Bruce Alkire Masonry Heaters

CLEAN-BURNING MASONRY HEATERS

Basic philosophy

Wood burning sometimes has a bad reputation because so many people make wood burning a polluting and hazardous endeavor because of their firing techniques. As a professional chimney sweep, I have done over a thousand jobs and have seen the full spectrum of firing techniques and their symptoms.

By turning the air down and burning a smoldering fire, people think they are saving wood when all they are doing is turning half of their fuel into smoke. I feel it is my responsibility to teach people to burn clean and heat efficiently no matter what their system may be.

Of course, the best system is a masonry heater fit well into a floor plan so it can do its job well. All of my heaters are custom-built. The inner cores are built of firebricks. The veneer is the customers’ choice of non-combustible materials. I will take on most projects and try to build to suit the customer’s needs. Ovens, ranges, instant heat style, partition heaters, heated benches, etc. I am willing to consider all options.

Size and shape are of course up to the customer. This insures each heater is unique and truly custom. I have built and torn down several heaters in my shop as I became interested in brick heaters about ten years ago.

When not on a heater project, I teach music, roof, and run a chimney sweep business of 15 years, and of course raise my children with my wife Debbie