Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => Plumbing => Topic started by: merrellroofing on March 03, 2014, 11:48:49 AM

Title: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: merrellroofing on March 03, 2014, 11:48:49 AM
    My stove will be removed this weekend if my new one comes in. Looking like I will be without for a couple days.
   Should I drain/blow out all of my lines?  Or tie the S&R lines together and let the pumps run?  My hx is on the return side of my furnace so it won't be getting a lot of heat from my LP furnace. I have an air bleeder on my shop heater but no way to remove air from the house system.
   Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: RSI on March 03, 2014, 02:54:54 PM
Is there any way you could get RV antifreeze in them? If you just tie them together you need to be careful about the water temperature changing much. If it cools a lot it could collapse something and if it gets much hotter it might blow out somewhere.
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: jerkash on March 03, 2014, 05:02:29 PM
If it were me and my old one was still working, I would wait till winter is over with and then switch them out.  There will be unforeseen problems and you won't be rushed.
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: cantoo on March 03, 2014, 05:22:46 PM
I would just hook them together and install a inline electric heater (like a tractor antifreeze preheater) on a real low heat setting. Even if you just keep the water flowing I would doubt that it would freeze.
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: mlappin on March 03, 2014, 10:37:30 PM
Cant wait to move the old one till the new one is there?

I'm guessing not, I think Jerkash has the best ideal.

You don't say where you're at, but the forecast far as temps looks to improve drastically for us. Might wait till it's not so frigid before attempting it?
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: merrellroofing on March 04, 2014, 05:41:53 AM
Cant wait to move the old one till the new one is there?

I'm guessing not, I think Jerkash has the best ideal.

You don't say where you're at, but the forecast far as temps looks to improve drastically for us. Might wait till it's not so frigid before attempting it?
I have to sell mine to pay for the new one.

I am in mid-Michigan. If better weather is in the forecast, I will hold out for that.

I wanted to wait til after winter but figured mine was easier to sell while it is cold out.

I am hoping to move one out on Saturday, the other in on Sunday. And have it running Monday. Which weekend that will be, I am not sure.
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: Sloppy_Snood on March 04, 2014, 08:47:34 AM
I am hoping to move one out on Saturday, the other in on Sunday. And have it running Monday. Which weekend that will be, I am not sure.

I'm jealous.... I'm trenching in the cold.  Thank goodness for easier living through hydraulics!  :thumbup:
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: RSI on March 04, 2014, 09:05:22 AM
Cant wait to move the old one till the new one is there?

I'm guessing not, I think Jerkash has the best ideal.

You don't say where you're at, but the forecast far as temps looks to improve drastically for us. Might wait till it's not so frigid before attempting it?
I have to sell mine to pay for the new one.

I am in mid-Michigan. If better weather is in the forecast, I will hold out for that.

I wanted to wait til after winter but figured mine was easier to sell while it is cold out.

I am hoping to move one out on Saturday, the other in on Sunday. And have it running Monday. Which weekend that will be, I am not sure.

So you haven't sold the old one yet? Why not just sell it while you are using it. Unless the buyer wants to start using it right away they probably wouldn't care if you finish up the winter before swapping.

Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: WoodMOJoe on March 04, 2014, 09:18:11 AM
 :post:

Yes, definitely try to sell while still using it. 

Would be a great selling point for the buyer to actually see it in operation and know better what they are actually getting.
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: merrellroofing on March 04, 2014, 09:48:46 AM
He came and saw it running yesterday. I thought that was good for selling as well.  I can't expect him to pay me and leave it here for a couple months. And when my stove gets in I will be itching to go get it.
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: RSI on March 04, 2014, 10:13:24 AM
If you can do it when the weather is in the 20's then I wouldn't worry about it for the short time you will have it down. The only place the water might freeze is above the ground. Underground should be safe for several days. Just get as much water out as you can.

Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: LittleJohn on March 12, 2014, 07:53:10 AM
If you can do it when the weather is in the 20's then I wouldn't worry about it for the short time you will have it down. The only place the water might freeze is above the ground. Underground should be safe for several days. Just get as much water out as you can.

I would also advise against using RV anti-freeze permanantly in the system; cause its not exactly formulated for hydronic applications and may adversly affect parts of the system.

Also, make sure you have twice as many supplies and tools as you think you need for the "Quick" swap, cause it rarely ends that way
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: MerrellRoofing on October 28, 2014, 09:50:52 PM
Well, this might finally happen. Original sale fell thru. New guy suppose to be coming to get CB on Saturday. Cooler weather rolls in tomorrow  but not cold enough to worry.  Excited for the weekend and getting the BL hooked up.
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: slimjim on October 29, 2014, 04:57:51 AM
Congratulations, we are rooting for you and a quick, simple swap out.
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: MerrellRoofing on October 29, 2014, 03:53:52 PM
Should I try to get all or most of the water out of the system to refill with fresh treated water?

My BL has been sitting in my barn since April. Should I fill and flush that a few times before filling and treating it?
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: slimjim on October 29, 2014, 04:22:14 PM
I would if the ports were not plugged and I'm pretty sure they were not
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: MerrellRoofing on November 03, 2014, 05:10:27 AM
BL is set in place. Plumbing is not hooked up yet. Having trouble finding a pump locally. Everyone has to order it. Is flushing it with hose water good enough? 
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: slimjim on November 03, 2014, 05:18:46 AM
Sure!
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: MerrellRoofing on November 03, 2014, 05:24:24 PM
Found a pump in stock, $313 for a 26-99. My buddy picked it up for me. I got home from work, got ahold of the dealer 2 miles down the road, went ther to get some pieces and parts. Just in conversation, I asked him what kind of pumps he sells, he names a couple and then says Grundfos. I ask if he has the 26-99 3 speed and yes he does. Asked him how much. He thought for a minute and says $250. Needless to say, now I have 2 of them. 1 to hook up and 1 to put on the shelf. Expensive day but it will work out in the end.
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: cando attitude on November 03, 2014, 06:11:13 PM
I'm not sure what you have now, Merrell but be sure to give us a full comparison report once you get your BL hooked up and running.
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: MerrellRoofing on November 05, 2014, 06:06:52 PM
After pipe fitting. Anyone see any problems?
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: sceptre74 on November 05, 2014, 06:27:01 PM
Are your pumps pushing or pulling? I think slimjim suggested that the supply be from the top and the return be at the bottom. That's what I did with mine
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: MerrellRoofing on November 05, 2014, 06:32:01 PM
Set to push. Manual says top supply but slim posted on here that they were gonna change that.
Title: Re: Getting ready for owb swap
Post by: slimjim on November 05, 2014, 08:14:27 PM
Yes and yes please