pioneer princess water heater/tank ???s

buck_1one · #1 04/29/11, 05:23 PM

I was looking at this stove (online) and I don't fully understand the water heating tank system.

There is a rear tank, a side tank, and some kind of heating coil. Is there any difference in the tanks, besides location and size? Do the tanks use the coil or does the water heat from heat radiance from the fire? Anything I'm missing or not thinking about?

Any info you can give to help me make a decision? This stove will be going in a home that has no running water, no plumbing of any kind, and no electric. It will be the sole heating and cooking source and I'm hoping my hot water source when in use.

Thanks in advance
Buck

Mileta · #2 04/30/11, 02:07 PM

We have a Hartland Oval wood burning cook stove that we use for almost all of our cooking, and all of our heating needs. It has a five gallon hot water reservoir that we use for washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen. We also have the heat exchanger in the fire box. This is a nice feature that hooks up to our existing hot water heater and will heat 9 or 10 gallons an hour depending on your diligence in tending the fire.

jwal10 · #3 04/30/11, 04:57 PM

I am not sure on that model. Some have a reservoir that you drain or dip the water out of, others it goes through a coil and the pressure takes it to the point of use. Since you do not have running water you need to fill the reservoir and drain or dip it out, not heated through a coil....James

haypoint · #4 05/01/11, 10:27 AM

You will not be able to use the heat exchange pipe that goes into the fire box. You need a pressurized water system. The reservoir in the back is filled with a pail. Works the same as a side mount. Mounted in a location that is harder to get to, but in a more efficient place to heat water.
If you had a pressurized system, the heat coil and a seperate tank works very well and you don't have to dip your hot water.

buck_1one · #5 05/01/11, 09:08 PM

Thanks, that helps. Guess if and when I get it, the side tank would be the best option. Then the fun part...learning how to make a good meal on it!!

haypoint · #6 05/02/11, 03:28 PM

Cooking on a wood cook stove is easy. Hardest part is getting quick at starting a fire. People that take a half hour getting their BBQ started will hate their wood cook stove.
After 30 years with a wood cook stove, I can get a meal prepared as fast as someone with a gas range. Get the fire started before chopping veggies, peeling potatoes, etc. So my stove top is hot by the time I'm ready to cook.
Don't have to worry about leaving a burner on. If you walk away from the stove it cools down on its own.

buck_1one · #7 05/02/11, 06:15 PM

I was only half serious about learning to make a good meal. In anticipation of my possible homestead move, I was practicing cooking on my heating stove. So for several weeks I did all my cooking on the heating stove. It was a real challenge due to small cooking surface, but all turned out well. I did miss using an oven and I think that is where the real challenge will be learning to use a wood cook stove.