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General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Adding storage questions
« on: January 13, 2018, 08:57:58 AM »
Thank you to all that have posted and sorry I am slow to return to this thread.
The NCB80 has a large firebox. I have visited with some one in my area that has a wood boiler that if I recall was a central boiler.... held 200ish gallons and has a smaller firebox than I do. I do understand that regardless of the storage I have to feed it BTU's.
I guess my thinking is I would rather burn hot for a longer period to heat more storage and do it less often
The NCB80 has a large firebox. I have visited with some one in my area that has a wood boiler that if I recall was a central boiler.... held 200ish gallons and has a smaller firebox than I do. I do understand that regardless of the storage I have to feed it BTU's.
I guess my thinking is I would rather burn hot for a longer period to heat more storage and do it less often
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General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Adding storage questions
« on: January 10, 2018, 05:21:14 AM »
I have a natures comfort ncb80 which is only 80 gallons. It has been doing a fine job heating the living levels of our home and other than crappy pumps and a sticky aquastat I have no complaints. I have ordered a grundfos alpha to replace the constantly breaking broeder pump and a new aquastat is on the list. This coming year I intend to add a HX to the basement that is now a shop/office/laundry space with a half bath. I also intend to heat a small outdoor shop that is really just an oversized uninsulated shed. I live in the north GA mountains so my heating needs are not as extreme as you folks living up north, but the wife likes it 72 inside all winter long.
Up to this point the boiler has only been used in the winter, but I intend to begin using it year round to heat DHW.
I am sure that with the added heated space and only 80 gallons my run intervals will no longer be in the 12 hour range and I think I should be adding some extra storage.
I have a spare 300 gallon LP tank sitting in the pasture doing nothing, so I'd like to use it as hot water storage. I will build a small insulated enclosure next to the boiler, but I am unsure how I should plumb it into the loop and where I should install my inlet and exit pipes. I have a space on the boiler for a second pump, but I am not sure if circulating water from the boiler to the storage and back to the boiler is good or if from the boiler to the storage and then out to the house and back to boiler is a better option.
Thoughts and opinions ??
Up to this point the boiler has only been used in the winter, but I intend to begin using it year round to heat DHW.
I am sure that with the added heated space and only 80 gallons my run intervals will no longer be in the 12 hour range and I think I should be adding some extra storage.
I have a spare 300 gallon LP tank sitting in the pasture doing nothing, so I'd like to use it as hot water storage. I will build a small insulated enclosure next to the boiler, but I am unsure how I should plumb it into the loop and where I should install my inlet and exit pipes. I have a space on the boiler for a second pump, but I am not sure if circulating water from the boiler to the storage and back to the boiler is good or if from the boiler to the storage and then out to the house and back to boiler is a better option.
Thoughts and opinions ??
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Plumbing / Re: Dhw question
« on: November 06, 2014, 06:53:20 PM »
lol..... no no no..... its the potable water that is warmed by the plate exchanger..... leave the exchanger.... into mixing valve ( so not to burn ya ) and into a manifold with four ports.... each hot water heater gets a 1/2" line to the cold supply side of a hot water heater from one of these ports. I was considering running the other two ports from the manifold into the HOT out line on each of the water heater so I would not have to wait forever for the water in the hot heater to be reheated after it has turned cold from sitting still all day...... maybe that would make the supply line into(cold supply) the hot water heater useless
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Plumbing / Dhw question
« on: November 06, 2014, 03:58:45 PM »
New user..... not running long but I have a small issue with the hot water.
I have my mixing valve connected to a manifold and distribute the water to two hot water heaters from the manifold. One water heater is a very small (maybe 15 gallon) unit that serves a small bathroom and the other that is upstairs (30 gal) serves everything else. On days when no one is home the water in the hot water heater cools down and the water coming to the house is like 50 deg. It takes a long time for the hot water to mix with the cold in the hot water heater and provide hot water.... after it is hot in the tank it is fine but waiting 5 minutes or more to get in a shower is not okay.
I have two empty ports on the manifold and I am thinking about running a line to the hot out side of each hot water heater to get my more instant hot water.
I plan on leaving the hot line on the cold fill tee as well. I don't see an issue here but I'd rather ask you folks first.
Thanks in advance
I have my mixing valve connected to a manifold and distribute the water to two hot water heaters from the manifold. One water heater is a very small (maybe 15 gallon) unit that serves a small bathroom and the other that is upstairs (30 gal) serves everything else. On days when no one is home the water in the hot water heater cools down and the water coming to the house is like 50 deg. It takes a long time for the hot water to mix with the cold in the hot water heater and provide hot water.... after it is hot in the tank it is fine but waiting 5 minutes or more to get in a shower is not okay.
I have two empty ports on the manifold and I am thinking about running a line to the hot out side of each hot water heater to get my more instant hot water.
I plan on leaving the hot line on the cold fill tee as well. I don't see an issue here but I'd rather ask you folks first.
Thanks in advance
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General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: November 4 2014
« on: November 05, 2014, 06:52:20 AM »
My home state of GA did our part in helping to take some control back. With the change in power I hope that idiot in the white house finally sees the light and gives the people what they want. It wont surprise me to see his veto pen glued to his hand tho.
