CLAY POT HEATER TEST | Does It Actually Work?!

This test will show you if the clay pot, flower pot or terracotta heater actually works with tea candles. It will also show how you can make your own with tools and equipment that you may already have in your house. This is a three hour test to see if a small room (bathroom in this case) can be heated up. These can also work for Van Life or in emergency or power out situations.

[STARFIRESOLAR]

I am always amazed at all the different clay pot heaters. The only benefit the clay pots provide is collecting the soot from the candles, and thats a good thing. You don't get any more heat than is given off by the candles. The soot actually builds up and will insulate the pot from the flame however all the heat given off by the candles goes into the room.

[peterpiper]

You should to another experiment using only the candles and no pots. See if the heat is the same with and without the pots.

[ladytrader]

Try again, but block the inside hole and leave outside hole open, this creates convection heat as well by. drawing air between pots as the inside pot heats up. Use a stove grate to set them on and/or maybe a metal sink stopper with holes on top of inside pot holding up outside pot, to allow that air flow. Also just watched making candles out of crisco to last longer. One commenter mentioned to be careful glass jars don't get too hot and explode, so why not get a smaller crisco can and stick couple b-day candles in it, and don't have to worry about exploding glass. It would be interesting to try an experiment using the air-flow type and the blocked air type. I have used this in a small RV and it does work.Pots will get hot enough to burn a round circle on a rug if ya take it off to check candles...ask me how i know, lol! This is a method everyone should know about r emergencies. Great job Phil!

[AdventuresofGraywolf]

You had 6 candles lit in the room. Of course it got warmer in there. You don't need the clay pots for that. You should have tried it both ways starting from the same temperature, length of time, any power used in the room (lights), and see if there's any measurable difference at all.

You'll find out the clay pots don't change how much the temperature in the room goes up. What they will do, however, is radiate more heat, which transfers to our skin better than convection from the warm air so it will FEEL warmer near the pots but the actual overall temperature of the room will still be the same.

[MaineMotman]

I ran 6 candles in about 4 inch terra cotta pots, 1 candle each. You get about 6 hours each, if you keep the temperature of the wax low that is. Hence 1 potfor each. When you run 10 hour shifts, and your only awake at home for maybe a total of 6 hours, it can help alot. Especially when you have a one room apartment with nothing included

[maryginger]

I've got one running now, and I'll tell you can use an old saucepan. Metal, of course is a terrific conductor, and just the same as the clay pot it traps the hot air and converts convection heating into conduction radiation heating. Just remember, the limitation is the candle.

[davidpaylor]

Instead of the cylinder drill to separate the two pots use three small pebbles (or similar). That way the hot air rises inside the inner pot then down in between the inner and outer pots. The way you have it set up the hot air doesn't flow as freely inside the gap between the two pots.

[kerryjones]

Excellent video. Very well explained. Subscribed from a chilly U.K. A candle has a fixed amount of BTU’s. No amount of clay pots will change that.

[zarnell]

Ive made a few of those to save heating fuel. I like to enclose my desk and use one under there while working or spending time at the computer. It works wonderful and will heat the whole room eventually. Ditch those cheap tea candles and use a candle with a thicker wick and you will see a huge difference in the temp it creates. 👍

[daveemery]

I think you should repeat the experiment, without the pots... (with the same starting room temperature). That would really tell if the pots make a difference, or if it is just the tea light flames.

[Pthommie]

In Eastern Europe there are still many flats & homes with much larger versions of this concept, only they're made with tile. It's a nice, gentle heat which does keep rooms comfortable.

[ktmazer]

This video is great! The most fascinating thing, though, is that picture of a moose behind you!

[garyphillips]

I use 2 eight hour tea light candles under a plant pot the same size as yours, so 2 separate pots in my caravan & it definitely heats up my van in the UK. We're just going into winter so I'll see how good after the first cold snap, I can get 18 8hr candles for £2 so it's much cheaper than paying for gas, petrol or paraffin. I'm going to outfit my van with these pots this winter but knowing our government they'll put the price of candles up 😠
It definitely works though, you get much more heat than you would from the candle itself.✌️

[neralodinson]

yes it does! i use a double pot screwed together and i can say that it work well with me, the bigger the candle the better, bees wax is prefered. It is really a game changer when you lost electricity. Everyone should build one for those hard times. And also have a box full of candles in the closet.

[SouthbaySpeaks]

You basically had a temperature increase of 3 degrees F over an hour or so (in an extremely small room). To make it really work you'd have to have quite a few of these clay pot heaters.

[MrMurdock]

Thank you. I was thinking of buying a double walled pot heater now I'm gonna buy one for emergencies

[omm]

I would like to see you repeat the test just using the candles on top of the ceramic tile

[snap]

Thank you for providing data, and ideas for one of these little heaters. I am curious about carbon monoxide and dioxide levels in a small room.

[massycas]

Are you using a LED lightbulb for the room light? If you were using a regular incandescent bulb that would also help to raise the temperature in a room when you left the light on in the room the entire time. I count at least 3 additional heat sources with those lights on.

[v.j.morrison]

Very good video! Thanks. Could you use one Crisco oil candle in a glass jar, as well?