Hi all. Some-time unregistered lurker, first-time poster.
I live in a place where it is necessary to have an alternate heat source during prolonged winter outages, for which I currently use a catalytic wood stove (an older Federal Airtight) that vents through an unused fireplace chimney flue. Works great. House has a reasonably open floorplan and the whole place heats adequately with the wood stove when necessary.
I have also spent the past decade ascending the energy-efficiency pyramid (insulation, air sealing, conservation, efficiency, etc.). Added a solar domestic hot water system a couple years ago. Now ready to cover the rest of the roof with PV. But... there is a large brick chimney that shades some prime roof space for much of the year.
Bottom line is that the chimney needs to have the upper 10 ft taken off to allow more productive PV. Would prefer to keep burning wood as the alternate heat source, as I do it sustainably and the system works well.
But I'm guessing some kind of sealed, outside combustion air, direct vent system is needed to vent out the reduced chimney, a sidewall, or out the back of the chimney at fireplace level. My preliminary research suggests pellet stove or gas insert.
What are the options? Would strongly prefer wood as opposed to pellets but not sure wood is still an option with a non-code (and obviously unsafely low) reduced chimney height. Gas is a distant third option to wood and pellets, but could do that if necessary. Whatever choice, it also needs to work when the electricity is out (and under these conditions, the PV would typically be covered with snow....).
Max output would need to be in the 20-25k BTU/hr range. Fireplace is 36"w 30"h 18"d.
Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
TIA!
I live in a place where it is necessary to have an alternate heat source during prolonged winter outages, for which I currently use a catalytic wood stove (an older Federal Airtight) that vents through an unused fireplace chimney flue. Works great. House has a reasonably open floorplan and the whole place heats adequately with the wood stove when necessary.
I have also spent the past decade ascending the energy-efficiency pyramid (insulation, air sealing, conservation, efficiency, etc.). Added a solar domestic hot water system a couple years ago. Now ready to cover the rest of the roof with PV. But... there is a large brick chimney that shades some prime roof space for much of the year.
Bottom line is that the chimney needs to have the upper 10 ft taken off to allow more productive PV. Would prefer to keep burning wood as the alternate heat source, as I do it sustainably and the system works well.
But I'm guessing some kind of sealed, outside combustion air, direct vent system is needed to vent out the reduced chimney, a sidewall, or out the back of the chimney at fireplace level. My preliminary research suggests pellet stove or gas insert.
What are the options? Would strongly prefer wood as opposed to pellets but not sure wood is still an option with a non-code (and obviously unsafely low) reduced chimney height. Gas is a distant third option to wood and pellets, but could do that if necessary. Whatever choice, it also needs to work when the electricity is out (and under these conditions, the PV would typically be covered with snow....).
Max output would need to be in the 20-25k BTU/hr range. Fireplace is 36"w 30"h 18"d.
Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
TIA!