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Natures Comfort / Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« on: November 02, 2014, 09:36:54 AM »
First over night run last night. 1/2 load of oak went 12.5 hours. low 20's outside and 74 inside.
I had plenty of hot coals but no actual wood was left. Water temp was still good and the fan was off.
I threw some wood in and the fire lit right back up.
I'd say good enough.
I did find a small leak from a sharkbite fitting that runs 1/2 inch hot water to the upstairs bathroom. I pushed the connection tighter and solved the leak issue.
I had plenty of hot coals but no actual wood was left. Water temp was still good and the fan was off.
I threw some wood in and the fire lit right back up.
I'd say good enough.
I did find a small leak from a sharkbite fitting that runs 1/2 inch hot water to the upstairs bathroom. I pushed the connection tighter and solved the leak issue.
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General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: First Fire this morning
« on: November 02, 2014, 06:08:03 AM »
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General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / First Fire this morning
« on: November 01, 2014, 09:30:50 AM »
Well I fired up this morning. Good thing since it snowed all night. Its never good to have snow this early in GA.
Everything appears good..... I have hot water and heat but only low speed on the fan. Still nice at warm.... no check for the LP man!!!!
Everything appears good..... I have hot water and heat but only low speed on the fan. Still nice at warm.... no check for the LP man!!!!
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Natures Comfort / Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« on: November 01, 2014, 09:28:03 AM »
We have FIRE!!!!!!!!
Good thing since it snowed all night. Bad sign to have snow in GA this early.
I ran the gas heat last night since I was out of town and that heated the boiler water up to 80 deg from its original 50 deg. I left the door open and burned down a coal bed.... that brought me up to 120..... I closed the door and turned on the fan...... I came back to check it 45 min later and it was already up to temp.....
I found that the second thermo will only run the fan on low but right now it doesn't seem to be an issue. I may have to do some research to get the higher speed on the fan.
I turned off the hot water heaters this morning and ran them cold before I opened the ball vavles to supply hot water. I turned on the hot water in the kitchen sink and ran it for an hour and the water stayed hot hot hot.... I have a well so the only cost was running the pump.
I guess the education begins now..... I'll be learning the proper feeding and loading schedule for a while but I cant be happier to set the backup heat at 50deg and know that I wont be cutting any more checks to the LP man. That 3k last year was painful.
I'll update a little at a time as I learn more information.
Good thing since it snowed all night. Bad sign to have snow in GA this early.
I ran the gas heat last night since I was out of town and that heated the boiler water up to 80 deg from its original 50 deg. I left the door open and burned down a coal bed.... that brought me up to 120..... I closed the door and turned on the fan...... I came back to check it 45 min later and it was already up to temp.....
I found that the second thermo will only run the fan on low but right now it doesn't seem to be an issue. I may have to do some research to get the higher speed on the fan.
I turned off the hot water heaters this morning and ran them cold before I opened the ball vavles to supply hot water. I turned on the hot water in the kitchen sink and ran it for an hour and the water stayed hot hot hot.... I have a well so the only cost was running the pump.
I guess the education begins now..... I'll be learning the proper feeding and loading schedule for a while but I cant be happier to set the backup heat at 50deg and know that I wont be cutting any more checks to the LP man. That 3k last year was painful.
I'll update a little at a time as I learn more information.
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Natures Comfort / Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« on: October 31, 2014, 02:50:59 PM »
Its finally in..... water is moving.... only one leak because some dummy left a cinch clamp off on side of a fitting. ( that'd be me )
Fist fire will be tomorrow.....
Fist fire will be tomorrow.....
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Plumbing / Re: Uncoil 1 inch pex.... ARG!!!!
« on: October 30, 2014, 01:57:35 PM »
I pulled a 20 foot section between trees and it did help a little .... O tried the over the knee on the second run but it coiled back up fairly quickly.... If I ever have to do it again I will buy straight sticks..... fun fun
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Plumbing / Uncoil 1 inch pex.... ARG!!!!
« on: October 29, 2014, 02:35:21 PM »
how in the world do you straighten this stuff out when its chilly outside..... 
I bet I've got an extra ten feet just in the coils...
I bet I've got an extra ten feet just in the coils...
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Plumbing / Re: Heat exchanger position
« on: October 28, 2014, 05:10:39 AM »
Not trying to steal your thread but have a similar question...... I am going to bend up a bracket to mount the plate exchanger to the basement wall.... The wall is already concrete with plywood on it.... is it safe to mount to the plywood or do I need to get a piece of green board or something fire retardant to mount behind the exchanger? Temps wont be high enough to ignite the plywood right?
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General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Not OWB related
« on: October 26, 2014, 04:08:36 PM »
Not what you are looking for probably, but I was Chef in a restaurant that installed one for the kitchen. After the 80 gallon gas hot water heater(it worked perfectly) left and the tankless went in..... we never ran out of hot water..... not on the busiest night with the dish washer going full out all night long. Now the water was hot, but not as hot as the tank model after it had a chance to idle.....
No way to tell you how much more or less gas it used though....... everything in a commercial kitchen runs on gas...
So......yes it they work
No way to tell you how much more or less gas it used though....... everything in a commercial kitchen runs on gas...
So......yes it they work
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