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1

Central Boiler / adding water??????

« on: March 12, 2009, 05:18:03 PM »

I have added water twice lately. about 2 or 3 gallons in the last two weeks. During the hard burn months I did not need to add any. We had a dern cold winter! I have checked all connections, door seal, damper seal and its fuction. I have checked all around for any signs of leakage. The water temperature has never exceeded 186. There are also no signs of boil over. The furnace was purchased in July 08. I have never seen any signs of leakage into the fire box. When I remove the fill cap or cover I do see some steam, but it seems normal to me. Any thoughts?

2

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Gettin ready to buy my first outdoor boiler

« on: January 25, 2009, 05:45:57 AM »

Your sizing and set-up is the most important in my mind. More important than the brand you buy! A few things below my opinion only.

1) Get the next larger unit that you think you need (don't skimp on size)!
2) Spend the extra on you pipe, yes $12.50 a foot but worth it.
3) Place the unit as close as possible to your home. What I mean is the less pipe you run the less heat loss! (wind direction?).
4) The more water capacity the better.
5) Stainless ?? In my mind its not what its cut out to be. Just my opinion.

Not a whole lot of difference in all of them. I use a Central Boiler 6048. I heat an old farm house, not insulated to well, high ceilings, two story and 3000 sq. feet. For a year of burning I use about 7 cords. I am totally satisfied with it. 

3

Central Boiler / Re: Happy or not?????

« on: January 24, 2009, 11:45:43 AM »

Faulkner, where in WV are ya?  I'm near Ripley.   

I cut my trees around the meadows here on the farm, and drag them to a central place easily accesible with the truck, trailer, splitter, etc.  (This is all hillside farms around this area, so ya can't be too picky about where ya drag them to,, just as long as they don't roll away.)   I get them all drug out,,,,,,, then start cutting.  Once they are cut, I get the splitter started and don't stop til they are all split.  Then I haul to the shed.  I used to drag them out by the shed to do it all, but I had a mess to clean up, and then had to carry it the rest of the way to the shed to stack it.  Now I load the trailer, and can back it in the shed and stack it as I unload it.  Pull the trailer forward and keep unloading. 

This year, I had 26 trees down when I started.  5 days later, it was all cut, split, and stacked in the shed.  7.4 cords.  It was a LONG 5 DAYS!! by myself.   My wife was out of town that week,,,, usually she is right there with me.  Hooking up the chain,, running the splitter,,, stacking wood,,,etc.  (good woman)

This years goal is to build a splitter instead of renting one.     Any ideas or suggestions on building log splitters??

4

Central Boiler / Re: Happy or not?????

« on: January 22, 2009, 06:43:53 PM »

I have a classic 6048. Lit it sept 20. I have used about 4 - 5 cords. We have had a chilly winter in West Virginia this year. I heat a large old farm house not so well insulated and my wifes shop. I FILL the box twice a day during very cold windy days. Normal winter days I DO NOT fill the box but I still load twice per day. I have taken out 1 wheel barry full of ashes. The secret is stir the ashes daily or as much as possible. No water usage to speak of.

If you have property with woods. Another trick that I do is cut the trees and limb them (small limbs) where they fall. I hook to the tree and drag them to my pile or stack location and then cut to lenght. I like to cut 8-12" trees. I'm not real picky on what I cut. Heck, I may cut and drag all day and then pick a day and cut lenghts. Don't handle the wood more than you need too.

Keep burnin! Happy as a coon in a cornpatch.