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NEWS<br />
Masonry stove-heater<br />
By KAY STEWART<br />
With the arrival of spring,<br />
painting and other home<br />
renovations are the order<br />
of the day. So also are<br />
tours of selected homes<br />
arranged by organizations.<br />
If a tour of selected <strong>Glebe</strong><br />
homes should be contemplated,<br />
an interesting one to<br />
include in the itinerary<br />
would be the Lomer home<br />
at 306 Clemow Avenue.<br />
This spring, the Lomers<br />
are renovating their basement<br />
and have had a Finnish<br />
design, masonry stoveheater<br />
built in their<br />
newly created "rec" room.<br />
When the idea to finish<br />
their basement first came<br />
to mind, they thought of<br />
including a wood stove as<br />
an adjunct to reduce heating<br />
cost. Then they learned<br />
about masonry stove-heaters<br />
and were lured from purchasing<br />
a conventional wood<br />
stove by the promise that<br />
a masonry one would yield<br />
more comfortable heat from<br />
less wood and could be expected<br />
to slash other fuel<br />
consumption by about half.<br />
In outward appearance<br />
their masonry heater appears<br />
to be a firebox set in a<br />
massive wall of brick.<br />
When fully completed, the<br />
brick will be overlaid<br />
with pale grey ceramic tile<br />
to blend with the colour<br />
of the other walls. Behind<br />
the masonry, it was learned<br />
it has a twisting,convoluted<br />
smoke passage. When the<br />
fire is lit, the masonry<br />
wall will soak up its heat<br />
like a sponge and then give<br />
it off slowly and evenly<br />
over a long period of time,<br />
warming the surrounding<br />
area. Retained warmth<br />
of the wall will continue<br />
to function long after the<br />
fire is out, it was explained.<br />
Does this heated wall<br />
present a danger to young<br />
children? Not at all. It<br />
will never be more than<br />
warm. According to the<br />
owner of one such heater,<br />
the only time her toddler<br />
has to be watched is during<br />
the two-hour firing period<br />
when the- doors of the firebox<br />
get hot.<br />
Well known in central<br />
Europe, masonry heaters<br />
are available in different<br />
styles. As well as the<br />
Finnish contrafIow style<br />
installed in the Lomer<br />
home, there is the Russian<br />
fireplace, the Swedish<br />
"Kakelugnar", and the German<br />
"Kachelofen". The<br />
Finnish centraflow heater<br />
is distinguishedfrom other<br />
masonry heaters by the shape<br />
of its combustion chamber<br />
which ensures a complete<br />
burn, at the same time<br />
allowing the unit to be<br />
used as an open fireplace.<br />
Today in Finland, 50% of<br />
the national brick production<br />
goes into masonry<br />
heaters and a new home does<br />
not qualify for a government<br />
mortgage unless it is equipped<br />
with a contraflow<br />
heater.<br />
Few Canadian masons have<br />
learned the technique of<br />
building masonry heaters.<br />
The Lomers can boast of<br />
having the first one in<br />
Ottawa. It was constructed<br />
for them by Norbert Senf.<br />
Senf, a Canadian with a<br />
background in both engineering<br />
and masonry, learned<br />
his construction techniques<br />
from Finnish experts brought<br />
to Maine, U.S.A., for a<br />
workshop organized by Albie<br />
Bardon.<br />
Since his discovery of<br />
the Finnish contraflow<br />
heater, Senf has built more<br />
than 20 of them, the first<br />
an experimental model in<br />
Photo<br />
David Schryer<br />
his own home north of Shawville,<br />
Quebec.<br />
"I couldn't believe the<br />
difference", he says. "With<br />
the wood stove our feet<br />
were always cold because<br />
the heat went straight up.<br />
But, the first time I lit<br />
the contraflow, I put one<br />
thermometer on the floor<br />
and another up at the ceiling,<br />
and there was only half<br />
a degree of difference".<br />
If you would like more<br />
information on the masonry<br />
stove-heater, contact<br />
Norbert Senf directly. His<br />
Ottawa address is 182A<br />
Second Avenue.<br />
WHAT IS YOUR<br />
PROPERTY WORTH?<br />
Lebanese food<br />
Many people who have owned<br />
their home for more than one year<br />
have lost track of its market value.<br />
Housing values have increased<br />
sharply in recent years; however,<br />
published market increases may<br />
not apply to your property<br />
because segments of the market<br />
move at different rates according<br />
to supply and demand.<br />
For many people the equity in<br />
their property is their major asset<br />
and often forms the base of their<br />
retirement plans. If you are considering<br />
your future, you should get<br />
an accurate up-to-date assessment<br />
of your property. You can do<br />
this without obligation and at no<br />
cost by calling me at<br />
REAL ESTATE LIMITED<br />
789 Bank St. telephone: 234-5223<br />
420 O'CONNOR STREET, OTTAWA<br />
236-9551<br />
Jim McKeown<br />
Gary Greenwood<br />
June 14, 1985, GLEBE REPORT - 12
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