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226
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: 24 hour burns
« on: March 23, 2009, 07:07:58 PM »
New owner still trying to figure best way to operate OWB .
Do you still load same as when it is cold? I have only been loading what I think it will take to last all night or day.
Do you still load same as when it is cold? I have only been loading what I think it will take to last all night or day.
227
Natures Comfort / Re: Chimney burn out
« on: March 20, 2009, 09:29:08 PM »
I would be interested in what factory says about burn out. Maybe I can alleviate problem before it happens.
I tried 1/2 pipe and 3/8 pipe between firebrick. Both seemed a little to big the 1/2 rod seems to work better for me. It does limit size of chunks falling into ash pan and dosen't seem to stop up slots like pipe did.
I burn mostly red and white oak. I do have to split some since they are to large to handle and fit through door. Cut red oak today about 24 inch dia. Have cut some tulip poplar this winter since it was free. Your winters are a lot colder than ours in the south. I am hoping to get by with 3 to 4 cord this winter. Burned around 11/2 to 2 cords in wood stove.
Have you burned any coal? Some one mentioned burning coal mixed with wood to improve burn times in another post. May try that this winter. Haven't checked price of coal may change my mind if to expensive.
What temp do you operate boiler at? I have had mine set at 150-155 since start up. Keeps house warm and heats DHW.
From post I have read OWB'S burn a lot more wood than in house wood stoves.
I tried 1/2 pipe and 3/8 pipe between firebrick. Both seemed a little to big the 1/2 rod seems to work better for me. It does limit size of chunks falling into ash pan and dosen't seem to stop up slots like pipe did.
I burn mostly red and white oak. I do have to split some since they are to large to handle and fit through door. Cut red oak today about 24 inch dia. Have cut some tulip poplar this winter since it was free. Your winters are a lot colder than ours in the south. I am hoping to get by with 3 to 4 cord this winter. Burned around 11/2 to 2 cords in wood stove.
Have you burned any coal? Some one mentioned burning coal mixed with wood to improve burn times in another post. May try that this winter. Haven't checked price of coal may change my mind if to expensive.
What temp do you operate boiler at? I have had mine set at 150-155 since start up. Keeps house warm and heats DHW.
From post I have read OWB'S burn a lot more wood than in house wood stoves.
228
Natures Comfort / Re: Chimney burn out
« on: March 20, 2009, 06:13:48 AM »
My dealer said some owners had installed 11/2 pipe in grate. He didn't say this was a factory recomendation. Not sure about that. I installed this at startup in February. I think the purpose is to direct more air to front and middle of boiler. He said some had installed pipe in front slot. I also installed 5/8 rod in between other slots to keep large chunks from falling through grate. Have not had any problem with chimney burn out.
I have been playing around with mine some to see what gives the most even burn. First of this week I moved pipe to front slot and slid grate toward rear leaving 1/2 inch slot at rear of grate. I was having a lot of creosote build up in back of OWB the other way. This seems to have helped with that.
Eight Cords of wood. Is that the 128sq ft. per cord? Been trying to figure out how much wood I will need for next winter.
I have been playing around with mine some to see what gives the most even burn. First of this week I moved pipe to front slot and slid grate toward rear leaving 1/2 inch slot at rear of grate. I was having a lot of creosote build up in back of OWB the other way. This seems to have helped with that.
Eight Cords of wood. Is that the 128sq ft. per cord? Been trying to figure out how much wood I will need for next winter.
229
Natures Comfort / Re: New Installation
« on: March 06, 2009, 07:48:38 PM »
Steve
You mentioned chestnut coal. Is that the small stuff about 1 inch in size? Do you put the coal on top of the wood coals in my case since I have only been burning wood, and then put more wood on top of that?
It will probably be next winter before I will get a chance to try it though, but would like to give it a try.
I put the 11/2 pipe in back slot then slid grate all the way back aganist it. Seams to direct air more to front. Dealer said some people have been doing just the opposite installing pipe in front. Haven't tried it up front yet. I guess its what ever works best for each individual.
You mentioned chestnut coal. Is that the small stuff about 1 inch in size? Do you put the coal on top of the wood coals in my case since I have only been burning wood, and then put more wood on top of that?
It will probably be next winter before I will get a chance to try it though, but would like to give it a try.
I put the 11/2 pipe in back slot then slid grate all the way back aganist it. Seams to direct air more to front. Dealer said some people have been doing just the opposite installing pipe in front. Haven't tried it up front yet. I guess its what ever works best for each individual.
230
Natures Comfort / Re: New Installation
« on: March 04, 2009, 09:38:15 PM »
I had installed 1/2 pipe instead of 3/8 in slots between fire brick in grate to narrow space so large chunks of coals could not fall through. Come to find out they were not allowing enough air to pass through. Slots had become clogged with ash . I called my dealer and he suggested I remove them. Also told me to place piece of 11/2 pipe in rear slot toward smoke pipe.Since removing them I have not any problems. Aquastate set at 150 and has maintained 150 with no problem. Full load of wood at night all I can get in front, about half as much during day. This afternoon I placed some pieces of 1/2 inch rebar (much smaller than 1/2 pipe since I didn't have any 3/8 pipe laying around) between firebrick to see if this will cutdown on the size of coals falling into ash pan.
