Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Excellent, and modern, up-to-date review of Masonry Heaters and their use and construction in America.
The rationale, use, differences, and construction of MHs is exhaustive; there are scores of beautiful full color photos of different heaters - it almost seems he has a photo of every current heater in America.
The author shows the different uses and qualities of masonry types, right down to how fast they transfer heat, and how much heat each can store. He provides formulas for calculating how big the firebox should be, the length of heat channels, how much chimney you would need according to your altitude. Importantly, he reviews the half-dozen or so Masonry Heater companies, and delves into what type of heater they install, the design principles behind each companies' furnace, and the benefits and liabilities of each.
I've been reading about these stalwart hearts of the home for some time, and this book is so soup-to-nuts I learned much and altered the design of my own eventual MH. (Changed from outside air to inside air supply, top down burn instead of top up burn, and a 1 1/2 story heater to give second floor some radiant heat, instead of a 2 furnace design.)
If you have any interest in MHs, you must own this book, as well as David Lyles' The Book of Masonry Stoves. Lyles book is worth the price alone for the history of MHs, as well as its current information.
From a practical, up to date perspective however Masonry Heaters:DBL with a Piece of the Sun is a must have.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Masonry Heaters: Designing, Building, and Living with a Piece of the Sun
Masonry Heaters is a complete guide to designing and living with one of the oldest, and yet one of the newest, heating devices. A masonry heater's design, placement in the home, and luxurious radiant heat redefine the hearth for the modern era, turning it into a piece of the sun right inside the home. Like the feeling one gets from the sun on a spring day, the environment around a masonry heater feels fresh. The radiant heat feels better on the skin. It warms the home both gently and efficiently. In fact, the value of a masonry heater lies in its durability, quality, serviceability, dependability, and health-supporting features. And it is an investment in self-sufficiency and freedom from fossil fuels.
The book discusses different masonry heater designs, including variations extant in Europe, and explains the growth of their popularity in the United States beginning in the late 1970s. For the reader who may be familiar only with open fireplaces and metal woodstoves, Masonry Heaters will bring a new understanding and appreciation of massive heat storage and gentle-but-persistent radiant heat. Masonry heaters offer a unique comfort that is superior to that from convection heat from forced-air systems, and more personal than that offered by "radiant" floors. As Matesz demonstrates, the heat from the sun or from a masonry heater is genuine heat instead of just insulation against the loss of heat.
Those who are looking to build, add onto, or remodel a house will find comprehensive and practical advice for designing and installing a masonry heater, including detailed discussion of materials, code considerations, and many photos and illustrations. While this is not a do-it-yourself guide for building a masonry heater, it provides facts every heater builder should know. Professional contractors will find this a useful tool to consult, and homeowners considering a new method of home heating will find all they need to know about masonry heaters within these pages.
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