Well, if you can believe it I am trying to get ready as fast as I can for Y2K. I am one of a few activists in Chicago trying to wake these meatheads up to smell the coffee. I have an old Potbelly stove that I need to get installed. I have alot of questions! one is it worth it? Do the old ones work well? (I can only imagine that the old ones would be more dependable!) I need someone to install either this potbelly stove or a woodburning stove. The problem is while I believe a worker is worth their wages......In Chicago they are price gouging I believe!! Maybe I am wrong! I need someone who knows about these things to give me some good advice ....and /or the name of a contractor that might be willing to come to Chicago SOON......and install my potbelly stove.

THANKS A MILLION IN ADVANCE!!! ROSANNA P.

-- Rosanna Pulido (NeuPulido@aol.com), June 22, 1999

Answers

Many variables! I will assume an install in wood frame house. You must protect both floor and wall from excessive heat. Build a "cooling firewall" with one layer of firerock (5/8 in sheetrock; do not "settle" for existing 1/2 inch sheetrock) on wall, then cut 1 1/2 in wide stips to place on floor and wall, stack them so you get at least 1 inch space, then nail on another layer of firerock. At this point you may need 16d nails to reach the distance, the usual drywall nails are ok only for the first layer of firerock. You may need two layers of firerock on the floor or 12 inch spacing on the spacers to support the weight. Screen the gap at the floor. The space must be continuous under the stove and up the wall to allow flow of air to cool the wall. The top of the outer layer of firerock must be 2 inches below the ceiling to allow airflow. Below the ceiling use single wall stovepipe. At ceiling cut in a metal chimney converter box which supports a prefab insulated metal chimney. You must maintain a minimum of 1 inch clearance to wood for the chimney. To hold the chimney in place drive three nails partially to use as "standoffs" The chimney must project a minimum of 2 feet above the nearest object within 10 feet for proper draw and smoke emission. The chimney and all parts are available from purveyors of wood stoves. The sheetrock is available from your lumberyard. These recommendations reflect Calif law and standard practice. I have installed several like this here in CA. The original layer of firerock stays cool because as the air layer warms convection draws cooler air in from the floor. Even with a stove glowing red the wall stays cool. I am a licensed building contractor here in CA.

-- Nickolas I. Medin (nmedin@pdqnet.com), June 26, 1999.

hi Rosanna. Re the potbelly stoves. I can tell you from experience that while they do generate plenty of heat they are not nearly as efficient as the newer models. I grew up with one and we use them now in the greenhouse and in the shop. They burn much more wood than the one we use in the house and will not hold a fire or coals like the newer more efficient one

-- Marci Shaffer (ajourend@libby.org), July 13, 1999.

Contact: Grass Roots on Hwy 12, Wauconda, Il. The owner has been selling and installing wood stoves for about 20 years. We got our wood burning stove there in January 1999. He was a tremendous help. We are finishing installing our stove currently. Here's to keeping warm during the winter of 1999. God Bless. Marie.

-- Marie Rollene (bmroll@concentric.net), September 12, 1999.

I GREW UP HEATING WITH WOOD ON THE FARM IN A POT BELLY STOVE OR AS THE NEPHEWS CALL IT THE "HOT BELLY" I MISS IT TERRIBLY AND HOPE TO HEAT WITH WOOD AGAIN SOON. THE INSTALLATION FOR THE MOST PART IS QUITE EASY A PIPE IN THE BACK OF THE STOVE AND UP INTO THE CHIMNEY. I DID BURN THE GARAGE DOWN ONE YEAR WHEN I EMPTIED HOT ASHES AND COALS AND LEFT THEM OUTSIDE ON A WINDY DAY NEEDLESS TO SAY THE SPARKS BLEW INTO THE WOOD PILE WHICH WAS STACKED ALONG THE GARAGE AND IT WAS NOT A HAPPY DAY. WELL GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR INSTALLATION. "JESSE" IN MINNEAPOLIS

-- JESSE RIECK (fjesse@aol.com), December 26, 2000.

I love to roast chicken wings on my pot belly stove. When it gets windy my cardboard home starts to shake and coals fall on my dirt floor. One other tip is to keep your beer at least 12 feet from the stove, otherwise it will become unfit for drinking.

-- Chad Anderson (ca121@yahoo.com), January 22, 2001.