Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: jmyers8 on September 29, 2015, 08:47:08 AM

Title: Needing a fire at night
Post by: jmyers8 on September 29, 2015, 08:47:08 AM
This is my first year with my ridgewood 6000 and it looks like next week some lows in the 40s then back tonthen60s during the day. What do you guys do when you need a fire at night but none during the day do you restart it every time or keep a small one going threw the day.
Title: Re: Needing a fire at night
Post by: Pointblank on September 29, 2015, 06:24:31 PM
I just use the propane furnace for what little heat is needed in early fall. Its usually mid to late October before I fire up the stove
Title: Re: Needing a fire at night
Post by: oaky on September 29, 2015, 07:24:22 PM
When I know it's going to get above 60 and there is some coals left from the previous night, I'll put in a very small amount of dry wood for the day, enough to carry the burn, until the evening fill.
Title: Re: Needing a fire at night
Post by: Pit Crew on September 30, 2015, 01:20:55 PM
How do you keep the house from getting too hot during the day? Canyou shut the pump off during the day or is that a bad idea?
Title: Re: Needing a fire at night
Post by: oaky on September 30, 2015, 02:32:57 PM
Never shut your water circulator off while there is any amount of wood left, including hot coals. Water temperature will rise quickly even with some glowing embers left. What I do is turn down the water temp way down, down to 150 degrees so the draft blower won,t kick in.
Title: Re: Needing a fire at night
Post by: BoilerHouse on October 01, 2015, 08:41:58 PM
I usually burn a bit of oil for the first 2 or 3 weeks of the heating season but if I where to use the boiler I would make a fire in the evening.
Title: Re: Needing a fire at night
Post by: RSI on October 01, 2015, 09:18:14 PM
How do you keep the house from getting too hot during the day? Canyou shut the pump off during the day or is that a bad idea?
It is best to put in a bypass valve if your house is getting too hot on warm days. That way you can still heat the DHW.
Title: Re: Needing a fire at night
Post by: Roscoe on October 02, 2015, 02:04:39 PM
How do you keep the house from getting too hot during the day? Canyou shut the pump off during the day or is that a bad idea?
It is best to put in a bypass valve if your house is getting too hot on warm days. That way you can still heat the DHW.

A bypass is a good idea and works great but don't you guys have thermostats hooked up in your homes?
Title: Re: Needing a fire at night
Post by: Pointblank on October 02, 2015, 06:40:22 PM
How do you keep the house from getting too hot during the day? Canyou shut the pump off during the day or is that a bad idea?
It is best to put in a bypass valve if your house is getting too hot on warm days. That way you can still heat the DHW.

A bypass is a good idea and works great but don't you guys have thermostats hooked up in your homes?

Even without the thermostat calling for heat, just having 180 degree water circulating through the furnace plenum will dump a fair amount of heat within the home. You don't notice it on cold days, but warm days we sometimes need to open a window unless the bypass is used.
Title: Re: Needing a fire at night
Post by: mlappin on October 02, 2015, 07:19:47 PM
How do you keep the house from getting too hot during the day? Canyou shut the pump off during the day or is that a bad idea?
It is best to put in a bypass valve if your house is getting too hot on warm days. That way you can still heat the DHW.

A bypass is a good idea and works great but don't you guys have thermostats hooked up in your homes?

Even without the thermostat calling for heat, just having 180 degree water circulating through the furnace plenum will dump a fair amount of heat within the home. You don't notice it on cold days, but warm days we sometimes need to open a window unless the bypass is used.

Same here, on days when its in the upper 50’s or low 60’s the house can get too warm with 180 degree water circulating thru the lines. Wife is always home thou so she just opens a few windows.