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16

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / A lot of questions, help please

« on: April 02, 2014, 08:31:07 PM »

So we lit the wooddoctor, still not sure which model but we lit it, no leaks...i have a lot of questions, i hope i can keep them in order and i'm sure i will be on again with more.

I am only heating my 1500 square foot concrete slab in the basement.

We filled the boiler with hard well water, do i need to add citric acid, any clue how much?

There are 5 small flow meters on a header in the basement, they are only reading 1/8 to 1/4 gpm, almost at 0, is this normal? There are 5 loops from header to return. I changed the in floor ciculating pump, there was a lot of gunk on intake side and screen was nearly plugged on the outlet side, pump was also noisy. Changed it and flow increased a little bit. Nnow if there is gunk in the pump, house is 6 years old, can the floor runs be gunked up and can these be cleaned and whats the best way?

Set points on the boiler are 160 high limit and 140 low, make sense? The inlet on my header after mixing valve was at 110 degrees, and return in celcius was about 13 slowly climbing during the day, actually it only went up 3 deg celcius during 8 hours is this too slow? Whats the max temp for a concrete slab? Is it 140 deg? i played with the mixing valve but no noticeable changes, just happy its not seized.

Its a start, i really like the concept, havin fun learning but its tricky stuff...

Thanks everyone, i'm sure i will be back tomorrow with more, good night!

17

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Glycol

« on: March 24, 2014, 04:08:32 AM »

I will be posting more often as I get this system up and runing. I will be using water in the meantime. The unit has been idle all winter, the house is a repo. I'll light it up next week, see how things go. Its a wood doctor, I've budgeted a replacement for next winter. I have a heatmor rep a hundred miles from me.

I am also considering backup boilers when I am away, has anyone ever piped in an electric boiler, just to heat in floor and keep the outdoor boiler from freezing, can i just loop it in direct or should I isolate the backup from a stove with an exchanger?

Thanks

18

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Glycol

« on: March 22, 2014, 10:03:28 AM »

Glycol, can it be used in a owf? I have a wood Doctor furnace for the time being. My guy out here mentioned you could not because of evaporation issues? Is this correct? Also I have 100% inhibited glycol, the 100 means I can dilute it, right? How much does glycol cost?

19

Wood Doctor / Re: Need some information please

« on: March 16, 2014, 09:38:46 AM »

I take possesion on April 1, still cold out here so I am going to start it up in early april, any books on how to do it? Where do I check levels etc...Is there an owners manual out there?

Thanks

20

Wood Doctor / Re: Need some information please

« on: January 24, 2014, 06:07:42 PM »

Sounds good, thanks

21

Wood Doctor / Re: Need some information please

« on: January 24, 2014, 06:16:33 AM »

Hey Slim Jim, I sent you a few personnal messages, not sure if you got them. I sent you my contacts, I will be heading out tomorrow (Saturday the 25) afternoon to inspect it closely, can I call you? Like you said, can you walk me through it. Do I need any tools, to look inside the boiler etc...

If anyone who has extensive knowledge on these units, would like to do me a favor. I need a formatted letter stating, the history of these units as well as their reliability. Just a something to show the owners/bank that this unit if it hasnt already failed, will most certainly fail. Just help me build a case.

All I have to offer now is my sincere gratitude.

Thanks everyone.

22

Wood Doctor / Re: Need some information please

« on: January 22, 2014, 05:28:25 PM »

Thanks everyone....for sure slim jim, i'll send my details, i'm off on saturday and i'm going to head over there and grab as much info from the unit in the yard. I'll try to get the keys to check the inside, ie pumps etc. i hope it was freeze protected, all new to me


Again thanks everyone...

23

Wood Doctor / Re: Need some information please

« on: January 22, 2014, 11:47:09 AM »

This house has been vacant since september. If the system were run on a trial, would there be any possibility of damaging the in-floor loops, pumps, or anything, any chance of damage if I play with it? Or like a local gentleman told me, recycle it. I'm not sure what to do in this case.

24

Wood Doctor / Re: Need some information please

« on: January 22, 2014, 11:41:39 AM »

I like a system that works. I am/was excited about the OWB, I just finished blocking and splitting 42 face cords of maple. I would love to burn it. This is my first experience looking at these units, I just have a airtight at my current address. However looking at the posts under the wood doctor heading and this is again my first look at these units and wow, its an eye opener, nothing overly positive there.

Like I said I'm totally new to OWB but I cut my own wood. I will replace it if the deal goes through, I might put it indoors, say a garage, are there any opinions on those?

For now I have to prove the unit sitting there is worthless and next look at options, a lot to learn.

As for the proof aspect, I have a lot of posts from disgruntled owners, but I need some presentable. Something black and white stating that yes the units are all defective and what are the major breakdowns. Just padding when I drop it on their desk.

No bad intentions meant here, but look at the posts here, its sad to hear what took place.

Thanks everyone

25

Wood Doctor / Re: Need some information please

« on: January 22, 2014, 09:05:24 AM »

Its definately a newer unit (last 4 yrs maybe) I will get the numbers from it tomorrow, the house is bank owned and only heated with electric baseboards on the main floor. The basement is heated through the concrete "in floor" setup from the wood boiler outside. No, its not running this year no one to tend to it and its -42 deg C this morning. There are a few pails of glycol near the circulating pump in the basement utility room. Where can I get some firm information on the reliability of this wood system. I need some hard and tangible data to show the bank (owners) that this system is no good at all, not even as a backup.

Anyone have any suggestions on a good replacement and I like heating with wood. Or should I go oil or propane? I will be using theses posts for my case as well.

Thanks everyone.

26

Wood Doctor / Need some information please

« on: January 21, 2014, 06:34:44 PM »

I'm looking at making a home purchase. The home i am looking at is heated with a wood doctor, just from glancing at some posts there seems to be issues with these units. What should i look for. Are these units any good? Reliable? Please fill me in from a newbie position, lots to take in from this.

Thanks

Clueless