Rocket Mass Heater. 6 months in 6 minutes!!

Merch store here:
suburbanbiology.creator-sprin...
Full details of this project available here: • World's most efficient...
This stove is called a Rocket Mass Heater (RMH). It is a hyper-efficient wood burning stove made mostly out of earthen material.
The link to the full build up above contains a TON of information on both how this stove works and how I built it. It's a long video so bring a beverage and a chair and your sense of adventure.

[@seanwallace6404]

I highly recommend watching the full length video of this project. It’s a master class for this project and how to create a proper DIY video. Thank you for creating and sharing 😎

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank YOU for watching both versions and for subscribing!

[@Cikitabannanna2]

Watched already But now I am gonna watch the timelapse *2x as fast*

[@DaeViZ0n3]

After watching the full build I just came here to give you another like!

[@suburbanbiology]

Thanks for your support!!

[@seanwallace6404]

Yeah you right. That’s why I came here too 😎

[@user-rc5tr3ym7h]

Отлично друг , ты молодец

[@ElenaHaskins]

Thank you for providing both versions of the build.

[@suburbanbiology]

Quite welcome!

[@russellf1339]

Really dig the content here with the compressed build process but I LOVED the full length video with all the detail and explanation you provided.

[@suburbanbiology]

I’m glad you enjoyed both. Thanks!

[@anahatsingh5499]

this would be good with a radiant floor heating system going underneath good video and good build

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you.

[@Shambala_G]

Honestly you put so much care and attention into your work and video production that I want to help the algorithms get this viewed. The full length version is brilliant too! Inspirational build and videography. Kudos👍

[@suburbanbiology]

I appreciate that! Thanks for your support and for subscribing!

[@HighlightLife-wq9ph]

Really like how clean you keep everything man. Your doing great work!

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you for saying. And thank you more for subscribing!

[@hakimhudson9917]

Yeah man, cleanest one Ive seen yet.

[@2200chuck]

Awesome speedup. I always check out the sped up version of long videos first, not because I don't want to spend the time, but to add context to the long video as I watch it, because I will already understand what comes next as the full version proceeds.

[@stawastawa]

I love the way the moisture changes the color of the clay and the timelapse shows the surface drying as you apply the skim coats

[@suburbanbiology]

Yeah, that wound up looking pretty cool. I had no idea you would be able to see the moisture leave the Clay when I was time lapsing but I was also very pleased to see how that looked. Thanks for commenting!

[@whoever6458]

A fine idea! I may incorporate something like this into the Dakota fire pit system that I already have built at my fort in the woods but I'll have to wait until winter because it's too hot right now.

[@suburbanbiology]

Good luck with your project. Fort in the woods sounds cool!

[@ridenowmon]

Spare time spent well! Thanks for keeping it top shelf!

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you for your support. I appreciate it!

[@capthappy345]

Sweet build !! I plan on utilizing a similar style in an earth home I am going to build

[@suburbanbiology]

Cool! I would love to build and Earthship some day. Thanks for watching and for subscribing!

[@TitaniumT01]

Thanks for offering this to my short attention span. :)

[@suburbanbiology]

You are quite welcome. I didn’t want to assume everyone wanted all the details. Thanks!

[@GarysBBQSupplies]

Man that was a couple of tons of work! LITERALLY! I love how it turned out and I am so impressed with the result. :)

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@isonny2010]

Such a cosy build. Have attended a workshop almost 10 years ago. Loving it. And now working hard to build this lifestyle.

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you for commenting and for subscribing! Keep doing the work. There always plenty to be done. Thanks for your support and for being a part of this.

[@isonny2010]

@@suburbanbiology nah mate we are in our 40s and still cannot afford to buy a piece of land. And the land is only getting more expensive as the year pass. Sadly I am seeing it is getting further and further away from such dream.

[@Crtnmn]

Nice work.

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@planeman4453]

Neat project! I was wondering what your job is and how did you go about getting the skills and knowledge to build these sorts of projects?

[@daveswords2112]

Fantastic video with great explanations of how to build. Do you think this could work in a green house of plotting to raise seedlings? What's next dude?

[@suburbanbiology]

I plan on attaching a greenhouse to my porch and this is meant to be the heater for it. So I certainly hope it works in greenhouses ;) Good luck with your projects.

[@dac7046]

Impressive project. Very nice camera/editing work. Thanks.

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you very much!

[@user-rb1xb6dp9n]

Nice job done well

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@a.p.5429]

I need something like this for summer cooking. My house gets too hot. Going to watchd the full length too.

