Print

[BIG AL]

ok so as I posted a couple weeks ago I messed up thinking I could save money by putting together my own insulated underground pipe. I was melting snow in my yard and my wood consumption went through the roof. For example I filled the firebox on my G-200 at 5:45 and my wife checked it at 9:15 and it was almost out of wood  , only 3.5 hours on about 12 large splits and rounds. So to the rescue came Slimjim with the magic bus and his custom pipe roller. We dug up my underground and replaced it with Logstor duel pex. Since then it has been over a week and what a difference. I am putting half the wood in the firebox and getting 14 hour burns. For anyone on here looking for information about underground pipe , all I can say that from my experience don't try to save money on pipe. save the money somewhere else.

[mlappin]

ok so as I posted a couple weeks ago I messed up thinking I could save money by putting together my own insulated underground pipe. I was melting snow in my yard and my wood consumption went through the roof. For example I filled the firebox on my G-200 at 5:45 and my wife checked it at 9:15 and it was almost out of wood  , only 3.5 hours on about 12 large splits and rounds. So to the rescue came Slimjim with the magic bus and his custom pipe roller. We dug up my underground and replaced it with Logstor duel pex. Since then it has been over a week and what a difference. I am putting half the wood in the firebox and getting 14 hour burns. For anyone on here looking for information about underground pipe , all I can say that from my experience don't try to save money on pipe. save the money somewhere else.

 

[willieG]

the lessons we learn the hard way are the ones we remember the best (and there are lots of us here that know this one)

[mlappin]

the lessons we learn the hard way are the ones we remember the best (and there are lots of us here that know this one)

Yep…

Never go commando and get in a hurry to zip

[braveblaster]

I wish I knew what I know now about OWBs and lines......because of the lack of knowledge I will have to re-do my lines this spring. I'm losing many BTUs to the ground due to inefficient underground lines.   

[intensedrive]

Amen,

Had a professional install last year from Ridgewood, at least I thought.   Top of pipe exiting the boiler was not capped, I took on a boat load of water last spring.  This year heating is crazy, snow line gone around the underground pipes.  I blame myself also for being green I should have caught it, be careful who you trust knowledge and experience is king.  Thinking about starting a early garden around the pex line.  Growing tomatoes in March could be pretty cool.  I figure I have lost near 3 full cords to the ground this season if not more, been a mild one.

[slimjim]

Thanks for the plug Al, we had a great time playing in the mud!

[Rockarosa]

I also learned the hard way. I put in 3 wrap and ended up having groundwater getting to my pex, went through a ton  of wood. Dug it up and put in Thermopex from Central Boiler, what a difference!

[atvalaska]

Never fry bacon naked .......just another handy tip ...

[U.P. Doug]

I am so glad I found this forum and took the time to read about everyone's experience with their underground lines. Slim and others convinced me that Logstor was the only way to go, and they were right!

[braveblaster]

I also learned the hard way. I put in 3 wrap and ended up having groundwater getting to my pex, went through a ton  of wood. Dug it up and put in Thermopex from Central Boiler, what a difference!

I have about 200 feet to run, how much did you spend?

[mlappin]

I also learned the hard way. I put in 3 wrap and ended up having groundwater getting to my pex, went through a ton  of wood. Dug it up and put in Thermopex from Central Boiler, what a difference!

I have about 200 feet to run, how much did you spend?

Thermopex is good pipe from what I’ve heard, however it’s not true 1” pipe and is nominally specced at 7/8” ID, and is the same OD  as the OD of 1” copper. Thats how they get away with calling it 1”.

Logstor is actually 32mm ID which is close enough to call 1” ID.

Depending on your load, with the smaller pipe you may not be able to force enough water thru it to avoid having a rather large delta T.

With my previous setup I was seeing a temperature drop of 35-40 degrees with the house calling for heat, the domestic hot water calling for heat and the snow melt on.

Installing Logstor helped some, replacing all the PEX in the basement with copper 1” pipe solved the rest.

Can have everything calling for heat now and have a Delta T of 20 now running the same pump on the OWB.

[Rockarosa]

Brave, Thermopex is not cheap. I bought  100 feet at $12.00  a foot. For me it is worth it, this stuff is really tough.

[braveblaster]

Brave, Thermopex is not cheap. I bought  100 feet at $12.00  a foot. For me it is worth it, this stuff is really tough.

Yikes, I see but will see the savings on better heat and less wood consumption. Any price/quality differences between the logstor and themoplex?

[braveblaster]

I also learned the hard way. I put in 3 wrap and ended up having groundwater getting to my pex, went through a ton  of wood. Dug it up and put in Thermopex from Central Boiler, what a difference!

I have about 200 feet to run, how much did you spend?

With my previous setup I was seeing a temperature drop of 35-40 degrees with the house calling for heat, the domestic hot water calling for heat and the snow melt on.

Same dilemma I have