Outdoor Wood Furnace Info
All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: Jon_E on January 16, 2018, 02:51:51 PM
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I would like to move my OWF about 10 feet in order to make a significant change in the layout of my wood heating operation. The obstacle is the Central Boiler pex tubing which goes from the boiler to my house. I could, in theory, just dig it up and replace it, but that's about a thousand bucks I have no reason to spend and about 85' of tubing wasted, with no other issues aside from being too short. I would love to be able to simply extend it, but I have no clue how to do so and still maintain the insulation value of it. Joining two pieces of PEX end to end is easy - it's the insulation and the hard outer shell and keeping it all watertight.
Any ideas or suggestions?
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My favorite part about Thermopex. They make coupling kits for it with new insulation halves and an outer "boot" to keep it watertight. Just need to make your connections then scrape a little out of the new insulation halves to clear the couplings then slide the boot over and tighten it down. Make sure you slide the boot on before you crimp the couplings though! Ask how I learned that lesson.... I think they're like $85 for the kit
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Yep Logstor makes a connection kit so I’m sure Thermopex offers the same.
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Does Rehau have a coupling device?
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Mine is the "old" stuff that is in a black corrugated outer shell - not the current stuff that is solid urethane foam and a hard rubberish smooth shell. I doubt I can get that stuff to seal with any kind of boot or wrap.
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Mine is the "old" stuff that is in a black corrugated outer shell - not the current stuff that is solid urethane foam and a hard rubberish smooth shell. I doubt I can get that stuff to seal with any kind of boot or wrap.
How about putting your splice in as long a piece of 6" or 8" pvc as you can (with the splice in the center of the pipe), then spray foaming into each end to fill some of the void between the pipe and your lines, then coating the ends of the pipe where the lines enter and exit with tar or caulking to seal it all up?
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Does Rehau have a coupling device?
I use primarily Rehau and have not ever seen a coupling kit... However the 1" Thermopex has the same outer diameter as 1" Rehau does, I'd be willing to bet the Thermopex kit would work on Rehau. Fun fact, Rehau actually manufactures Thermopex for Central Boiler
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Look in the commercial cable splicing world. I'm sure there's a heat shrink style tape, mastic, or tube available in a size that would work and it might even include a goop that seals the splice forever. Barring that, I'd clean the underground part as best as possible, slide a piece of PVC or so over the splice and fill the void with a LOT of 2 part epoxy of some kind. The goal is a water tight seal whereas the insulation for the foot or so of splicing doesn't really matter a whole lot as long as water doesn't get in.
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Mine is the "old" stuff that is in a black corrugated outer shell - not the current stuff that is solid urethane foam and a hard rubberish smooth shell. I doubt I can get that stuff to seal with any kind of boot or wrap.
I wonder.... They have couplings for corrugated drain tile, but they're not watertight, which is going to render your whole lineset garbage if it gets wet inside. We did a 200 yard run of 10" direct bury chilled water pipe a few years back at a prison. It was all preinsulated so we had to keep water out for the same reason. A guy came out, a rep from Covalence I believe, and gave us these "heat shrink" type sleeves like you'd use on wiring splices. Slid it over the pipe, made the connection, reinsulated, then slid the sleeve over the joint and heated it up with a weedburner to shrink it on to the pipe. That was smooth-ish wall, so not the same as you have but I wonder if you found like a 4 foot chunk of the heat shrink sleeve and made the coupling with a regular old drain tile coupling, then shrunk a couple feet on each side using each rib as an additional barrier.... Maybe? Or even just a regular old Fernco rubber coupling with the hose clamps and a whole lot of silicone. Dangerous either way I guess
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We made a short run of pipe for my F in Law. It was just 10 feet because his boiler was sitting right outside his basement window.
We just drilled a few holes in the black pipe and filled it with cans of spray foam. You could make your splice and spray foam in the black pipe for 6 feet either way or so.
No guarantee here, but cheap and fast. Cheap, Fast, and Reliable.... pick two.
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Foam out of a can is open cell, water can and will get thru eventually. Closed cell needs two components that are mixed on site.
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I was almost positive great stuff was closed cell... ? Open cell is a lot softer.. I dunno. I've sealed a lot of basement wall penetrations with great stuff with no leaks.
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I dunno, used great stuff to seal the Logstor to the 6” sleeve in my wall that was left over from my homemade pipe, eventually water started dripping thru, water till it stopped and coated the whole inside with caulk, seems to have stopped it for now.
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Look for to OSI brand of spray foam and bicth a thane
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Also use minimal expanding so nothing gets crushed when using the foam. I would still make a sleeve and seal it with silicone for extra precaution.
One other issue is the connection of the pipe (type of fittings used) so it is not a restriction point in a long run.
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Does Rehau have a coupling device?
I use primarily Rehau and have not ever seen a coupling kit... However the 1" Thermopex has the same outer diameter as 1" Rehau does, I'd be willing to bet the Thermopex kit would work on Rehau. Fun fact, Rehau actually manufactures Thermopex for Central Boiler
This is absolutely not true, Rehau does not make Thermopex!
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Does Rehau have a coupling device?
I use primarily Rehau and have not ever seen a coupling kit... However the 1" Thermopex has the same outer diameter as 1" Rehau does, I'd be willing to bet the Thermopex kit would work on Rehau. Fun fact, Rehau actually manufactures Thermopex for Central Boiler
This is absolutely not true, Rehau does not make Thermopex!
Care to prove that fact? It was stated right on CB's website when the 25mm came out
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Does Rehau have a coupling device?
I use primarily Rehau and have not ever seen a coupling kit... However the 1" Thermopex has the same outer diameter as 1" Rehau does, I'd be willing to bet the Thermopex kit would work on Rehau. Fun fact, Rehau actually manufactures Thermopex for Central Boiler
This is absolutely not true, Rehau does not make Thermopex!
Care to prove that fact? It was stated right on CB's website when the 25mm came out
It would be more difficult for you to prove it was as I know for a fact it is not there now and never was. Not trying to start an argument I just think the truth here is important.
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It would be more difficult for you to prove it was as I know for a fact it is not there now and never was. Not trying to start an argument I just think the truth here is important.
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Nor am I here to argue, but for CB to put it right on their site and having been in the industry for nearly half my life with no evidence showing otherwise, I'd like to see some proof. Seeing as you know more about it than me, would you care to share with the class who does make it? There are several others here under my same assumption so some factual clarification would be great! Thanks
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Well, how would it be proven, a daily snapshot for the last 5 years showing it is not there, maybe? Of course, one snapshot showing it was, would be much simpler.
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Well, how would it be proven, a daily snapshot for the last 5 years showing it is not there, maybe? Of course, one snapshot showing it was, would be much simpler.
Seeing as you're absolutely 100% certain that they do not come from the same plant, it is quite apparent that you know something I do not. Now, I will ask again. How is it that you are so sure Thermopex is not manufactured by Rehau? I'm genuinely curious where it does come from, as that has been the general consensus for several years and I would hate to say things that are not true. If you cannot tell me otherwise however, that says you do not know and are here solely to argue. Which is it? I'm more than happy to admit when I am wrong, if I can be proven to be wrong
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Good Lord, give it a rest and get a life. Both of you.
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Good Lord, give it a rest and get a life. Both of you.
Some of us work with this stuff for a living and have a bit of a "need" to know where their products come from. When it's been the general consensus for many years that your product comes from one place and you are suddenly told otherwise, wouldn't you want to know so you can share correct information with your customers and forum-goers alike? This is my "life" that you've so eloquently demanded I get, so if you don't mind I'm going to sit here and wait for my answer- per your instruction