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Norbert -
I just read the transcript of your
conversation. Wow. I would have given up a long time ago...it's not
easy to re-educate an industry...
I have a question about this for the
experts that be:
Regardless of downdraft leading to CO poisoning (which has
been addressed in relation to masonry heaters) and energy efficiency concerns
(in northern VT, I will never be able to burn all the trees that I need to
cut to manage my woods), I was led to understand that in a strawbale house, as
opposed to a more conventional air-tight house, direct venting for
all combustion-based appliances was necessary to avoid a pressure
differential between the inside and outside of the house. This
is because, in the event that one does have cracks and leaks, it is
better to be drawing the air through a controlled vent than through these
leaks, meaning through the straw, which leads to potential
moisture exposure for one's walls. Does the magic number of -5 pa
apply in this case, making the concern negligable? Infiltration
is a no-no for my climate, given the great condensation factor.
I know, of course, that there should be no
cracks or leaks, but one doesn't plan these things in...
There are many factors to this issue. I hope
that I am not being naive in my questioning; I appreciate the wealth of
information you all have to share.
On a personal note, the heating in my house will be from
passive solar gain, a small woodstove, and residual heat from a masonry bread
oven. I wasn't planning on direct venting any of these, because I tend to
crack a window from time to time just to get the fresh air (again, with so many
trees, the air is worth the extra 1/4 cord a season). I would guess, based
on previous dialogue, that this is satisfactory. Infiltration not an
issue?
Thanks again for the knowledge-passing.
May the blue moon shine brightly on your howling
dog.
Warmly,
Jacob Racusin
Montgomery, Vermont (spitting distance from
Mooseland)
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