Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

Outdoor Furnaces - Manufacturers WITH EPA-Certified Models => WoodMaster => Topic started by: MarineRecon on December 12, 2014, 06:25:03 PM

Title: Wow am I burning a lot of wood
Post by: MarineRecon on December 12, 2014, 06:25:03 PM
It hasn't really been cold here in Wisconsin yet and we are burning a lot of wood. WoodMaster 4400, I've replaced the door seal, fan works great and we are burning what seems like a lot of wood.
Can't get the light to come on..did earlier this year. Filled stove with more water until overflow, bled system and filled again...still no "fill" light.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Nick
Title: Re: Wow am I burning a lot of wood
Post by: AirForcePOL on December 12, 2014, 06:32:03 PM
How much is "a lot of wood"?  Is this your first year with this stove?  How much area are you trying to heat?  What kind of underground lines are you using and do you know if you have any heat loss from your stove to your house? Do you know what the moisture content of your wood is?
Title: Re: Wow am I burning a lot of wood
Post by: MarineRecon on December 12, 2014, 06:35:23 PM
Great questions. Heating about 2,400 sq ft. Temps have been in 20s here with many days milder.

Third year with this stove.....was in house when we bought it , so in total about 6 years old.

Cleaned chimney and inside of stove before season. Fill light came on earlier this year but now does not.

Moisture content...no idea but its at least cut and split and sat out for a year.
Title: Re: Wow am I burning a lot of wood
Post by: AirForcePOL on December 12, 2014, 06:59:09 PM
Ok.  Have you noticed a big change in wood consumption and that's what you're going off of? Do you have any idea what your heat loss is like from your underground pipe?  How much wood are you burning? 
Title: Re: Wow am I burning a lot of wood
Post by: MarineRecon on December 12, 2014, 07:02:45 PM
No idea about underground pipe. Last year we burned 8 "manure spreaders" of hardwood. At it was cold....below zero for over a month and 4 straight months of below freezing. This year it hasn't been cold yet and I've gone through 5 of the same manure spreader loads...and we have at least 3 months of cold weather to come.

Third season with stove
Title: Re: Wow am I burning a lot of wood
Post by: andyhowardcity on December 12, 2014, 07:07:59 PM
Something's wrong :o

My very uneducated guess would be the pipe.  I am in Michigan with similar square footage and I have hardly burned any hardwood.  Been burning soft and have been maybe through 1/10 of what I used last year.
Title: Re: Wow am I burning a lot of wood
Post by: AirForcePOL on December 12, 2014, 07:19:16 PM
I would guess it's the pipe as well.  To rule that out though you will need to get a temp when it's leaving the stove and when it reaches where it's going.  You can use a infrared thermometer that can be purchased fairly cheap ($35 or so).  If you go this route just make sure you use similar surfaces to get your readings.  Some people say to use a piece of electrical tape on the pex and take you're reading from there.  Strap on thermometers can be used too but they aren't cheap.   
Title: Re: Wow am I burning a lot of wood
Post by: MarineRecon on December 12, 2014, 08:10:41 PM
So if I'm understanding correctly it's in the underground pipe? Check temp on the exit from the stove and where it enters house?

Nick
Title: Re: Wow am I burning a lot of wood
Post by: AirForcePOL on December 12, 2014, 08:23:55 PM
So if I'm understanding correctly it's in the underground pipe? Check temp on the exit from the stove and where it enters house?

Nick

Yes.  Let us know what your readings are after you do it.  You really shouldn't be losing more than a couple degrees depending on how long the distance is.  If nothing else has changed with your setup I'm guessing that your pipe has failed.  I could be wrong though. 
Title: Re: Wow am I burning a lot of wood
Post by: Jared43758 on December 25, 2015, 07:54:10 PM
Any updates
Title: Re: Wow am I burning a lot of wood
Post by: RSI on December 25, 2015, 08:30:03 PM
Where in Wisconsin are you?