researching the topic, it seems the commercial options are limited to cook stoves (thanks EPA). I do see some pretty ingenious DIY creations but I’m no plumber and want nothing to do with high pressure steam. Not looking to provide endless showers anyway, really just want a supply for washing up, dishes ect. It seems that a steel reservoir hanging on the side of the firebox with a hose coming out the bottom would do the trick. I realize it would be slow to heat water but would be passive and much safer than anything requiring circulation. Any one tried this or know of a product along these lines? Or tell me why this is a bad idea.
At hunting camp north of the Catskills, we leave a large pot, the size you might use for a crawfish boil, on top of the brick framed fire pit. It can be in the mid teens outside but the water, which is used for washing dishes, it plenty warm (over 100 degrees) for doing dishes. There is a tube plumbed into the bottom of the pot with a valve to turn the water on and off. Once complete with dishes, simply refill the pot for the next time. If your setup was inside, it would be much more efficient than what we use…. ps, is there a story behind the screen name?
yes. Mine didn't work. A heat pump water heater can provide 50 gallons of hot water (and dehumidify your basement) for $104/ year. That works. Side note. If you already run a dehumidifier in your basement in the summer, you're getting hot water for free for those months with a hpwh
We keep a pot of water atop the stove, for humidity. Its big enough to use as a dishes pot for small stuff, or can be poured into the sink with soap and cold water for a bigger load. One of us fills the pot 1x or 2x a day. The pot is generally clean, so the same hot water can be used to make tea, fill the coffee pot etc. And, if power is out, a 12qt pot is enough to take sponge baths from. Ive thought of suspending a tank in the ceiling above the stove, with a (flexible?) line to the shower, but that would require a cold water line in case the hot water was more than warm. A line direct to the kitchen sink might work, being that cold water can be added easily for dishes if needed. The only downside to a water jacket that I've thought of: I'd still need to fill a pot from it, now closer to floor level...perhaps with a stool to hold the pot up while its filling. Sca
Tim, Nice! We have water lines (hot and cold) which are dead ended almost directly above the wood stove. Bronze piping even. If I were to install anything, those might come in handy. Even a spigot coming up from the basement to the wood stove area might work here. Even with a foot activated valve..... Sca
Thx for responses. I guess the old stock pot on top is the best bet. Didn’t know about heat pump water heaters. There’s a whole other rabbit hole to go down. The handle is because for wood and humans alike, there are only two ways off this earth. Rot or burn.
I took the very low tech approach with a 24 qt tramontina. It gets water scary hot in a short time, I had to put it on a trivet to stay below boiling. Definitely needs some sort of valve. I’ll just lurk around the hardware store and figure something out. Would like it to still function as a stock pot as well so the hole will need to be plugable.
Look at home brewing supply websites for pot valve kits. I think you’ll find kits intended for converting kegs.