[@suburbanbiology]

Thanks for commenting. I hope you enjoy the detail of the full version!

[@melodypaz7247]

You're in for a treat!

[@LilmissJ111]

Very nice job!

[@randallhilton]

Fabulous presentation!

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@johncapper2615]

really liked your video, great quality and loved the soundtrack...we especially liked it when you slowed down your voice, perhaps do more in that style! or interspersed with normal. keep audience on their toes.

[@suburbanbiology]

Thanks for the feedback. I’m glad my antics were well received. Thanks for supporting!

[@darrenfredrickson2877]

Great video. You did an excellant job. I have always wanted to build one of these.

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you for saying. Thanks for your support and for subscribing too!

[@sobreaver]

Nice, if only they knew about such tech back in the old old days :P

[@stephenwagener349]

“They’ knew about this tech in the old days, particularly in far north of Europe and Russia. Too many vested interests have led us down other paths of expensive heating

[@eby6114]

Yep you'll find a lot of Russian videos with giant mass battery stoves. They shared heat with upstairs as well.

[@fredflintstone1863]

Very impressive!!

[@lovegodlovefreedom2535]

Fantastic job!! I was waiting for a clip that shows the smoke coming out from the very tippy top lol….I may have missed it😄👍🏾💯

[@suburbanbiology]

I’ll have to make a follow up video addressing some common questions and showing it operate in more detail. Once it’s warmed up it’s so efficient it doesn’t generate much visible smoke. Thanks!

[@bryankburrows]

Excellent , you are smart , and hardworking … this is genius … and the water storage tank…

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you very much. I appreciate both your comments and support! Also, thank you for subscribing!

[@TheCommonGardenTater1]

100% FAB. Thanks for sharing.

[@jtenspolde3584]

Loved that cartoonish micro trowel xD

[@suburbanbiology]

Yeah I hindsight I should have gone bigger 😂

[@randyschmucker3930]

Awesome project Awesome video

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@POSMhorsefarmer7]

Outstanding!!!

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you!

[@POSMhorsefarmer7]

Subscribed, thumbs up & cogitating. If this were put in a building, seems it would be best in a cold clime, in the center of the building. Noticed most people seem to have them next to windows?

[@771bertram]

If I put a stove on my porch I’m definitely using the 6 min method . Looks much easier!

[@suburbanbiology]

Yeah it’s way faster than the 6 month version ;)

[@user-rc5tr3ym7h]

Отличная работа 👍

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you!

[@ferencszabo3504]

Clever design

[@ioannisbatas1614]

Superb !!!

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you. Check out the long version if you have the stamina ;) thanks for your support and for subscribing!

[@reeblesnarfle4519]

You make it look reeeally simple. I know better, but I can detect great knowledge when I see it. Thanks for sharing it. I need to do one of these, but close in my porch with used sliding glass doors less the track and put a stove on the slab on the elevated porch. 💪😎👍❤🙏🇺🇸 Thank you. New subbed.👍

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you for commenting. I’m not sure if you have seen this video on my channel, but I did exactly what you described and enclosed the porch with used glass doors. Thanks for subscribing! I’ll put a link to the video below. FREE HEAT!!! Sauna in greenhouse porch heats our house. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYnNiquLpdJ3rck

[@AquaponicDave]

A very well made RMH, and the video is also very well made. Do you have a cost figure for the materials?

[@suburbanbiology]

Probably close to 1500 USD or so when all was said and done. The HVAC duct was surprisingly expensive. I should have taken the time to source it cheaper but I just wanted to move as fast as I could on the project. Thanks!

[@lvutodeath]

I wish to make one of these, but I live in the tropics 🤣

[@suburbanbiology]

Yeah you might now quite need that much heat down there. Thanks for commenting!

[@cindybaker4367]

Promoting this because it's a great high quality video but also because of the sustainability factor. Up to 90% less firewood used to hear a home. I'm no greenie but why do you think the government doesn't insist people switch to these?

[@nmosfet5797]

Awesome project! Can you make a video of you just using and enjoying it on a cold day? Or even sleep/spend the night and tell how it went?

[@suburbanbiology]

Once I’m done enclosing the porch I’m planing on making a video that goes into detail on which parts of the stove heat up most and for how long. Thanks for your support!

[@rulistening7777]

Clever, and Nice Looking Perhaps a safety barrier around the exterior vertical chimney. I accidentally backed into a wood stove at age four. . Still have the scars over fourty years later. Remember the rule.... What ever can go wrong , will go wrong.

