One of the most important aspects of operating a wooden house is its heating - not only coziness and comfort, but also the safety of residents depends on it. Weather conditions in our country do not allow us to abandon heating, and often it may be required even in the spring and summer.
So it must be effective - this means maintaining optimal temperature in the room, ease of use of heating devices and efficiency. After all, a lot of money is already spent on utilities, and no one wants to increase these expenses. How to get fungus and mold on the walls if the heating is insufficient or of poor quality. That is why it is so important to choose the right heating mechanism for a wooden house.
Types of heating systems
To organize space heating, you can use several heat sources at once. Heating installation in a wooden house can be done using the following heat generators:
- bake;
- fireplace (classic or modernized);
- gas convector;
- electric convector;
- heat gun.
When choosing a suitable option, it is worth considering how light and easy it will be to operate. The cost of equipment maintenance becomes an important factor; sometimes incorrect calculations lead to unnecessary costs. The same applies to reducing heat losses to a minimum. An important role when creating heating in a wooden house with your own hands is played by the aesthetic appearance of the units and their compliance with the chosen interior.
Self-installation of a potbelly stove
When choosing a stove option for a country house, it is important to carefully calculate the required power for heating the selected area. A potbelly stove with an area of 1 sq.m can heat a room of 35 sq.m.
When choosing a stove for a country house, it is important to carefully calculate the required power for heating the selected area
An important factor in the operation of the device is the blowing of heat out of the room and the influx of cold air into it. For example, cracks in windows or floors that create a draft will noticeably disrupt the operation of the potbelly stove. An excellent solution for a two-story country house is a two-tier potbelly stove with a common chimney. Read more about installing a homemade potbelly stove in a country house on our website.
Video: installation of a potbelly stove and chimney
If you want to reduce the cost of installing and purchasing a stove, you can try to make it yourself according to the instructions.
Self-assembly of a potbelly stove
Distinctive features of pumping systems
The movement of the coolant at a suitable speed is ensured by a special pump. This helps to avoid temperature loss and also leads to faster heating of the premises.
A common system is a system with natural water circulation. Due to the difference in pressure, the liquid returns to the boiler after cooling. The warming up process is carried out more slowly, but the cost of installing a system of this type is more affordable for a wide range of buyers.
High efficiency can be achieved by installing a circulation pump. The use of such a system makes it possible to use pipes of smaller diameter. With natural circulation, the volume of heated space is limited; when operating a circulation pump, there are no space restrictions. Additional equipment requires money to be spent at the purchase stage, but the efficiency of its use will reduce fuel consumption, so it will bring tangible benefits.
Heating boiler diagram
Water heating in a wooden house cannot be imagined without a boiler that provides heating of the coolant. The boiler is a device operating in automatic mode. There are several types of equipment that use different types of fuel.
Heating boiler diagram
The heating system in a wooden house can be installed using the following types of boilers:
- gas;
- electrical;
- diesel;
- working on solid fuel.
It is worth considering separately the features and types of infrared heating. This model of heating system uses electricity to operate, and at the same time has economical consumption compared to electric boilers. The disadvantage of this option is the inability to heat large rooms; often infrared equipment plays a supporting role.
Using solar energy
If you live in a sunny region of Russia, then solar panels will be an excellent solution for you, which will generate heat and heat water most of the year. You won’t have to pay utility bills every month, and the heat will be taken “out of thin air.” This is suitable for owners of summer cottages that are used only periodically, for example, for planting crops in the garden and for a summer holiday in a cozy country house. Consumers who install such systems are not afraid of power outages. You can also use photovoltaic panels, which are used as an additional power source. If there are power outages, the energy from such devices will be enough to keep boilers and heaters running for several hours, as well as watch TV and charge your phone.
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Gas boilers
If it is possible to connect to a gas pipeline, a gas boiler in a wooden house will be a good option. There are three types of boilers:
- atmospheric (a distinctive feature is a constant combustion mode, but when heated to a certain level, the gas supply automatically stops);
- turbine (in many ways similar to atmospheric, the difference is the presence of an air mass control system);
- condensation (has a more complex structure, in it the condensate located on the surface of the combustion chamber is first heated, which subsequently heats the coolant).
Gas boilers
Condensing boilers from Germany are characterized by high energy efficiency; they have decent efficiency. The only reason to refuse such equipment is the need to install heating in a wooden house without gas.
Electric boilers
Electric heating in a wooden house involves the use of two boilers, one of which performs only an auxiliary function. The main boiler is a model in which the heating element function is performed by a heating element (tubular electric heater). In some cases, an electric boiler with electrodes is used; its operation is carried out using the ionization of water molecules.
