A method of efficiently heating a building using natural fuels, comprising the steps of:
- providing a natural fuel heating system, the natural fuel heating system comprising:
- an elongate firebox having a front panel, a back panel, a bottom panel, and a combustion chamber disposed between the front and back panels, the combustion chamber being configured for receiving natural fuel and combustion of the natural fuel therein, the combustion chamber having a top, a bottom and lateral sides;
- a heat exchange system surrounding the combustion chamber, the heat exchange system heating and circulating outside air to be delivered throughout a building, wherein the heat exchange system comprises:
- i) a first sub-chamber formed between the combustion chamber and the bottom panel, the bottom panel being spaced from the bottom of the combustion chamber;
- ii) an intake shroud attached to the back panel, the intake shroud introducing the outside air into the first sub-chamber to thereby expose the outside air to heat from the combustion chamber and circulate the outside air around the combustion chamber through thermal convection;
- iii) a plurality of heat fins disposed on and extending outwardly from the lateral sides of the combustion chamber, the heat fins simultaneously heating the outside air and forming a circulation path for the outside air, each of the plurality of heat fins comprises an elongate member, wherein the plurality of heat fins being arranged in a staggered pattern on each lateral side of said combustion chamber, the pattern forming a serpentine path for the outside air to maximize heat exposure and heat exchange;
- iv) a second sub-chamber formed at the top of said combustion chamber;
- and
- v) at least a pair of spaced support walls projecting from the top of said combustion chamber, the support walls supporting said exhaust shroud, thereby exhausting the heated outside air through said exhaust shroud to be circulated by the ventilation system;
- a cowling attached to the firebox, the cowling substantially surrounding the firebox to form an air circulating barrier between the combustion chamber and the cowling;
- an exhaust shroud attached to the firebox, the exhaust shroud being adapted for connection to a building ventilation system in order to deliver heated air thereto;
- and
- an exhaust vent connected to the firebox for removing exhaust gases from the combustion chamber;
- connecting the exhaust shroud to the building ventilation system;
- connecting the exhaust vent to a vent pipe extending outside the building to exhaust harmful gases;
- feeding natural fuel into the combustion chamber;
- burning the natural fuel to generate heat;
- permitting outside air to flow through the heat exchange system to heat the outside air;
- and
- circulating the heated air into the building through the ventilation system.