[@ashleylovepace1941]

Amazing

[@marcarcher5426]

Good video. No ash cleanout access?

[@hidabak]

I really enjoyed watching both videos. How do you remove the ashes after use?

[@suburbanbiology]

Shop vac into the feed tube. Cheers!

[@chauncey5962]

@@suburbanbiologystill working well

[@briturner11]

Won't that heat the giant drum and not heat the exhaust? I thought that was kinda the point of the rocket stove? the main drum radiate the heat and by the time the air has risen through the j-tube, and then fallen back down, its cooled off? It looks like your hottest air would be at the top of the drum, not radiating through the exhaust tube?

[@suburbanbiology]

The drum radiates lots of heat but the heat flowing into the duct work is still probably something close to 300 degrees F. Still plenty warm to heat the bench. Thanks for your support!

[@robertalynch5433]

Wow!

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you!

[@tandr3w]

That's neat, but it will be a pain to clean the ashes out.

[@suburbanbiology]

Shop vac into the brick opening gets most of it. The cleanout closest to the bell gets access to any fly ash that makes it up the heat riser.

[@jamessmith4681]

nice

[@edwardmacnab354]

so this is essentially a masonry stove where even the smoke is combusted because of the high heat and the massive masonry structure absorbs all the heat and slowly emits it except that masonry stoves are fast and hot completely burning all fuel

[@suburbanbiology]

Yes. Same concept

[@user-hc8es6cu4t]

В Китае таких печей полно но там они широкие кровати и порой на две комнаты и более😊

[@user-uv5qc2tn7e]

Hello author. Thanks for the video, it is likely first video of high quality that depicts building process of a rocket mass heater. I am looking into various ways the RMH can be built but so far I can't seem to find an answer that bothers me. It's whether it is possible to attach general radiators to the heater? Either connecting internal heating duct maze to a external thermal pipes or otherwise? Sorry for english, I am well versed in basic english but this topic is a bit out of my knowledge

[@suburbanbiology]

I left a link to the book I read in the description of this video. I highly recommend reading that book. You can make a duct maze, but it is limited how long this maze can be before you affect draft negatively. I hope this helps. But again that book is incredible.

[@Chr.U.Cas2216]

👍👌👏 But why having this well built and well working, ingenious stove outside the house???

[@suburbanbiology]

Enclosed porch traps stove heat kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6u3fmZtgqysfZY See above video. I’m enclosing the porch to use the heat. Please subscribe if you’d like to see the future videos.

[@slm1972phleb]

I've built a dry stack RMH in my back yard for emergency cooking. It works fabulously well. I sourced some fire brick from a local mfg company here in Georgia for mine, because I was very concerned that the red brick would not survive the thousand plus degree heat. Are these fire bricks that you are using?

[@suburbanbiology]

Yes, I used firebreak from the local building supply company. They didn’t have anything stamped on them but at the time I looked on the website for the manufacturer and they should be rated for upwards of 1000°. I’ve had a couple other comments warn me that they’re not full on refractory bricks. This is my first time working with fire bricks, so I’m kind of ignorant. So far so good. They have held up as far as I know.

[@slm1972phleb]

Awesome! It looks like a very professional job. We have a lot of clay on our property, so I think I'll try using some for mortar and see how it holds up. Cheers!

[@valentinobianco8348]

Very nice stove. Would it possible to build this stove into a greenhouse whit a high level of humidity without compromising the clay structure? Maybe covering it with some waterproof resin/painting ?

[@suburbanbiology]

As long as there is not standing water at the base or dripping moisture on the stove, I think it might be OK. You definitely want a nice dry surface for the stove to sit on and you don’t want any water to flow across the surface. Even if you put a waterproof lime coat on it, you still wouldn’t want water flowing over the surface or sitting around the base. Humidity in the air should be OK though as far as I’ve seen. Thanks for commenting, and for subscribing!

[@valentinobianco8348]

@@suburbanbiologythanks a lot for your reply!. I have a greenhouse for orchids. During winter there should be no problem as I would water manually avoiding to "shower" the stove. In summer (when the stove will not be running) the water will fall on the stove anyway (because of the shower irrigation system). If this is not a problem , ok, otherwise I could try using another material as external layer just to cover the clay, maybe gravel ? or the bricks used for barbecue ? what do you think ... and thanks a lot for your time to reply me :)

[@DJ-uk5mm]

How do you clean yourself from the fire box where you had the wood? I can’t see any way to do it from the design am I missing something?

