Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => Plumbing => Topic started by: chadgr03 on January 08, 2012, 06:44:50 AM

Title: Sidearm help
Post by: chadgr03 on January 08, 2012, 06:44:50 AM
Sidearm will not circulate any advice or pics
Title: Re: Sidearm help
Post by: Ridgekid on January 08, 2012, 06:52:44 AM
Welcome to the site!!

How long has it been hooked up?  Your realize as water from your OWF passes throught it it draws cold water from your hwh with the same principle that heat rises.

Typical installation:  http://www.centralboiler.com/Tech/C100.pdf (http://www.centralboiler.com/Tech/C100.pdf)

Title: Re: Sidearm help
Post by: chadgr03 on January 08, 2012, 06:58:10 AM
Bottom is same but went to the side on the water heater there was not another hole on top is that my problem
Title: Re: Sidearm help
Post by: Bull on January 08, 2012, 07:03:17 AM
Welcome to the site chadgr03
Title: Re: Sidearm help
Post by: chadgr03 on January 08, 2012, 07:07:27 AM
Thanks!!! This site is great.  Helped me build 2 Outside wood furnaces   No more gas bill  :)
Title: Re: Sidearm help
Post by: Ridgekid on January 08, 2012, 07:14:26 AM
Don't know if the way you installed it effects it's effectiveness.  How long have you been operating?
Title: Re: Sidearm help
Post by: chadgr03 on January 08, 2012, 07:37:35 AM
Just tried it for a day.   Am I just not seeing the extra fitting on top.   Do all water heaters have three fittings like the central boiler diagram
Title: Re: Sidearm help
Post by: Ridgekid on January 08, 2012, 07:48:32 AM
Sometimes the return has to be tee'd off the relief valve line.
Title: Re: Sidearm help
Post by: lp7734 on January 08, 2012, 07:58:51 AM
Here is a pic of my set up. I have 2 Teenage Girls and never run out of hot water. Mine is first then the furnance and I also plummed the incoming boiler water to the top of the sidearm and leave the bottom. Some will say that it wrong but it works. I am no thermo expert. LOL. but many years ago when I was in the navy you always entered colling water at the coolest point of the heat exchanger and flowed to the hotest part. and the reverse for heating. so I plumed all my stuff that way. Good luck Because it saves me 25 bucks on the old electric bill ! Oh and dont forget the anti scald device. I have had 183 degree water come from the kitchen sink.
Title: Re: Sidearm help
Post by: RSI on January 12, 2012, 11:44:13 PM
Bottom is same but went to the side on the water heater there was not another hole on top is that my problem
Having both on the side is better. If it goes in the top the the hot water has to go down to get back in the tank.

Do you have the relief valve at the top of the sidearm? If so, open it and let the air out. It is usually an airlock there that makes them not work.
Title: Re: Sidearm help
Post by: chadgr03 on January 16, 2012, 08:05:49 PM
Thanks for the help it must of had air in lines    It's working good now.   Going to Install mine this week.  Thanks guys!!!!! Chad
Title: Re: Sidearm help
Post by: Jack72 on January 21, 2012, 06:59:13 AM
Here is a pic of my set up. I have 2 Teenage Girls and never run out of hot water. Mine is first then the furnance and I also plummed the incoming boiler water to the top of the sidearm and leave the bottom. Some will say that it wrong but it works. I am no thermo expert. LOL. but many years ago when I was in the navy you always entered colling water at the coolest point of the heat exchanger and flowed to the hotest part. and the reverse for heating. so I plumed all my stuff that way. Good luck Because it saves me 25 bucks on the old electric bill ! Oh and dont forget the anti scald device. I have had 183 degree water come from the kitchen sink.


I put a recir pump on mine to force through the side arm seems too have quicker recovery during high demands     I was having trouble with keeping enough supply on high demand weekends   washing clothes showers etc.         Two daughters and a wife           Thanks Jack
Title: Re: Sidearm help
Post by: martyinmi on January 21, 2012, 07:27:40 AM
Welcome Jack! Glad you made it over here....finally :thumbup:
Title: Re: Sidearm help
Post by: chadgr03 on February 06, 2012, 02:57:33 AM
What kind of pump and where did u put it.  Mine is working well but will run short