Electric boilers
Before choosing electric heating in a wooden house, it is worth considering the subsequent costs. The equipment itself is inexpensive, but the price of electricity may scare off potential buyers. This method has advantages:
- small size of the unit;
- complete safety of use;
- possibility of autonomous operation (without human intervention);
- Efficiency is close to 100%.
Solid fuel boilers
If the cost of electrical energy is unaffordable and there is no possibility of connecting to gas, the best choice would be a solid fuel boiler in a wooden house. There are various models of equipment with different firebox heights. One load of fuel allows the unit to operate autonomously for up to 12 hours. The most popular types of fuel are coal and wood. This type of boiler is the most profitable in terms of operating cost.
Solid fuel boilers
The disadvantage of heating in a private house using solid fuel boilers is the dependence of the efficiency on the level of humidity. You should not choose too cheap models, otherwise you will have to deal with such troubles as the formation of soot and soot. Most inexpensive boilers require frequent cleaning, which takes a lot of time.
Diesel boilers
One of the common options for heating a wooden house is purchasing a diesel boiler. The advantage of such systems is their ease of installation and subsequent operation. When installing most models, you do not have to worry about the need to create a complex chimney system.
Diesel boilers
When using water heating, such equipment will have a number of disadvantages:
- high fuel consumption (15 liters per day) and corresponding maintenance costs;
- low efficiency rate (from 75 to 85%);
- the need for constant monitoring (if bad fuel is used, work may simply stop).
Among all the options, this one has the lowest efficiency and the need for constant monitoring, however, quick heating of the room and the ability to regulate the temperature make the installation of a heating system of this type popular. You can also choose a diesel boiler if fuel costs do not become a serious problem for you.
The main problems with furnaces with a water circuit.
The main problem with furnaces with a water circuit is the other side of the coin of its main advantage. Water, being a good coolant, heats up quickly and transfers heat well. And metal conducts heat well...
This is why furnaces with a water circuit cool down quite quickly. It is a well-known fact that for effective heat transfer and heating of a house, a certain surface temperature is needed. So, a stove with a water circuit gives this temperature during heating and for a short time after. Then the following happens.
The stove, having a water circuit inside, cools down quite quickly, with some exceptions (some models). And the pipes themselves, due to the above characteristics, give off heat quite quickly and also cool down.
A familiar story - a stove with a water circuit is fired twice a day, if not more. But for me, twice a day is already too much to fire up the stove. So it’s better to install two stoves in the house, there will be less hassle, and the effect (efficiency) from firewood will be greater. I'm not kidding…
But quickly cooling down and firing the stove “like at work” twice a day is not so bad...
Such intensive use of the furnace—frequent firing—leads to accelerated destruction of the furnace masonry. Old hydronic furnaces look old not because of their age, but rather because of their essence. They are constantly oiled, because they are constantly drowned, the masonry collapses and cracks. I have a friend who heats her stove in cold weather without stopping... She has a stove with a water circuit.
The third problem arises when the register is installed not in the firebox, but, for example, in the hood. When lighting such a stove, when the coolant has cooled down, a large volume of condensate occurs. According to our calculations, during the first heating of such a furnace, up to 2 liters of condensate leaks into the furnace! If you do not make special devices for collecting condensate, this stove will always get wet...
And this is fraught with constant problems with lighting the stove, huge amounts of soot on the register and rapid clogging of the stove.
Warm floor
Modern homes often use underfloor heating to create a more comfortable environment. If the power is correctly calculated, such a system can be used as a method of heating rooms if there is no severe frost outside. When using a water system, pipes are laid under the final coating, thereby heating the surface.
Warm floor
If you use an electric heating connection in a wooden building, you should definitely install heated floors. This will increase consumption slightly, but the increase in comfort will be clearly felt.
Underfloor heating is rarely used separately as heating; most often it is part of a combined system. When installing, take into account the need for additional thermal insulation to comply with fire safety regulations. Before installation, it is worth taking care of the possibility of temperature control in order to control the condition of the system.
General recommendations for installing a potbelly stove with your own hands
Chimney installation diagram for a potbelly stove.
It is necessary to first familiarize yourself with some information about the installation of such a structure in order to know what nuances you will have to face.
You can install a potbelly stove if you have basic construction skills and learning abilities.
The main problem for heating equipment that runs on wood is installing a chimney system. A potbelly stove has simplified requirements when compared with a fireplace. In this case, it is not necessary to make a vertical chimney.
For fire safety purposes, a potbelly stove requires an insulation layer. To do this, you need to make a brick platform or use a stainless steel sheet. You can also use asbestos-cement sheet, which is galvanized. This design can withstand temperatures up to +400°C.