I guess I am still in the learing curve of OWB operation. Some of the wood I have been burning has not dried out enough though. Has been cut since November 2007. Some ok other to wet. Dad (he's 91)says some was cut during wrong sign. He says you should only cut down trees during light nights. Maybe so, all I know is some has caused inside of boiler to cresote up real bad. Will have to clean come spring. Don't have any coal to try wish I did. I plan on finding some before next winter and give it a try. NCB-175 working great know!!!
I guess I am still in the learing curve of OWB operation. Some of the wood I have been burning has not dried out enough though. Has been cut since November 2007. Some ok other to wet. Dad (he's 91)says some was cut during wrong sign. He says you should only cut down trees during light nights. Maybe so, all I know is some has caused inside of boiler to cresote up real bad. Will have to clean come spring. Don't have any coal to try wish I did. I plan on finding some before next winter and give it a try. NCB-175 working great know!!!
231
Natures Comfort / Re: New Installation
« on: March 02, 2009, 07:57:14 AM »
Well installation went much easier than expected. Dealer loaded NCB 175 with forklift onto trailer I borrowed from my brother in- law. I borrowed some equipment rollers from my work place. Jacked up unit and placed equipment rollers under legs. The trailer I borrowed had a tilt bed which made things easier. Hooked come along to legs and just started rolling unit to rear allowing trailer to tilt onto concrete pad, while letting off of come along. Rolled unit right onto pad, set in place in less than a hour.
Made piping and electrical connections and had fire in fire box by late afternoon. Took about 3 hours to get unit to 150 deg from cold start up. Fan came set to 1/2 inch opening which seemed to allow to much heat to be blown out chimney. I changed it to 1/4 inch which seemed to work ok. Boiler worked great Saturday night all day sunday keeping water at 150 with no problem. Weather not to cold. This morning and last night was a different story. Temp this morning out side 20deg. with 0 deg wind chill water temp down to 110 this morning. Only changes I made late sunday afternoon was insulation added to underside of OWB and added some insulation inside back off access panel to cover piping holes in floor.
Really don't know what has happened. Still had wood in unit this morning added more at 6:00am. Blower was running but fire in fire box did not seem to be as hot as previous day.
Water temp only up to 130 31/2 hours latter. Really don't know what to do.Turned off unit heater in basement to reduce load.
New owner so any suggestions will be helpful. NCB 175 should heat my house with no problem only 1800 sq. ft. with full basement.
Made piping and electrical connections and had fire in fire box by late afternoon. Took about 3 hours to get unit to 150 deg from cold start up. Fan came set to 1/2 inch opening which seemed to allow to much heat to be blown out chimney. I changed it to 1/4 inch which seemed to work ok. Boiler worked great Saturday night all day sunday keeping water at 150 with no problem. Weather not to cold. This morning and last night was a different story. Temp this morning out side 20deg. with 0 deg wind chill water temp down to 110 this morning. Only changes I made late sunday afternoon was insulation added to underside of OWB and added some insulation inside back off access panel to cover piping holes in floor.
Really don't know what has happened. Still had wood in unit this morning added more at 6:00am. Blower was running but fire in fire box did not seem to be as hot as previous day.
Water temp only up to 130 31/2 hours latter. Really don't know what to do.Turned off unit heater in basement to reduce load.
New owner so any suggestions will be helpful. NCB 175 should heat my house with no problem only 1800 sq. ft. with full basement.
232
Natures Comfort / Re: New Installation
« on: February 23, 2009, 07:30:55 PM »
Mark I came across this sight a little while back. It dosen't look like it would be to hard to build.Looks like it would sure save the back. Check it out when you get a chance.
http://www.stoveloader.com/
http://www.stoveloader.com/
233
Natures Comfort / Re: New Installation
« on: February 22, 2009, 06:51:22 AM »
I think I will check about the wrecker idea Markp mentioned and see if there is one close by. Went and borrowed trailer that sits close to ground yesterday. Thing about adding blocks to. I like the idea of door being at least waist high. Speaking of that does anyone have a log loader to load heavy logs into furnace? Seen video one on web a few weeks back of one, made it look easy.
234
Natures Comfort / New Installation
« on: February 20, 2009, 06:39:57 AM »
Just ordered furnace 2/19 2009. Dealer said should have it next week. I had ordered a furnace from a someone else December 1,2008 and had not received yet. Canceled order yesterday. Already have concrete pad poured and piping roughed into pad for other boiler. I am hoping I can make hook up of piping and electrical with out having to break up concrete.
Not sure yet. Rough in is 12 inches in on right side 6 inches in from back. Piping comes up in 6 inch PVC pipe on 45deg. angle. Dim. Are to edge of PVC pipe. Not sure how I will get Furnace off trailer and on to pad yet either without going to expense of hiring boom truck to set unit.Hopeing to here from other Natures Comfort owners how there installation went.
Not sure yet. Rough in is 12 inches in on right side 6 inches in from back. Piping comes up in 6 inch PVC pipe on 45deg. angle. Dim. Are to edge of PVC pipe. Not sure how I will get Furnace off trailer and on to pad yet either without going to expense of hiring boom truck to set unit.Hopeing to here from other Natures Comfort owners how there installation went.