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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #350 on: November 26, 2018, 03:53:42 PM »
Edit:

Time 1550

Output water temp: 77F
« Last Edit: November 26, 2018, 04:02:40 PM by Flyin6 »
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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #351 on: November 26, 2018, 04:07:26 PM »
So we saw a rise of 5 degrees F in about 25 minutes

One degree increase every 5 minutes, give or take

So this is starting off with a boiler which was about 32F and tap water somewhere slightly above 60F, I'm guessing. The entire system was cold, none of the trapped air pockets are yet heated, just your standard cold start.

So we have another 100 degrees to go. If this warming is linear, then I have 500 more minutes or 8.3 hours until I'm fully up to temp and heating things with wood...

We'll see.
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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #352 on: November 26, 2018, 04:59:53 PM »
Time: 1650

Temp: 83F

1 degree every 10 minutes...Not linear...
« Last Edit: November 26, 2018, 05:00:46 PM by Flyin6 »
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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #353 on: November 26, 2018, 05:06:54 PM »
You can't tell, but this thing is running. The thermostat-switch is now controlling the fan operation
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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #354 on: November 26, 2018, 05:08:38 PM »
Early on water temp of 72. 180 indicates the temp at which the machine will go to idle and modulate to maintain said 180 water temp.
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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #355 on: November 26, 2018, 05:10:20 PM »
The water tank which I overfilled initially was spraying out of the small weep hole at the top of the water level gage.

I had the water well above it somewhere!
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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #356 on: November 26, 2018, 05:11:00 PM »
So far, its a smoker!
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Offline stlaser

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #357 on: November 26, 2018, 07:00:56 PM »
My first shop I had a 3’ vent sticking out of roof & it didn’t clear the peak. One evening I fired up the stove which I got going initially with used motor oil, a rag and the oxy torch. So after getting it initially going went into house to do some paperwork until shop got up to temp. As I’m sitting there a police officer walks up my drive past the dining room window (aka my office) and I throw boots on to go out & see what’s up. Next thing I know here comes the ladder truck....

Moral of story use a taller stack or don’t live on a state highway!
Living in the remote north hoping Ken doesn’t bring H up here any time soon…..

Offline KensAuto

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #358 on: November 26, 2018, 07:53:39 PM »
Good to find no leaks. That alone would make me happy.
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Offline TexasRedNeck

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #359 on: November 26, 2018, 09:58:37 PM »
Great news Chief. Your BTU input is also a variable so YMMV

Sounds like you’ll be feeding it some logs!


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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #360 on: November 26, 2018, 10:23:35 PM »
Time: 2210

Water temp: 95F

OK, so it continues to heat up. although slowly

Like Shawn or someone pointed out, the wood I am using is not seasoned and I believe it is not burning as well as dried wood could/would/should, burn. (Havin some fun with the "ould" there)

I took a shower and right away noticed the water was warmer at a lower setting. Just a little, but noticeable. The water temp was 95F a moment ago, still climbing.

The garages are very definitely much warmer than the outside which has ice building on the road surfaces. I could go with a light shirt or a T with some activity in either garage. The house is still not there, yet and I am still on the heat pump, kind of. I am running the fan which is pulling heat out of the exchangers and causing the boiler to do double duty of heating this house in a night which is below freezing and build in 86 degrees more temp in that mass of water.

But it is all trending in the right direction. Next big goal will be to get a goodly amount of firewood stacked and drying, but it's never three days in a row without rain here. Its been that way almost since spring!
« Last Edit: November 27, 2018, 10:52:52 AM by Flyin6 »
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Offline Bigdave_185

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #361 on: November 27, 2018, 12:29:36 AM »
So what all does this system do Don?  It heats the house via the radiators? It tied into you hot water heater also? You mentioned a Heat Pump?

What do you mean heat pump? Up hear when someone says heat pump I think of the geothermal type where the pump cycles fluid deep into the earth and back into the furnace to reduce need of gas to heat of the electricity needed to run the air conditioner unit




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Offline cruizng

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #362 on: November 27, 2018, 07:24:47 AM »
Congrats Don. Nice working setting it up. Toasty in no time.  :beercheers:
Mike
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Offline Nate

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #363 on: November 27, 2018, 10:04:01 AM »
dave, heres what a heat pump is and how it works.  it is not a geothermal system like you are describing/thinking of.

https://www.trane.com/residential/en/resources/glossary/what-is-a-heat-pump/

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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #364 on: November 27, 2018, 11:02:16 AM »
This system will provide 100% of the heating requirements of this house.

