Kiln Paranoia!

Hi All,

I have just finished installing a kiln in a basement pottery studio for my wife. I've done the best I can in terms of ventilation, safe wiring, etc. but I'm still feeling like it's crazy to have a kiln actually in your house.

Keep in mind I am a total newbie at this, so I have no idea what to expect. I guess I'm worried about the massive amount of heat I will be injecting into the house. Should I be covering the 2 drywall walls that are closest to the kiln with cement board? The kiln is about 12" away from the wall. The kiln manufacturer says 8" is enough but I've read as much as 18".

Ventilation: I mounted a powerful inline fan very close to the exterior wall and then plumbed it with galvanized duct to a T. From the T I have one branch going to the bottom facet opposite the peep holes where I have drilled a 3/8" diameter hole on the joint between 2 firebricks. The endcap of the duct is held away from the kiln body by standoffs (2 nuts in this case, is there a recommended distance?). How do I test if I have enough but not too much flow through this hole? I've tried holder a match flame near the top peephole (with the kiln off) I can't say I can really see it being pulled in very much. Maybe my endcap is too far fromt he kiln body, it's probably stood off about 3/8".

The other branch goes to an aluminum hood which I mounted to the ceiling so it is about 2.5' above the kiln. I didn't feel I needed to be able to lower it close to the kiln because I have installed the downdraft vent. I installed this hood just as a means of keeping the room cooler.

Wiring: The wiring for the kiln is snaked through the ceiling of the finished basement and then direct wired to the kiln. I had it professionally inspected with no issues.

I'm trying hard to cover all the bases as I have to small children and I don't want to comprosmise anyone's health or safety at all.

Any comments?

Zander

Reply to
Zander
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Zander wrote in news:Xns94E579D662BA8sig6667.245txjh@216.40.28.76:

I have my kiln in a small room under the house. When I fire it I open the door and window and this gives me a cross flow for ventilation. I wouldn't have a gas kiln under or in the house.

It is about 12 inches from the wall and all is working well.When the kiln is firing I make sure that there is no paper or other combustables floating around

The majority of the heat coming from the kiln is when it is in its cooling down stage. I hope to use this cooling down heat this winter by installing an open and shut grill in the floor above the kin room. This will warm the front of the house at least once a week when the kiln is switched off.

John W

Reply to
Uncle John

Even paranoids have enemies

John W

Reply to
Uncle John

I think the most pointed comment I have ever heard came from the local Fire Officer when he inspected my 30 cube gas kiln which had approximately 2ft 6ins clear above it before you came to the ceiling, he said: *I'm not the least bit worried by this, Kilns are made to contain heat. It's the idiots with gas welding kits that scare me s***less* That kit fired happily for years, with no ill effects to the ceiling or the floor above. Good (not excessive) air-flow around the kiln is the secret.

Steve Bath UK

In article , Zander writes

Reply to
Steve Mills

Uncle John wrote in news:Xns94E644F2A4CBCknickers@

202.180.64.19:

Thanks John,

I heard it this way: "Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!"

Zander

Reply to
Zander

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