[@suburbanbiology]

A shop vacuum hose into the fuel feed makes quick work of the ashes.

[@flyonthewall7026]

How do you empty the ash ?

[@argirismouroufas3854]

What you think about the glass wool. Many peoples think this is very dangerus for our health.

[@suburbanbiology]

It is located in a place where, even if it were to emit some fibers, they would wind up, floating out the top of the chimney to the outdoors. I don’t imagine it would give off much fiber material. But if it did, at least it’s going outside of the house. Thanks for commenting.

[@northerndelights3113]

I wonder if more sand incorporated into the mass would hold heat longer? Or I guess cob is a lot of sand so maybe not a huge difference? Sand battery stuff is cool

[@suburbanbiology]

I’m not sure. Could make one out of natural grout instead of cob to find out I suppose. Thanks for commenting!

[@katim3111]

Can regular Cement or maybe aircrete be used with sand or rocks instead of the clay materials? I mean still use fire brick but the rest changes out? And can saw dust instead of straw?

[@suburbanbiology]

Aircrete is an insulator which would prevent the heat from being exchanged into the room. So you would probably want to avoid aircrete or anything that is an insulator. Cement would probably work just fine. It would certainly be more permanent if you ever wanted to redo it, or move it off of the porch. Thank you for watching it for subscribing!

[@justaguy995]

How and how often do you have to clean out ash ?

[@suburbanbiology]

I would say about once every 10 fires. A shop vac into the feed tube makes quick work of it.

[@luisj.serrano5821]

would this work using a wall as mass instead of a bench?

[@suburbanbiology]

It should work as long as the wall is sufficiently heatproof/fireproof. You also don’t want to break the “rules” of how long the ductwork is. I would recommend the book in the link to the longer version of this video. Thanks for your support!

[@MHPloni-kl5ec]

What is the point of all this effort to warm an unwalled, open area? Do you plan to enclose it? Subscribed

[@suburbanbiology]

I’m going to enclose the porch. Video will be uploaded when I’m done making the custom doors. Thanks!

[@cassieoz1702]

How do you get the ashes out?

[@suburbanbiology]

Shop vac into the feed tube

[@yvancg]

How do you clean the ashes?

[@suburbanbiology]

Shop vac into the feed tube.

[@josephbXIX]

How do you take out the ashes?

[@suburbanbiology]

Shop vac into the brick opening gets most of it. The cleanout closest to the bell gets access to any fly ash that makes it up the heat riser.

[@josephbXIX]

@@suburbanbiology ohhh

[@firecloud77]

All that work and it doesn't heat the house? It's just a warm outdoor bench?

[@suburbanbiology]

FREE HEAT!!! Sauna in greenhouse porch heats our house. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYnNiquLpdJ3rck

[@tzgzz9245]

any updates on performance etc?

[@suburbanbiology]

I’m enclosing the porch as we speak. It’s summer in my climate right now so I haven’t burned any fires lately. I’m hoping to make a follow up video with some thermometers in different locations this winter once the porch is enclosed. Thanks for following up!

[@locallegend4677]

I don’t get where the exhaust gases go hi how did you Not get smoke in the hohse

[@suburbanbiology]

Perhaps the video below will clarify where the exhaust gas goes. I enclosed the porch, and the end of the chimney is outside of the house. FREE HEAT!!! Sauna in greenhouse porch heats our house. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYnNiquLpdJ3rck

[@user-ch5vr2hv4f]

How do you get the ash out?

[@suburbanbiology]

Shop vac into the feed tube

[@wobdeehomestead1464]

Is that galvanized pipe?

[@suburbanbiology]

Yes.

[@MrjohnMccloud]

How do you clean it out?

[@suburbanbiology]

Shop vac into the brick opening gets most of it. The cleanout closest to the bell gets access to any fly ash that makes it up the heat riser. Watch the full video if those terms didn’t make sense. Thanks!!!

[@stapedium]

@@suburbanbiology showing how you do this would be a great follow up video

[@robertelliott5644]

Do you heat your home with a rocket Mass speaker

[@suburbanbiology]

Once I enclose the porch I will have that option. Thanks!

[@GivItTheBeans]

how do you get the ashes out?

[@suburbanbiology]

Shop vac into the feed tube. Thanks for watching and for subscribing!

[@chrisl8950]

can you add what you are doing as caption text?

