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[Scott7m]

i have some snow melt but I do not think I am losing heat from my pipes but through the pipe acting as a chimney. I sprayed foam into the pipe but need to do a better job Wood consumption does not seem excess. My other line with the same pipe to another building does not melt at all.

Acting as a chimney?  Huh

If your melting snow the heat is coming from the lines, I doubt you'd pull enough air put to amount to anything, stick a rag in it and see

[yotehunter66]

Is it possible to just replace and splice the insulated line just inside the house? I have about 40 feet of run inside that I don't see any reason to replace. If need be.

[Scott7m]

Yes of course....  How many feet of underground do you actually need?

[yotehunter66]

I'll have to measure it to be sure but my stove is only about 40-50 ft from my house.

[netwerx-r-us]

I'm no expert nor do I claim to be but if you think there is a problem with your underground pipes you need to know for sure before you buy new and dig up and replace , How you ask? , simple, buy 4  1 inch T's, buy 4 of these  http://www.blueridgecompany.com/radiant/hydronic/660/pasco-temperature-gauge and put them in your line with the T's leaving the OWB , coming into your house and one in the return coming back to your OWB  and you will know what kind of heat loss you have for sure instead of guessing, WillieG referenced this in the 3rd post

just makes sense to me , less than 50 dollars and you will know for sure 

[Scott7m]

If he's melting more snow every year that's a pretty good sign...

I was really curious if he'd noticed an increase in wood use as well....

[tbone]

I use to melt snow....but not anymore.  I replaced my lines over the summer.  I still have snow in my yard from 2 weeks ago...and no indication of were my lines are running.  But most importantly I'm using less wood.

[willieG]

I'll have to measure it to be sure but my stove is only about 40-50 ft from my house.

if we were to say that you were losing heat the whole length of your pipe (50 feet) we couls also say that a 3/4 inch slant fin baseboard heater gives of (at 170 degrees) about 500 btu per foot (your underground lines would be at least that if not more if they are water logged) so 50 feet times 500 btu would be around 25,000 btu per hour that would likely heat a small home. i dont assume you are losing that much heat as the lines are not likely all water logged but i am just posting this so you will know what the potential loss per foot of compromised pipe might be  (and that is in the area of 500 btu per foot)

[yotehunter66]

Well mine has no snow of frost the entire length from my stove to where it comes out of the ground and enters the house. I'll get a infrared and check it.

[603doug]

I should have explained I have 2 sets of lines running in my trench(stove and hot tub),plus i do not have any temp drop from the stove. Only melt is at the ends about 10 ft

[gandgracing]

Got a little snow last night and you can just see the snow melting.

[johnybcold]

I think it depends on the outside temp last year I never saw snow melt over my pipe but a few weeks ago it did made a perfect path but it was around freezing, this week temps 5-20 degrees and no melting, I have the CB insulated pex

[johnybcold]

I think it depends on the outside temp last year I never saw snow melt over my pipe but a few weeks ago it did made a perfect path but it was around freezing, this week temps 5-20 degrees and no melting, I have the CB insulated pex

[Scott7m]

Melting the snow is the signs of an obvious problem.....  Willie has shown some calculations on here before that will baffle you at how much heat you could be losing.  I've got just your basic 3 wrap on mine, it's about 18-24" deep and I see no snow melt

[willieG]

I think it depends on the outside temp last year I never saw snow melt over my pipe but a few weeks ago it did made a perfect path but it was around freezing, this week temps 5-20 degrees and no melting, I have the CB insulated pex

i would say it's time to investigate..water temp leaving teh OWB and water temp entering the house- if possable measure with a thermometer by draining al ittle water at the boiler and then soing the same thing in the house if you can

if you can get an accurate temp difference and can figure out your GPM running in the line you can then equate  your heat loss fairly close