It is allowed to use metal legs to install the stove. This design can save building materials and your own effort, which can be spent on installing the stove.
Scheme of a potbelly stove with a heat exchanger.
It is necessary to retreat 80 cm from the wall or add a thermal insulation layer to the wall. It is also recommended to install a protective coating around the perimeter of the stove, which can prevent fire if sparks hit the floor.
The chimney can be brought out at an angle from the wall. In this case, it is necessary to take care of the tight connection of the sections of the chimney structure. In most cases, a sandwich structure is used, which has a high level of safety due to the fact that the chimney pipe is partially insulated in the structure. It is not allowed to use thin stainless steel for the chimney structure, because it will quickly burn out. The pipe must be led outside through a drilled hole in the wall or roof. At the end, the resulting cracks must be covered with clay.
In order to be able to regulate the draft, it is necessary to purchase a damper, which is installed in the chimney structure and can block it completely or partially, if necessary. The gate will be needed a few mm smaller than the pipe diameter. You need to make 2 holes in the pipe. Next, you should thread a rod into them, to which the gate is attached.
The walls next to the stove must be protected with a steel screen or lined with ceramic tiles. It is preferable to use the latter option.
At the end, cosmetic work is carried out, which consists of filling up the cracks and improving the area on which it is planned to place the potbelly stove.
How is a chimney installed?
To install a chimney, the following materials are needed:
- elbow 1200x100 mm;
- 2 elbows 1200x160 mm;
- 3 butt elbows;
- tee;
- stub;
- fungus.
Thermal insulating material and a passage glass may be useful for installing a chimney. To seal the seams, sealant or asbestos cord is used.
The chimney installation process is as follows:
- It is necessary to fix 1 piece of pipe at the chimney opening.
- Pipe elbows will need to be extended to the ceiling line.
- A hole with a diameter of 170 mm or more must be made in the ceiling. In places where the chimney pipe must pass through the ceilings, you will need to remove the insulating layer. This is necessary in order to exclude the possibility of ignition of this layer.
- It is necessary to insert a passage glass into the hole that was made, and then pass the chimney pipe through it.
- Next, the pipe is connected to the external chimney structure.
- A layer of bitumen is applied to the outer part of the pipe. All this is wrapped in thermal insulation material.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=SMVD6li2QI4
Installing a potbelly stove is quite simple if you know all the nuances and have all the tools.
Options for choosing the right system
It is impossible to talk about a clear advantage of one system over all others; in a particular case, your own option is optimal. The following factors should be taken into account:
- cost of equipment;
- cost of radiators and other consumables;
- operating and maintenance costs;
- efficiency;
- exercising control;
- frequency of residence in the house (all year round or only in warm weather);
- types of thermal media used.
Each factor must be taken into account to make an informed decision. Do not forget about the aesthetic component of the question of how to hide and conceal heating pipes. All potential problems should be considered at the stage of choosing the type of system. Do-it-yourself heating schemes for a wooden house allow everyone to carry out installation independently without the involvement of third parties.
Types of thermal media
Thermal energy can be transferred in various ways; the following options can be considered:
- air heating of a wooden house;
- using water (the most popular option);
- stove heating in a wooden house;
- underfloor heating systems.
We have already discussed the underfloor heating system above; it will not be able to fully provide the house with heat in the winter. This option is used as part of a system with different coolants or when living in a cottage only in the summer.
Water is most often used as a coolant for many reasons. This is the easiest way to provide room heating; the system will have high performance and efficiency.
Stoves for heating a wooden house are a traditional option for heating rooms. This method has been tested by time; in our time, it remains in high demand. Stove heating in a wooden house is sometimes not capable of heating distant rooms, which becomes a serious drawback. However, when combined with other options, the stove demonstrates good efficiency indicators.
The use of air as a coolant is also often used. It is relatively safe; the downside is often significant heat loss during long-distance transmission. If you plan to heat houses with a large area, you will have to think about a way to avoid a drop in temperature when moving.
Separately, it is worth noting quartz heating, which is more economical compared to classic electric heating systems. Quartz equipment consumes several times less electricity, while being able to heat rooms in a short time.
How to install a frame potbelly stove
The structure of a frame stove is somewhat different from simple structures. To equip your garage with a heating structure, you must have:
- Metal sheet;
- corner;
- pipe;
- steel reinforcement;
- thick wire.
The tools you will need to find are:
Installation diagram for a potbelly stove.
