Improving efficiency of woodburning stove.

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Improving efficiency of woodburning stove.

Moahunter

159 posts

Master Geek

#285808 18-May-2021 21:22

I have to replace the cowl on the top of my woodburner stove pipe. I have read mixed reviews of the kiwi designed FlueCube http://www.wanakastainless.co.nz/fluecube.html

I can't find a chimney sweep in Wellington who has any info. or experience of this.

Anybody on here got anything to offer. It seems a straightforward installation but I don't know if there are any building regs. that apply.

andrewNZ

2487 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2709363 18-May-2021 23:14

Looks terrible.

I see a lot of claims that have no evidence, and an explanation of how it works that makes no sense.

The stats for the "university" testing have results so close that the margins of error overlap significantly.

The diagram of how it works claims it causes the particulates to burn in the cube creating a vacuum... Burning stuff normally creates MORE gas which does not create a vacuum.
However, a vacuum might be caused by cooling gasses, and that probably means no burning particulates. That sounded very unlikely anyway, after all, the top of the flue would need to be at combustion temperature, but the flue is designed in a way that would likely cause gasses to cool as they rise.

I'm no expert, but it looks like a scam to me.

elbrownos

109 posts

Master Geek

#2709503 19-May-2021 10:20

I agree, it's pure snake oil. Their explanation and claims are laughable.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
18667 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2709519 19-May-2021 11:02

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/5073618/Chimney-flue-could-be-insurance-risk

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2711103 21-May-2021 22:41

elbrownos:
I agree, it's pure snake oil. Their explanation and claims are laughable.

It also seems fairly similar in function (once you filter out the hype) to a standard rocket cowl, which you can get from established vendors, without the snake-oil claims, and compliant with the required standards. Oh, and for a fraction of the Flue Cube price.