All the heat to warm the living spaces, all the energy to heat the hot water, and now in addition to what we had, heated garages (2 ea.) as well.

I am now in the steep climb up the learning curb. The wood I have is not seasoned well, and is not up to the task it would seem. I was unable to reach anything over 100 degrees on this unsplit ash wood.

We simply dropped some dead standing ash trees and sawed them into bite sized portions and have been feeding them to the boiler. There are several problems with that (But it's all that I have). First there is some rot in some of the pieces. Second, there is some residual moisture in the wood causing it to smolder and not burn righteously. Finally, Ash is very dense and has a very high BTU content. It is not a good type of wood to begin with. Duane just lectured me on the need to start out and build a bed of coals out of maple, chased with oak, then finally ash. Apparently the stuff I have requires some pretty good ignition temps to get it going.

We have a solution. He has several cords of seasoned firewood of different species that has been standing 6-8 years. Once I get that onsite, I think I will resolve the problem I'm having with getting the water up to temp.
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Offline Bob Smith

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #365 on: November 27, 2018, 11:50:14 AM »
Don, can you manually open the draft a bit(or lot) more. More air flow across the burn should increase the heat of the fire and provide more coals too. Burning wet wood is never good for sure, but if you can get a good fire going the wood will dry out more quickly. Maybe add some store bought coal to help out for now. If you do that let the draft work on its own so you don't overheat the unit.

Offline stlaser

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #366 on: November 27, 2018, 01:36:15 PM »
Don, first year firewood issue is the norm not the exception. You definitely will be a pro after this first winter just hang in there & sounds like Duane is a great resource. If any questions about first year heating with wood just ask Ashley about green wood... :rolleyes:

Normally I had my cords split and stacked for drying by no later than June 1st in NE IN. Now full logs may need cut to length a full year ahead. If the ash is standing and no bark cut it and burn it, it’s gtg right now FYI. For large diameter trees that were downed in a wind storm etc years ago and not cut they can still hold quite a bit of moisture in them. Again ask Ashley if questions about river bottom oaks he was trying to burn.

One other tip, there is a tool (I never bought one cause I’m cheap) that will tell you moisture content of wood. I think it’s like a scanner or something, it would have saved me a lot of trouble had I bought one my first year heating with wood. Just a thought....

And for all you clowns who sell green wood as if it’s dried and ready to burn go pound sand....

https://m.lowes.com/pd/General-Tools-Instruments-Digital-Moisture-Meter/3136919?cm_mmc=SCE_PLA-_-ToolsAndHardware-_-SpecialtyHandTools-_-3136919:General_Tools_&_Instruments&CAWELAID=&kpid=3136919&CAGPSPN=pla&store_code=1874&k_clickID=go_625706834_34613852470_111132719110_pla-260326515041_m_9028890&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIteak_5v13gIVycDACh39EQ8DEAQYASABEgLcbvD_BwE

Btw, I was told harbor freight sells one too....
« Last Edit: November 27, 2018, 01:39:05 PM by stlaser »
Living in the remote north hoping Ken doesn’t bring H up here any time soon…..

Offline Bob Smith

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #367 on: November 27, 2018, 02:24:38 PM »
And if you are buying seasoned wood and the truck shows up with green wood send them away. When you need wood to burn you don't need a load of green wet wood to try and work with.

Offline Bob Smith

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #368 on: November 27, 2018, 02:48:15 PM »
I am cutting wood right now for next Fall

Offline Bob Smith

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #369 on: November 27, 2018, 02:50:08 PM »
7 large fir and one cedar for starting the fire

Offline KensAuto

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #370 on: November 27, 2018, 04:18:25 PM »
Don, did I read you right,  about trying to heat the house last night,  and running the shower? Wouldn't it be best to get the boiler up to temp before cycling the pumps,  so it has a fighting chance? Just thinking out loud.  Never had a boiler here in the desert...go figure.
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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #371 on: November 27, 2018, 05:14:02 PM »
OK, everyone hold your horses!

I am getting on top of the curve to be sure

I now have a hot fire going in that thing, and water temp is now at 114 and rising.

I threw in a small load of 2 X 4's and that was like a catalyst which just consumed that stubborn 10" log like it was a snickers bar at a fat girl's convention.

Outside temp is in the low-mid 20's and the house temp is ahead of the thermostat! I have turned off the upstairs heat pump and just have the fan running which is driving air across that toasty heat exchanger. The youngest pre-ranger told me the upstairs is the warmest it has ever been.