- roulette;
- fasteners;
- welding machine;
- jigsaw
The order of work will be as follows:
- A frame is made from the corner. To do this, the metal is sawn into separate strips. Next, the legs are made. 2 rectangles of the same size are welded, legs are welded to one of them. The second rectangle is installed half a meter above the ground surface and attached using welding or bolts.
- The body is attached. Rectangular parts are cut from steel. For this purpose you need to use a jigsaw. The structure is connected using bolts or welding.
- Next, a door with a handle is attached to the body.
- A grate is made from existing wire or steel reinforcement, after which the structure is placed on the bottom.
- Next you will need to make a chimney pipe. One end of the structure is inserted into the oven, and the other end must be taken outside.
To obtain a large amount of heat, it is necessary to come up with a long and wavy pipe path through a heated private house. The chimney can be discharged through a window, roof or wall. In this case, care should be taken to ensure that all connections are tight. If this is not taken into account, smoke will enter the room.
What can you save on?
When purchasing equipment and installing a heating system, the issue of saving invariably arises. Correct calculations of power will allow you to spend less money, while in terms of comfort you will not lose anything. For example, there are several options for installing a gas boiler in a wooden house. The heat exchange pattern and overall efficiency depend on its location.
The efficiency of the system depends on how good the heating radiators are, which ones are best to use in a particular situation, calculations will show. These elements may have different designs. A massive element will not be highly efficient if you need to heat a small room. Radiators according to the type of material used are divided into the following types:
- aluminum (they can be cast or obtained as a result of processing a workpiece);
- panel steel (ease of installation, efficiency of use);
- cast iron products (they take a long time to heat up, but can be used for more than half a century);
- tubular steel;
- modern bimetallic structures.
If gasification is present, you should first consider options using gas for heating. Options may vary in cost; you can always choose the best option for a particular case. It is possible to install a stove under a gas boiler, which will make your life more comfortable.
Electric fireplaces
In an effort to effectively heat a room, many people prefer electric fireplaces with a “living fire” effect.
Note: in reality, such an electric fireplace is an ordinary fan heater with a visual imitation of a moving flame. The cost of this type of heater largely depends on the model, but is usually high due to the high-class decorative design of the housing.
One of the electric fireplace models with the body trimmed with valuable varieties of wood and 3D imitation of a living flame
Typically, an electric fireplace is built into a wall or installed close to the building envelope. The device is efficient, reliable and has sufficient power. In addition, this heater can be used not only for heating, but also as an element of room decor.
Heating system installation
Self-installation forces you to take into account the following operating features:
- installation of special compensators;
- selection of material for pipelines and radiators;
- correct connection of all elements so that there are no leaks;
- wiring on all floors, reducing the number of risers to a minimum.
Installation of a heating system
It is worth deciding where the boiler room will be located in a wooden house. For its arrangement, basements or a separate extension can be used. There are always different options for how to attach a boiler room to a wooden house, differing in the cost of installation, the complexity of the work and the ease of subsequent operation.
Single pipe system
The heating system can have a different number of circuits; the single-pipe version is most common. A single-pipe system ensures that hot water rises due to the difference in mass and density with the colder part of the coolant.
Single pipe system
This option is best used for small houses, since with natural circulation the difference in temperature on different floors will be felt. A good way to get rid of this drawback is to use a circulation pump. It is worth calculating all the expenses to understand whether this option will have truly suitable efficiency.
Two-pipe system
If there are two circuits, the hot coolant enters the radiators through a separate line. This ensures faster heating of the rooms, as well as the same temperature in opposite parts of the building. In large houses, uniform heating is important, so this option is optimal there.
Two-pipe system
Sometimes there is a need to expand the house and make new extensions. When using a double-circuit heating system, this will not be a problem; such a system is considered scalable, that is, you can always extend any line. When building houses with a large area of premises, opt for a two-pipe system.
Flaws
Along with many positive aspects, of course, there are also negative aspects of using stove heating.
The initial launch requires a significant amount of time. It will take some more time to warm up the furnace array until it begins to give off heat inside the building.
Note! Fireplaces, whose open firebox generates infrared radiation that quickly warms up the volume of the room, do not have this last drawback.
Stove heating requires human intervention to operate. It is almost impossible to automate the process. The stove heating system has low efficiency. Its increase is facilitated by an increase in the length of the smoke channels - revolutions, an increase in the outer surface, as well as the correct position of the chimney valve during the combustion process. Firewood must be prepared in advance to ensure drying.
A good stove should be massive and have a fairly large volume. Moreover, this entire volume should be located inside the building, reducing the usable area of the rooms. The decision to install stove heating should be made at the building design stage, since stoves very often require a foundation.
