‘Schooner’

Press, 30 April 1981, Page 22

‘Schooner’

Home heating is still possible this winter without burning a hole in your bank balance.

An Auckland couple, Mr and Mrs Alan Young, have designed a new pot belly stove called the Schooner, based on an old idea but to suit today’s life style. It is clean burning and can consume anything from wood and coal to household rubbish.

“Everyone likes the idea oi a solid fuel burning stove that is clean and attractive but we also took great care to ensure that the Schooner provided clear cost savings and efficient heating performance,” say the Youngs. Before the Schooner was manufactured it was subjected to a number of heating efficiency tests. Depending on the amount

of coal used, the Schooner demonstrated 77.5 per cent thermal efficiency, (that is. 77.5 per cent of the heat available in the fuel can be released into the room). An average household wall or space heater produces about 30,000. BTUs (British Thermal Units) per hour, This contrasts with the 40,680 BTU’s per hour produced by the Schooner on a medium setting. ■ Water heating accounts for a large part of a household electricity bill. To overcome the problems of power cuts and the shojtage of hot water, a Schooner stove owner can make an optional purchase of a stainless steel water heating unit. This unit fits into the back of the fire bowl in an upright position. As long as the standard type hot water cylinder is above the stove, natural convection occurs.

Water continuously circulates through the water heating unit while the fire is burning. With correct installation, the water heating unit can heat a 40 gallon water cylinder in just a few hours. The power bill can also increase with the wasteful use of the electric stove — usually the third most expensive item on the household power bill. Slow cooking meals such as soups and casseroles can be prepared on the Schooner’s cooktop element.

The Schooner burns less wood. or coal than an open fire and gives off more heat. With open fires a lot v of heat is lost up the chimney and the flames rbar through timber, encouraged by the greater amount of oxygen available. For ecological, economical and efficiency reasons the pot belly stove will be the thing for this winter. The Schooner is available from dealers throughout the country and is manufactured ,by the Pot Belly Stove Co. of Auckland. .-. £ .