In the basement, the water heater plate type heat exchanger is hot to the touch, so it has to be making hot water. I'll turn the hot water heater off tomorrow, and finally when I see temps nearing 180, I'll turn off the main heat pump and be totally on the boiler.

It also has my big garage toasty. I have been working out there for hours on the Burb in pleasant, I'd make it mid 50's to maybe 60F. When the water in that thing reaches 180 it is going to be way more than adequate for this big house. It is currently heating 7,500 square feet and some sizeable volume spaces like the great room which is almost 20 feet tall!
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Offline Bob Smith

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #372 on: November 27, 2018, 05:31:06 PM »
Good news, but, buying 2x4's to cut and burn up can't be cost effective.

Offline stlaser

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #373 on: November 27, 2018, 06:31:16 PM »
Pine & creosote.... :tongue:
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Offline Sammconn

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #374 on: November 28, 2018, 07:13:52 PM »
Dry wood matters. Sounds like you’ve had the lecture.
Is there any concern of fire going out and water freezing?
You’re not cold like guys I see with them but I know nothing about them.
My thought was that they had antifreeze of some sort in them.

I cut next winters wood before end of March. I wish I had the ambition to be a winter ahead.
But I may be, as I’m adding an oil burner at the cabin.
Hope to cut my wood use in half or better.

Glad to hear a project is working and possibly done...
I just don't want to wind up missing a digit or limb.  I can sometimes get in a hurry to get results.
Sam

Offline Bob Smith

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #375 on: November 28, 2018, 07:42:07 PM »
Don, I hope things are getting warmer for you now. I had a propane heater installed in my garage this fall. It hangs from the ceiling and it sure is nice to have better heating in there. It looks a lot like the unit you installed in your garage except for the water lines. Once you get a bunch of stockpiled wood that can dry before you use it you should be golden with that setup. I would caution you though to not be putting the fire wood right next to the house or in the garage, the bugs could eat you up.

Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #376 on: November 28, 2018, 08:09:08 PM »
Yea, the dry wood is the whole issue at the moment. I have none, and therefore cannot reach full temp. Having said that, last night it was low 20's with a breeze and that thing got us through just fine. It started out in the one hundred teens and was pulled all the way down to 76 by morning. It had eaten all the logs I threw in, big small, wet and wetter. But I know it would be hummin on a good dry pile of hardwood.

I'll pick up a few cords of Duane's stuff which he no longer has any need for and report on what if any difference that makes.

Working in the garage is now a non issue!
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Offline Bob Smith

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #377 on: November 28, 2018, 08:51:55 PM »
I am sure it will be much better

Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #378 on: November 29, 2018, 09:23:47 AM »
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Offline BobbyB

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #379 on: November 30, 2018, 07:13:20 PM »
Duane's stuff which he no longer has any need for

How's Duane and the family doing by the way?
So, Bobby...being the calculating trained warrior NCO that you are.  Take the appropriate action, Execute!
your standard grunt level CQB is just putting rounds and rounds on scary stuff till it stops scaring you!

Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #380 on: November 30, 2018, 08:57:52 PM »
Duane's stuff which he no longer has any need for

How's Duane and the family doing by the way?
In a word, Great!

Insurance carried the day and are still paying out, he did OK

He closed on his new house today actually.
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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #381 on: November 30, 2018, 09:00:46 PM »
Granted the OAT has been much better than the previous week, but the boiler digesting its steady diet of wet/green wood is staying 3+ degrees higher than the thermostat which I set at 70 for the heat pump to kick on. The boys said it was actually hot in their bedrooms, hot enough to have to open a window a little bit.

So I'd say it is picking up the slack. As soon as I get some real wood stacked in, I'll turn off the second unit and the water heater and go completely on the wood boiler
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Offline Bob Smith

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #382 on: November 30, 2018, 09:20:35 PM »
Once you get good dry wood for it to eat, you might want to clean the exhaust piping. If you have much build up it can cut down on the draft's ability to keep a good burn going. On my wood stove, if the exhaust builds to much junk, it curls toward the center of the pipe cutting down on draft ability. Either that or get a darn good chimney fire going and burn it out. Don't think anything is close enough to be hurt from that.

Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #383 on: December 01, 2018, 03:30:16 PM »
Once you get good dry wood for it to eat, you might want to clean the exhaust piping. If you have much build up it can cut down on the draft's ability to keep a good burn going. On my wood stove, if the exhaust builds to much junk, it curls toward the center of the pipe cutting down on draft ability. Either that or get a darn good chimney fire going and burn it out. Don't think anything is close enough to be hurt from that.
Copy that!
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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #384 on: December 02, 2018, 09:58:55 PM »
So we raided Duane's stockpile today and brought back a couple chords of seasoned firewood
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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #385 on: December 02, 2018, 09:59:49 PM »
I loaded up some earlier and it started pushing the temp up from the 90's
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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #386 on: December 02, 2018, 10:00:37 PM »
And now I have a good fire going in there
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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #387 on: December 02, 2018, 10:03:15 PM »
But even with the relatively low boiler water temp, the delta in heat it is making is readily apparent on my inside thermostat. The heat pump heater is set to come on if the temp creeps below 70. You can see that the house is a cozy 75F you will also note that only the fan is running and not the heating unit. I'm now heating the house entirely on this way less than optimum boiler water.
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Offline TexasRedNeck

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #388 on: December 03, 2018, 06:06:47 AM »
Good job, Don.  Just goes to show you what perseverance and hard work can do!

Might be worth buying a half cord of known good seasoned wood to see the difference and determined burn rates for future wood storage.
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Offline stlaser

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #389 on: December 03, 2018, 08:24:02 AM »
 :likebutton:

Ahhhhhh Dry seasoned wood, so nice and toasty!   :beercheers:
Living in the remote north hoping Ken doesn’t bring H up here any time soon…..

Offline dave945

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #390 on: December 03, 2018, 08:50:02 AM »
Don, I was just thinking(I know, scary stuff). What is your plan as far as power out scenario?  Do you have a power backup connected to the outdoor furnace and indoor air handler?


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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #391 on: December 03, 2018, 09:33:03 AM »
Good job, Don.  Just goes to show you what perseverance and hard work can do!

Might be worth buying a half cord of known good seasoned wood to see the difference and determined burn rates for future wood storage.
Rog
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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #392 on: December 03, 2018, 09:36:26 AM »
Don, I was just thinking(I know, scary stuff). What is your plan as far as power out scenario?  Do you have a power backup connected to the outdoor furnace and indoor air handler?


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Yes and no Dave
6K generator (I own)
Plan to wire a special circuit to just the boiler and both HVAC units.
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Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #393 on: December 03, 2018, 09:37:28 AM »
Last night it held 75F until maybe 4Am then dropped to 74F but nothing less.

Better wood = Better heat
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Offline KensAuto

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #394 on: December 03, 2018, 02:58:36 PM »
That's impressive, especially for a home that size.
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Offline stlaser

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #395 on: December 03, 2018, 07:20:19 PM »
That's impressive, especially for a home that size.

Only took a 1/2 a cord of wood a day to do it too!  :shocked:
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Offline Bob Smith

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #396 on: December 03, 2018, 07:28:09 PM »
That's impressive, especially for a home that size.

Only took a 1/2 a cord of wood a day to do it too!  :shocked:



I would hope Don will keep good records of wood burn and share that information with us.
Once he gets some logs dried out and starts loading them into the stove, burn time should increase. Maybe then he will keep good numbers to share with the group.

Offline stlaser

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #397 on: December 03, 2018, 07:30:32 PM »
My welder back in Indiana ran one of these and normally unless it was single digits he could run 12 hours on a load.
Living in the remote north hoping Ken doesn’t bring H up here any time soon…..

Offline Flyin6

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #398 on: December 03, 2018, 07:38:10 PM »
Tim, the guy who builds these things says it eats about a wheel barrow of wood a day.

Now, he lives in upstate Michigan, so after applying the KY latitude calibration factor I'd say I am close

What's different about mine is that it is currently not regulated by a thermostat. It simply runs with the air flapper wide open all the time. That means it is burning more than it would normally need to, however that flapper is controlled by the water temp. The desired water temp has never been reached yet, but I am certainly not using that much wood, although a good percentage thereof.

Currently it is pretty cold outside and I am all stoked up sitting at around 75 on the inside still.

The thing had accumulated a bunch of cresode on the interior, which is now burning away, so I'd say the thing is yet to get on top of the curve. That and the stacked wood I took didn't have a cover over the top so it was and is a little bit wet still.

You can see that there are a bunch of factors still working against my having this thing optimized, but it has provided steady heat for over a week, with no additional heating from electric sources. I just want it to hit the big temps so I can turn off the water heater!
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Offline cudakidd53

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Re: Wood Fired Boiler Install
« Reply #399 on: December 04, 2018, 12:38:36 PM »
Good progress, now buy each Pre-ranger their own chain saw and start whacking and stacking for the future!  HH6 could probably use a hydraulic splitter and your Christmas shopping is done!
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