Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: cartod on September 02, 2014, 01:25:03 PM

Title: Hooking into the boiler.
Post by: cartod on September 02, 2014, 01:25:03 PM
Ok, indoor bederus boiler system all hooked up.  You can see the lines coming thru the wall from my stove.  The question is why now would my plumber recommend that I only use the outdoor boiler for just the radiant heated floors instead of the whole house.  Says it will make wood stove more efficient.  I was hoping wood stove would heat rad. Floors, hot water and furnace exchangers.  ?   I think he's wrong???

(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b307/cartod/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps6a7dc2d7.jpg)

(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b307/cartod/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps0ec89a99.jpg)
Title: Re: Hooking into the boiler.
Post by: LittleJohn on September 02, 2014, 02:32:00 PM
I would make the controls simpler for one thing, to only heat the radiant with OWB, but I see no issues with using OWB to heat all applications as long as it is sized appropriately.

Plus it will be nice to have a backup in case of emergency (gas backing up wood), so if you want to leave in the winter.   
Title: Re: Hooking into the boiler.
Post by: cartod on September 02, 2014, 03:41:57 PM
I was just sent this private message from a member here on the forum, and really would like to hear what you have to say in an open forum. As a newbie to wood systems I want to make sure if there is/was a plumbing problem I fix it now while plumbers are still on the job.  So here is the email I received......please chime in with any and all criticism and or suggestions.


"Cartod, I did not want to post this but, why would your plumber not plumb the gas boiler as a secondary system off a primary loop, this would allow for all your heating needs as well as not starve the gas boiler, I can only hope that the gas boiler is a modulating boiler or the system you have will suck, period."
Title: Re: Hooking into the boiler.
Post by: slimjim on September 02, 2014, 04:08:56 PM
Cartod, sorry if that alarmed you in some way, I simply was trying to get a bit of knowledge about why it does not appear to be piped primary secondary, unless it is a modulating boiler it will short cycle constantly on a call for heat, I am far from being an expert on gas wall hung units but I do know that unless they are plumbed on a secondary loop all the water from the heat exchanger will return to the gas boiler, if the differential is not high enough then this makes the gas unit short cycle, if you would like I will PM you my phone # and you may ask your plumber to call me.
Title: Re: Hooking into the boiler.
Post by: cartod on September 02, 2014, 04:16:52 PM
Heck yes I'm alarmed and I'd call you but I'm to illiterate about how this works.  I'd be of no value.  I will show the plumber what you said to see if this situation needs remedied.
Title: Re: Hooking into the boiler.
Post by: slimjim on September 02, 2014, 04:20:02 PM
This is what I do with EVERY customer, it is your system and you should know how it works, PM is on the way, feel free to call me yourself if you wish!
Title: Re: Hooking into the boiler.
Post by: LittleJohn on September 03, 2014, 06:25:05 AM
I am confused a bit also, by the plumbing layout upon further review.  Generally if you are running multiple boilers, you would have one large primary loop and tie in seperately each heat source with closely spaced tees.

BTW, how much did that FPHE set up back  :o it looks like quite the monster.
Title: Re: Hooking into the boiler.
Post by: cartod on September 03, 2014, 07:13:21 AM
I am confused a bit also, by the plumbing layout upon further review.  Generally if you are running multiple boilers, you would have one large primary loop and tie in seperately each heat source with closely spaced tees.

BTW, how much did that FPHE set up back  :o it looks like quite the monster.
Sorry but I don't know what an FPHE is.  Scott7m reccomended this hook up and now I have 2 forum members tell me it's wrong.  Spoke with slimjim and he was going to email me a diagram for proper hook up.  Sure hope to get some more input as I really don't know where to go if not here.
Title: Re: Hooking into the boiler.
Post by: slimjim on September 03, 2014, 07:37:17 AM
Cartod, I will need your E-Mail, I haven't mastered sending a picture via PM
Title: Re: Hooking into the boiler.
Post by: LittleJohn on September 03, 2014, 11:54:15 AM
FPHE - Flat Plate Heat Exchanger - The large BRICK that is hooked up to your Buderus; soon to be hooked to Outdoor Wood Boiler too I guess

That think looks like a 60 or maybe or more??, $$$ in my neck of the woods
Title: Re: Hooking into the boiler.
Post by: cartod on September 03, 2014, 12:29:47 PM
FPHE - Flat Plate Heat Exchanger - The large BRICK that is hooked up to your Buderus; soon to be hooked to Outdoor Wood Boiler too I guess

That think looks like a 60 or maybe or more??, $$$ in my neck of the woods
its an 80 plate and it was $425.  The indoor boiler was a bit over 5k.  The house is 110' from end to end, so we would have needed 2 hot water tanks or on demand units.  This alternative is a little more expensive but it's on demand hot water (continuous circulating). It also provides heat for the  radiant floors should the fire go out.  My plumber has done many of these buderus units with the 80 gal buderus hot water tank and the radiant floors but has never tied into the system with an unpressurized OWB.