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[Gooseman]

I have not added any water since I filled it in Oct. the gauge is sitting in the 3/4 full mark when up to temp and just below 1/2 when cooled down. You must have a weeping fitting somewhere to have to add water all the time.

[Singlemalt]

Have not added water since start up in October.

Open the ash pan door, give it about 30 seconds, and then open the fill door. Shouldn't be much smoke coming out the fill door. Do this even if the fan is running. Just remember to close the ash door when your finished.

Thanks for this information. Really made a difference.

Small motion sensor lights work well and are easy on batteries. Lee Valley or Amazon.

[blmike]

Are you guys returning water to the top and drawing from the bottom.

[rickldb22]

I am pulling from the top and returning to the bottom. I add about 5 gallons per season.
Rick

[Singlemalt]

Brian indicated to me that it would not matter how you connected.

I went with the manual.

I draw from the bottom left side and return to the top far right side.

[Crow]

 I am not sure if the manual has been changed since I purchased mine in '13, but mine shows pulling from the top and returning to the bottom. This is how I hooked it up, as well as everything else such as grounding rod, thermostatic bypass etc. Went by their manual so if/when I have an issue and may require warranty repair there should not be a problem.

 Anyways mine has been excellent so far except I had to replace several grate bricks after only the second season. The original ones were an issue with moving around if you raked your ashes to much or tried to reposition a large chunk of wood and the gaps would open up on some and close somewhere else. I installed the new style brick with the built in spacers.

I have only added water once this season, a total of 2 1/2 gallons, but it is due again soon but will wait till it is shut down for the summer and after I have sent in my water sample and received my results.

[Gooseman]

Drawing from bottom and return to top same side. Right now I am only using one set of ports as my shop wasn't ready to go this year.

[blmike]

Going by these post,the ones adding water ( myself included ) draw from the top and return to the bottom.

[12valve]

Just read through all of this.  My connections are good but I also add water.  maybe a gallon a month, I have a valve plumbed into my line in the basement so nbd.  But I would like to know where my water goes....  Mine is plumbed to draw water from upper right and returns to lower left.  Slim why would the plumbing affect this??

[blmike]

Just read through all of this.  My connections are good but I also add water.  maybe a gallon a month, I have a valve plumbed into my line in the basement so nbd.  But I would like to know where my water goes....  Mine is plumbed to draw water from upper right and returns to lower left.  Slim why would the plumbing affect this??

Brain told me that there is likely hot spots from not enough circulation,and by drawing from the bottom and return to the top should help this.It does not make sense to me but i will revers my lines as soon as it warms up ( it has been -20c lots of mornings here yet ).

[blmike]

I am not sure if the manual has been changed since I purchased mine in '13, but mine shows pulling from the top and returning to the bottom. This is how I hooked it up, as well as everything else such as grounding rod, thermostatic bypass etc. Went by their manual so if/when I have an issue and may require warranty repair there should not be a problem.

 Anyways mine has been excellent so far except I had to replace several grate bricks after only the second season. The original ones were an issue with moving around if you raked your ashes to much or tried to reposition a large chunk of wood and the gaps would open up on some and close somewhere else. I installed the new style brick with the built in spacers.

I have only added water once this season, a total of 2 1/2 gallons, but it is due again soon but will wait till it is shut down for the summer and after I have sent in my water sample and received my results.

If you have added 2.5 gals it was to low and you risk sucking air if you draw from the top.On mine it only takes 1 gal to go from near the bottom to full.

[12valve]

Just read through all of this.  My connections are good but I also add water.  maybe a gallon a month, I have a valve plumbed into my line in the basement so nbd.  But I would like to know where my water goes....  Mine is plumbed to draw water from upper right and returns to lower left.  Slim why would the plumbing affect this??

Brain told me that there is likely hot spots from not enough circulation,and by drawing from the bottom and return to the top should help this.It does not make sense to me but i will revers my lines as soon as it warms up ( it has been -20c lots of mornings here yet ).

Ok so there is hot spot...  what happens to the water??

[12valve]

This may be a dumb question.  But to test this theory could you just flip the pump?

[MerrellRoofing]

I think mine steams some out. And since it's small water capacity, it's more noticeable than other 300 gallon units. I pull from the bottom but can hear some boiling sometimes if the fire is rockin.

[mlappin]

This may be a dumb question.  But to test this theory could you just flip the pump?

If you just flip the pump, then the pump will have to pull water thru the entire circuit, expect a short pump life then if it even works. Would also be extremely difficult if not impossible to get the air out.