that a natural vent is like a chimney, where the heat rises up, carrying the exhaust gases out. Fireplaces are generally inefficient; I think the heat loss is something like 50-60%. Direct vent heaters are something like 98% efficient, retaining most of the heat.

Unless you live in Volcano, I don't see how all of this efficiency would matter.

[kani-lehua]

thanks for the link.

and, yes, i have a lot up at mauna loa estates. building won't happen for another several years.

malia paha o lohe aku

perhaps they will hear

[gtill]

I'm in Royal Hawaiian and have been playing with the posibilities. Wood is our only real Alt. fuel, and efficiency will be important.

[kani-lehua]

quote:

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Originally posted by gtill

I'm in Royal Hawaiian and have been playing with the posibilities. Wood is our only real Alt. fuel, and efficiency will be important.

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being that i know zero-nothing except what the other two members have posted regarding fireplaces, why is wood your only real alternative? and, do any of your neighbors have one and what are they using?

malia paha o lohe aku

perhaps they will hear

[gtill]

We lived in Fern Forest years ago, and can assure you need heat, we used kerosene mostly. Today either gas or electric cost is outrageous without heat, including kerosene which smells!

Too much cloud
cover for solar,not enough wind for wind power. However wood is everywhere. The pellets were tried, but moisture was a problem. And the old fireplaces were very inneficient and ate too much wood.

The controlled vent would be good, especially if it could last all night. Plus water could always be on the stove. There is an internal water jacket which can be mounted in the stove for a remote hot water tank.

Now we have to consult with th EPA as to whether we'd be polluting the pristine Puna atmosphere with our burning!

[kani-lehua]

quote:

---

Originally posted by gtill

We lived in Fern Forest years ago, and can assure you need heat, we used kerosene mostly. Today either gas or electric cost is outrageous without heat, including kerosene which smells!

Too much cloud
cover to rely on solar(mabe hotwater), or wind for wind power. However wood is everywhere. The pellets were tried, but moisture was a problem. And the old fireplaces were very inneficient and ate too much wood.

The controlled vent would be good, especially if it could last all night. Plus water could always be on the stove. There is an internal water jacket which can be mounted in the stove for a remote hot water tank.

Now we have to consult with th EPA as to whether we'd be polluting the pristine Puna atmosphere with our burning!

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okay. so now i'm really confused. you're talking about a wood-burning stove? forgive my ignorance i know some of you are bagging your heads, but isn't that different than a fireplace? and, are you saying that you can have a stove with a direct vent or a natural vent?



malia paha o lohe aku

perhaps they will hear

[jdirgo]

You're not the only one confused. However, I am not "bagging my head" because I believe that would cut off airflow and I'm a big fan of breathing.

It does seem to mean that there are two topics here:
1) wood-burning stove or fireplace for heating and/or cooking --and--
2) solar, wind and other power generation means

Sometimes the two go hand-in-hand, but unless you're planning to use the wood to heat water, create steam and have a little home-based steam-to-electricity generation plant, I'm missing the connection.

John Dirgo, R, ABR, e-PRO
Aloha Coast Realty, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
http://www.alohacoastrealty.com

[kani-lehua]

quote:

---

Originally posted by jdirgo

You're not the only one confused. However, I am not "bagging my head" because I believe that would cut off airflow and I'm a big fan of breathing.

It does seem to mean that there are two topics here:
1) wood-burning stove or fireplace for heating and/or cooking --and--
2) solar, wind and other power generation means

Sometimes the two go hand-in-hand, but unless you're planning to use the wood to heat water, create steam and have a little home-based steam-to-electricity generation plant, I'm missing the connection.

John Dirgo, R, ABR, e-PRO
Aloha Coast Realty, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
http://www.alohacoastrealty.com

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sorry, that was a typo on my part. i meant "banging your heads" because i said i was confused and do apologize for my ignorance on the subject. but, what i think i'll need up at volcano is fireplace for heat? or do you have a wood burning stove? or both? or none of them at all? or do you stockpile your fleece sweaters?

malia paha o lohe aku

perhaps they will hear

[jdirgo]

I haven't lived up as high as Volcano, but I have lived up the mountain a little ways (Fern Acres) and I think a fireplace (burning whatever is environmentally sound) or a wood stove would be a great addition to a place in Volcano. Everyone I know that lives up there has one (the evil voice in my head was saying "all the cool kids have one!").

I know that even just in Fern Acres, there were a few nights I wished I had one.

And I was just kidding on the "bagging" thing -- what I couldn't figure out was if you meant "banging" or "wagging" -- both made sense.

John Dirgo, R, ABR, e-PRO
Aloha Coast Realty, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
http://www.alohacoastrealty.com