If using or considering a heat reclaimer. See this for consideration.

This Vogelzang heat reclaimer was in a home. On a system used 24/7. By a guy who swore by this thing. It is now gone. How it did not cause a chimney fire is beyond me. The rest of his pipe was ugly. He called because it had plugged last evening. Not a pleasant Sunday night. Doors, windows wide open. Cold. Wife pizzed

This gent (buddy of mine actually) is dead set that one year of seasoning will cover any species of wood. We have argued many times. Today he was very pleasant as I brought over new connector pipe and helped him attempt to clean this mess up. I am guessing this had the chance of ending badly. Thought it worth showing here.

 

That's a good place for that thing In the recycle metals bin

 

I knew there was someone that had one they were going to remove but didn't remember who

 

Should add this in this sticky also , Burn Safe !
moresnow
or
Pallet Pete

 

To be fair the heat reclaimer didn’t help. But it’s hard to believe that the pipe had been swep this or last year. And you said that the guy doesn’t dry his wood properly. I’d also be willing to bet that the stove smolders a good part of the time.

Looks like a good recipe for a chimney fire. Hopefully he learned a lesson before he had to learn it the hard way.

 

Anything that can be done wrong. Gets done wrong with this gent! He's a great guy to share brews with and go fishing. Just not up to speed on anything wood burning For the record he claims he swept prior to burning this season. Less than a half arsed attempt is my guess. Should be interesting to see how the new Selkirk DSP connecter holds up. I also have been trying to explain to him that the Liberty bypass is not a flu damper Aaaaand the secondary burn tubes should really be installed. ALL the time! I am not kidding folks. These fellers are out there.
Another example is a guy who showed me how he cleans his reclaimer. Open's a small port in its side (home brew) and shoots a can of carb cleaner into it with a hot fire going Another true story. No wonder insurance is outrageous eh?

 

I tried to have a conversation with a guy who sprays water on half of a stove load of wood..... to delay the start of that half burning to lengthen burn times.

 

Good lord. Never think you've seen or heard it all

 

Sounds like the same type that tell you, you want a little green wood mixed in for a longer burn.

 

If we are voting on the heat re-claimers, I'm a NO.
They take away the pipe exhaust heat, meaning less draft, and cooler temperatures, and more Creosote....and more chimney sweeping.
If I need more heat, I just add more wood!

 

While I agree with you, one can pull it off if you have a clean burner and excess draft.

I inject cold outside air directly into my barometric damper in order to avoid sending heated basement air up the chimney. I use a 6" outside air makeup vent to do it.

I don't have any issues, but it helps to burn well seasoned wood in a well designed furnace which burns most, if not all, of the fuel (smoke). When I clean the chimney at the years end, it's just all flyash.

The insulated part runs right to an outside air source. The 6" flexible duct leaving the left side of the photo connects directly to my barometric damper. The open end pointing down provides makeup air for combustion, LP clothes drier and/or for the power vent on the LP water heater. It's strange to feel the barometric damper tee and have it ice cold.

 

He is lucky to have you as a friend moresnow !

 

Dunning–Kruger effect - Wikipedia