[@suburbanbiology]

Good feedback to hear that is wanted. It would be impossible to add to this video. I would have to upload from scratch. I recommend you watch the “full build” video. A link to it pops up at the end of this video. Or you can find that link in the video description. Lots of detail and explanations in the longer version.

[@ivhli4187]

Nice video but at the end the airflow doesn't look so good... I d say another hole is needed in order to make that stove work properly

[@suburbanbiology]

I don’t mean to sound snarky. But I am laying on it right now with a roaring fire going and it flows beautifully. The permies.com forum is a great source of information if you want to see more examples. Thanks for commenting.

[@ivhli4187]

@@suburbanbiology you don't sound snarky! ;)

[@teaster333]

Why did you build it outdoors?

[@suburbanbiology]

I’m going to enclose the porch. Video will be uploaded when I’m done making the custom doors.

[@thebeautifulones5436]

What happens to the ash?

[@suburbanbiology]

Clean it out with shop vac in feed tube.

[@paulanderson3036]

Sooooo what is it? A heated bench?

[@suburbanbiology]

More or less. Yes.

[@holgerlanghorst4151]

But why outside????

[@suburbanbiology]

Enclosed porch traps stove heat kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6u3fmZtgqysfZY

[@nealtran6844]

look nice, but you gotta get the ash out by hands.

[@suburbanbiology]

Shop vac makes quick work of it.

[@cynickicksass]

Tiiight!

[@user-fx4ck5hx9k]

请问怎么掏灰？

[@suburbanbiology]

Shop vacuum into the feed tube.

[@bluemoon8268]

… this reminds me of straw built homes … an underutilized solution to home comfort ….

[@suburbanbiology]

Agreed. Thanks for commenting!

[@this-is-slammin-549]

All that work and those pipes will be rotted in 1-2 years.

[@KuzcoEmp]

donno why the music gives me anxiety

[@suburbanbiology]

Sorry. It was meant to do the opposite.

[@safurian]

Why call it "Rocket" Mass Heater? I do not see any rocket-stove tech in it, like adding a 2nd pre-warmed air flow for better combustion or insulating the burn chamber (fire brick sucks a lot of heat before reaching a point to inflame wood-gas, so it is probably not the best material for a rocket stove - metal might be the better choice, well insulated and with additional air tunnels). It is a nice mass heater, all right, but in my opinion no rocket-stove mass heater. Or did I miss something while watching the video? And about "the most efficient": Any well built tile stove will be calculated to allow the minimum air temperature to exit the chimney (around 70 degrees Celcius in northern climates). If the air gets too cool, moisture will condese in the chimney, damaging it over the years and possibly causing clog-ups and chimney-fire.

[@suburbanbiology]

You seem to have an inquisitive mind beyond what I might be capable of satisfying. I highly recommend the permies.com forum. They have thousands of pages of info on their forum dedicated to how these stoves work. Thanks for watching and even more for thinking so critically!

[@safurian]

@@suburbanbiology thanks for the link :)

[@hehay10]

It's called rocket because of the noise it makes while combusting he added insulation it's the white stuff he wrapped around the burn riser and steel tends to melt in these because they can get too hot

[@safurian]

@@hehay10 The sound you describe comes from a combustion of the the wood gas in the smoke. I don't see that happening with the design shown in the video. I do know that the white stuff is glass wool insulation (because I worked some years as a tile stove fitter). When the combustion chamber gets insulated, after a while the temperature will rise and the stove will burn cleaner, but not necessarily burn off the wood gas (as a rocket stove should in my opinion). Those thick bricks in the video, you'd need to heat them for a long time to reach a temperature where it burns off the smoke. My guess is that by that time the bench would be so hot that you cannot lay on it. yes, metal can get too hot if it is too thin. Some decent iron will hold for a long time. But honestly I have not seen this stove in action, so I can only guess that it will not reach the necessary temperature for "rocket combustion".

[@stapedium]

I suggest some temp probes at each of the clean outs plus a temp probe and CO detector at the chimney to settle the matter. Would make for a great set of follow up videos.

[@nuascannan]

Natty 👍

[@suburbanbiology]

🙏🏼

[@TheBlackFoxMaster]

Обычная славянская печька.

[@suburbanbiology]

None of my ideas here are original. Thanks for watching!

[@TheBlackFoxMaster]

@@suburbanbiology Ну тогда ладно.

[@adnel4142]

How do you get the ash out?

[@suburbanbiology]

Shop vac into the brick opening gets most of it. The cleanout closest to the bell gets access to any fly ash that makes it up the heat riser.