Brick by Brick: Gilsum Man Looks to Revive an Ancient Stove-building Technique

This time of year, many of us are faced with the inevitable expense of heating our homes. With the rising costs of firewood, fuel and electricity, it can be an annual stressor on both our minds and wallets. Gilsum resident Konstantin Cherkasov can offer a heating solution to those willing to invest up front to see long-term financial benefits down the road. The owner of Freedom Motors on Route 10 in Gilsum and a birch plywood business, Cherkasov is an experienced builder of Russian masonry stoves, also known as mass heater wood stoves. These types of stoves, Cherkasov says, were originally designed for living in extremely cold climates, down to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit. They are highly efficient, needing to burn only an armful of wood for two to four hours daily to heat the home for up to 24 hours, depending on outdoor temperatures. Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, Cherkasov has lived in Gilsum for two years and built one of these stoves in his American home after enduring a cold first winter without one, he said. He built his stove in a compact size for his small home, using reclaimed bricks and natural clay. "Even though my prefab house is far from energy-efficient, this stove keeps it wonderfully warm," he wrote in a description of the stove. In Russia, these stoves are the "centerpiece of the home," he said, and are two-sided with one side in the kitchen and the other in the living room area. They often have a cooking surface and a warm bench for resting or sleeping. In efforts to share information with interested community members, Cherasov recently began to hold presentations about the stove at his home at 351 Route 10 in Gilsum. During the demonstration, he shows the entire firing process, explains how the stove works and how it is built, and discusses proper operation and cleaning, as well as answering attendee's questions. Andriy Portyanko and Rebecca Saunders of Westminster, Vt., assist Cherkasov with his presentations through Portyanko's translation of questions and Saunders' narration of the demonstration. Portyanko had been searching for local resources to build one of these stoves for years, he said, when he stumbled upon Cherkasov's Facebook page two months ago. The two men met and Portyanko is making plans to soon have his own stove built by Cherkasov. "I was so happy to find him," Portyanko said. "I'm surprised Americans don't know about these stoves." "I thought it would be interesting for other people to have this information, and to build stoves in more homes," Cherkasov said. And so, that was the start of their community presentations. So far, they have had two with another planned for Sunday, Jan. 18. The interest and turnout have been good, they said, including both locals and out-of-state attendees. During the demonstration, Cherkasov walks through the stove's three stages of lighting, adding wood and the shutdown stage when the flue is closed to preserve heat. The fire needs to be burnt completely down to embers before closing the flue to prevent carbon monoxide dangers, he stressed. It's a unique system of hidden channels within the stove that retain the heat while also burning the pyrolysis gases that result from the decomposition of organic materials in the absence of oxygen. The stoves circulate hot flue exhaust through a series of baffles that heat up the surrounding masonry, greatly reducing the temperature of the exhaust leaving the chimney. Masonry stoves burn faster than typical wood stoves for more complete combustion, and the result is no soot production, making them safe and environmentally friendly when burned properly. They can also efficiently burn both hardwood and softwood, as long as both are dry, and according to the Alliance for Green Heat, they do not require EPA certification. They facilitate the movement of air and swirl the air within the chambers, Cherkasov explained. This retains the heat as the swirled air hits the bricks that are made of clay and assembled using a clay grout for optimal heat retention. The stoves are relatively low-maintenance and can last for centuries if they are used and cared for properly. Customization of design, size, features and decorative materials can make each stove uniquely functional for homeowners. Due to their size and weight of bricks, they do require a substantial foundation but can be built using pre-existing chimneys. Cherkasov estimates most build timelines to take about 100 hours of labor, or up to one month depending on his availability. Cost depends on a variety of factors. "The main point is that these are high efficiency, using a small amount of wood, and are a good heating device tested by time," Cherkasov said. "The cost of fuel is high; it's important to reduce cost. It's an eco-friendly device that is not hard to control and can burn any kind of wood." To register for the upcoming presentation on Jan. 18 or for more information, email cherkasovk007@gmail.com. Watch a video of the stove in action on Cherkasov's Facebook page at facebook.com/konsantin.cherkasov. Additional information on these types of stoves can be read online at forgreenheat.org/masonry-stoves.