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Messages - jrider

Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 ... 9
16
Portage & Main / Re: Need new blower
« on: October 27, 2015, 05:40:42 AM »
Correction Coolidge, mine is wired right into a junction box as well.

17
Portage & Main / Re: Need new blower
« on: October 26, 2015, 05:41:24 AM »
So the new blower came in Friday.  I went to install it only to find the cord was about 6"-8" short.  Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things but it was annoying to have to splice a piece from the old cord just to get me up and running before finding time to do it right.  I'm guessing the factory has changed the placement of either the blower or the box on newer models?  As I said, not a big deal, just annoying especially when time was very limited this weekend. 

I did buy an extra motor, a spare actuator, and aquastat while I was at it so I'm not prepared.    :thumbup:

18
Portage & Main / Re: Need new blower
« on: October 19, 2015, 12:15:08 PM »
There is no dealer around these parts.  Everything I've done has been through P&M.  Searched high and low Saturday to no avail.  When I called the company, the best they could do was get one on a truck for this afternoon.  I ordered 2 along with an aquastat and actuator.  Little more than I wanted to spend but I certainly don't want to run into this problem when its cold out for real.  A few space heaters and a fire going in the fireplace and the wife and kids were happy...well almost! Ha!  Temps still chilly today (for around here at least) but warming up quite a bit the next few days.  Thanks to those that offered suggestions.

19
Portage & Main / Need new blower
« on: October 16, 2015, 08:06:51 PM »
Went to fire up the opt. 250 for the season tonight and I need to replace the blower.  Where is my best chance of finding one tomorrow so we can be warm tomorrow night?

20
Portage & Main / Best bet for a new 250 nozzle?
« on: September 01, 2015, 08:36:15 AM »
Pretty much summed up in the subject line.  I need a new nozzle for my 250.  What's my best route?  Also, what's involved in replacing it?  I'm good with running a chainsaw but am not the handiest guy in the world.

21
Fire Wood / Re: That time of year.
« on: August 15, 2015, 05:04:38 PM »
Low to mid 90's for at least the next 7 days.  Pool at 84 today, will probably go upper 80's again.

22
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Monday morning blues
« on: April 13, 2015, 09:54:14 AM »
I will take oak trees in the yard any day over black walnut, willow, and white pine.

23
Fire Wood / Re: How much is lost when stacking a pile?
« on: March 25, 2015, 03:00:33 PM »
I've read splits tossed in a pile takes 180 cubic feet to equal a cord.

24
I already posted on this topic once but after reading some comments I felt the need to chime in again.  I spent roughly $13,500 on my boiler, pex, concrete pad, and install because I will be the first to admit I am not nearly as handy as many of you in here.  I have oil heat which in this area has run between $3-$4 a gallon the last 4 winters.  I recovered ALL of my up front costs in those first 3 years. 
As far "baby sitting" the owb, I do no such thing.  Just the 20-30 mins of cleaning every 1-2 weeks on average....I did let it go 5 weeks this last time though and it took me a little over an hour and a much needed shower afterward but that's 100% my fault. 

25
I have only owned a gasifier, so by spending time on this forum, I think that was an advantage to me because I didn't have any owb habits ingrained in my brain.  I've burned wood in fireplaces and woodstoves for years though so it's not like I never burned wood before.

I purchased a P&M Optimizer 250 4 heating seasons ago and have nothing but praises for it.  It is recommended to clean it out every 1-2 weeks by many on here and I try to do that but sometimes life gets in the way and it goes more like 3-4 weeks.  When done weekly, I can do it in 20 minutes.  When I let it go 3-4 weeks, I need to set aside 40-45 minutes.  There are horizontal and vertical heat exchange tubes that need to be wire brushed.  The horizontal tubes run the length of the unit and are accessible from both ends - you can see through the unit from end to end.  They are easy to clean.  The vertical tubes can be difficult when not done weekly.  When it comes to cleaning ashes out of the burn box, I do it when they get much more than 3"-4" deep and that's not too often.  I have filled a 30 gallon metal trash can up about 4 times all winter. 

I've only had 2 small issues and they were both user issues not problems with the unit.  Once, while cleaning ashes, I clogged the nozzle with coals and air couldn't get through and the other problem was not knowing I had to take the box off that covers the blower and clean that once in a while - I discovered that problem during the 3rd burning season and it took about 30 minutes to figure out.  I now clean that 1-2 times a year and it takes about 15 minutes. 

I sell wood (aprox 100 cords a year) and what I burn is all the junk I can't sell - cut offs, big nasty knotty pieces, partially rotten, pine, and any sweet gum I come across that I don't feel like fighting with.  I have put all different size and shape wood in the unit and have never had a problem with it not burning well.  The wood is dry - probably all under 20% but I've never checked it and I do keep it covered.  I burn about 10 cords a year heating 3000 square feet to 74 during the day and 66 at night, firing the unit up in early Oct and shutting down late April.  If I were burning good solid oak, I would guess my usage would be around 5-6 cords per year.

This unit has not had 1 maintenance/electrical problem at all and I couldn't be happier with it.  At the time of purchase, it seemed to be at the top of $$ scale but I think I got what I paid for - a virtually flawless unit that's easy to run and something that I expect to get a lot of life out of. 

26
A cord of unsplit rounds dumped out of a truck?  Should take you 5 maybe 10 minutes max to move logs around to find it.

27
Fire Wood / Re: maple?
« on: March 11, 2015, 10:26:03 AM »
If it's red maple (aka swamp maple around here) the bark is pretty smooth, even when diameter gets large.  The wood will be an off white color possibly with a small darker center, it's pretty light weight and splits like butter.  They like water so around here, they grow in wet areas or areas with poor drainage.  I wouldn't call it lousy firewood, but it certainly doesn't compare to oak.  It will burn hot enough but pretty quickly and don't expect it to coal up very well.  These are my experiences with red maple and I live in South Jersey.  Where are you?

28
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: -30 fahrenheit!
« on: February 19, 2015, 10:36:17 AM »
It's also very dependent on what you are heating and what wood you are burning. 

29
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: clearing the air
« on: February 18, 2015, 07:22:41 PM »
Proud of this fellow Jersey guy!

30
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Ever miss a inside fire?
« on: February 18, 2015, 10:10:32 AM »
I still burn a few cords of wood in my fireplace just cause I can.  Well actually that part of the house is on a slab and it's chilly even with the thermostat set at 74...its more like 67 on the floor.  Who wants that??

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