I used 2 of these double barrel units in 2 kennels when we lived in Missouri. They work great and probably produce the best capture of heat than most anything else.The barrels should have the removable lids so they can be removed to clean out some of the ashes from the bottom and creosote from the upper. I removed creosote from the top when I removed some ashes every 2nd time. Creosote will burn hotter than wood so that is a safety measure. It would be practically impossible to remove the creosote without direct entry from the front. The round covers will need fireproof insulated cording in the lid rim but the lid will go and keep the smoke up the flu. This is a great setup for cheap heat. Get a floor pad to prevent scorching the floor unless you are on concrete or stone floor.

I have used a barrel stove set up with the top barrel to heat my three level (includes basement) house for about 9 years now. The house is 37' x 44'. The same 55 gallon barrels have been used the whole time with no sign of them rusting through. The second barrel adds a lot of radiant surface to get more heat out of the smoke before it goes into the chimney and gets away. Overall it works better for me than a Buck stove. I had a big buck stove given to me and tried it out for a day or two and then put the barrel stove back since it heated much better. I and another fellow have had the following same experiences with the stove. It does smoke some when you open the door when starting it up.I think this is because the stove uses 6" stove pipe and it would be better with 8". I just keep the door closed or close it quick if I do open it. Also we have both not bothered with the dampner and just leave it open all the time. I finally improved my smoke flow some when I removed the dampner. If I ever end up making another barrel stove I think that I would try to make my own 8" stove pipe connectors. Or maybe attach to the flat back and front of the barrel with regular 8" stove pipe fittings. I didn't bother to use the back set of barrel connector legs. I just let the stove pipe connection support the top barrel at the back. That also kept any small misalignment error between the leg and stove pipe adapter from fighting each other. I live in Kentucky and we have mild winters. I don't really fire the stove up until it gets to be in the 30s outside. I use it as my primary heat in the winter.