More Photos of the Navajo Nation Project

Contemporary Hogan Home

We are getting towards the end of the first week of the first round of installing the Navajo Stoves.  We are replacing the stoves that were left there last March for beta testing.

These are photos from Tuesday’s demonstration installation near Window Rock, Arizona.  The home is a contemporary hogan and reflects traditional Navajo hogan architecture. 

Old Cast Iron Stove

We replaced an old cast iron stove shell, which was missing its

front door.

Old Cast Iron Stove with Missing Door

Installing the Chimney

Vent pipe and chimney was installed.

Installing the Vent Pipe

This hogan will be a lot warmer, consume a lot less wood for heat, and have indoor and outdoor air that is a lot cleaner!

Finished Product

To view more photos and information about our Navajo Nation Project, please visit our other blogs, or our Facebook page.

Navigating Navajo Mud Season

This 5 minute video (edited down from 7.5 minutes), shows our crew's drive out from the last Navajo Beta Stove installation in Steamboat, Arizona.  The trick to getting to some homes is to get in and out early while the ground is still frozen, but we didn't have that option!

The Second Beta Stove Installation at the Navajo Reservation

Moving in the new stove

The second beta installation was for a young family in Lupton, AZ.  Just starting out with their own little home on familial land, Amber & Leonard, were in need of some economical heat.  They were incurring huge electric bills each month from using space heaters.  The addition of the stove will off-set these high electric bills while keeping the family toasty warm.

Leonard and his family prepared for their new stove by building a hearth.  They laid down flooring, insulated and put sheet-rock on the walls, finished the ceiling, and tiled the walls and floor.

The beautiful tile job needed a bit of expanding to accommodate for the front loading door, so our crew set down a freestanding hearth pad on top of the existing tile.  Amber and Leonard choose the stove that was painted a metallic blue to grace their home.  It was the perfect choice.

Installing the chimney

Once the stove was in place and a safe distance from the wall, Glenn and Jack got started on the chimney installation.  While they were busy installing the chimney, Lorin tiled the hearth, discussed how to operate the stove with the new owners, and played fetch with the Blue Heeler.

With the installation complete and the stove was fired up, Amber had fun seeing the change from smoke to no smoke coming out the chimney once the combustor was engaged during the wood fire.  By the time the crew left, the Navajo stove had warmed Amber and Leonard's home nicely and the kids were enjoying the heat from the stove!  

The Navajo Adventures

The stove Tony was using

The crew is back and we are beginning to get the stories of their Navajo Adventures.  It was a non-stop, whirlwind of driving, hauling, and installing.  From picking up the stoves and equipment at the ABF Truck Terminal, to making the two-hour drive from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Gallup, New Mexico, the days were long but productive.

Welcome Committee

Tony's home was the first stop, and we all agreed, he needed a new stove. Tony was thrilled he was able to choose his favorite color - red.  We were ecstatic with the welcome committee!

Upon arriving in Gallup, the crew was met by Sandy, a Navajo Police Office and fluent Navajo interpreter.  We were also met by

three of the Navajo EPA Representatives.  We give our heartfelt thanks to these four people who were a big help on our first installment project.

Laying the hearth

Tony's stove was removed, and a new hearth was built.  Using cement board and tile, we made a safe place to set the new stove down. Checking the length of pipe, double-wall was used inside every home, then moving outside to finish the stainless on the exterior.  

Installing the inside pipe

Installing the outside pipe

Once the chimney was in place, it was time to light the stove - drum roll please!  The stove which Tony was using, was very basic.  We educated Tony as to how to use his new stove.  He was taught how to engage the combustor when burning wood, and how to move the "Fuel Selection Controller" when burning coal.  Because these stoves burn both wood and coal, it is important to utilize the Fuel Selection Controller as needed.






After the installation was completed, we checked back in with Tony several times to see how he was doing.  As with all beta testing, there were items that needed adjustment and some improvements were made. The overall opinion was - Success!