Hi all, I am in the process of building a greenhouse and I am looking into sources of heating primarily in winter. I would like to use wood as a source of heat because I have a large amount of it.Also, I live in the Upper Midwest (Western Minnesota, by S. Dakota) so the weather can get very cold and very warm within a matter of days.I would like to see if anyone knows any links, or tips on how to build it. I would also like to use bricks around it, for the foundation and the chamber. It doesn't need to be large, but enough to heat (about 55-65 F) in a 6'x8'x10' greenhouse.Any tips would be greatly accepted! Thanks again!
Mcgrath is a very dedicated and experienced woodworker who knows what he is talking about when it comes to woodworking and DIY projects s he has been a woodworker for many many years.
We all know that anything that burns releases carbon dioxide / carbon monoxide. Both are dangerous. Wood burning will only deplete the natural resources and causes more of green house effect in the atmosphere. If u have stocked enough dry wood, then arrange the stove adjacent to your greenhouse (not inside), keep a boiler and let the burning wood create steam that can be transferred through a network of steel pipes laid inside the green house. This way continuous warmth inside can be retained at a particular degree of celsius with a controller fixed to the main pipe atop the boiler.
Easier install, and way more heat from a stove rather than a fireplace. There are numerous freestanding models, that you can set on brick. I prefer refactory brick for the area right under the stove, and regular brick for the feet to sit on and around the stove. Give it a good 18 of space between any ordinary combustibles, and more for plastics. Vent with a standard double walled stove pipe. This will need 18 of non-combustible area where it exits the building. I like to frame in the opening, 18 square, plus the diameter of the stove pipe. Once I have it framed, I install fire rated gypsum board, with a fire rated rock wool insulation to fill the cavity. Tons of heat, for even the most chilly day, but easy to clean out. If it warms up, the metal stove will not hold as much heat as masonry over time. So, for cold nights and warm days, it's better. If fire is a big concern, or you just don't want a stove in the greenhouse, look at a water stove. It's a free standing unit, outside, with a large fire place and a heat exchanger. Put in an A frame, and a fan, and you can run this off a thermostat as long as you have wood in the box. An additional advantage, is that you can plumb this to have an A frame in your house for heating there with your current forced air system, and it's a great supply of hot water. Have fun.
