Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: Watt2323 on February 24, 2016, 07:37:44 AM

Title: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: Watt2323 on February 24, 2016, 07:37:44 AM
ok we are starting to get some bad weather that could bring down power lines. I dont have a backup generator. I am afraid if we do lose power my boiler will overheat. Am i correct in thinking this? If so how can i prevent this?
Thanks in advance
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: slimjim on February 24, 2016, 08:23:36 AM
Let her be, perhaps drop your aqua stat set point by 10 degrees or so before the expected outage, sit back and enjoy! You might look at getting a small inverter so you could run your heat on a 12 volt battery for emergency use.
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: mlappin on February 24, 2016, 08:38:07 AM
Long as all your door seals are good shouldn’t be a problem with overheating. May not want to fill it up either, if somebody is around today just add wood as needed.

We missed the freezing rain crap here and it just went to straight snow. Expected wind gusts of 40 mph with somewhat heavy wet snow is gonna create some misery for somebody, I’ve already went out and started my 9000 watt portable. Started right up, Marine grade Extend is a wonderful thing. Grabbed the skid steer and moved it into the shop so it stays warm just in case.
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: kommandokenny on February 24, 2016, 02:26:54 PM
What about freeze up on the lines[any exposed]

I have backup genny to run pump and Wheel of Fortune in case of blackout!!
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: agriffinjd on February 24, 2016, 04:00:05 PM
What about freeze up on the lines[any exposed]

I have backup genny to run pump and Wheel of Fortune in case of blackout!!

I would imagine if the temps aren't too far below freezing then the lines shouldn't freeze, assuming the only exposed ones are right under the stove.  Heat should travel from the stove at least partway into the lines just through natural heat flow.

I've got a standby Generac that comes on automatically when we lose power. Love it!  Have used it twice now; once for 2 hours, second time for an hour.  Runs the whole house and everything.
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: kommandokenny on February 24, 2016, 04:08:17 PM
What about freeze up on the lines[any exposed]

I have backup genny to run pump and Wheel of Fortune in case of blackout!!

I would imagine if the temps aren't too far below freezing then the lines shouldn't freeze, assuming the only exposed ones are right under the stove.  Heat should travel from the stove at least partway into the lines just through natural heat flow.

I've got a standby Generac that comes on automatically when we lose power. Love it!  Have used it twice now; once for 2 hours, second time for an hour.  Runs the whole house and everything.

Got that Generac system also.

I put drain valves in the basement in case of pump failure.[only downside to the whole operation, in my view.]
-45 will freeze the upper part of the lines here for sure.
Just hope someones home if pump fails.@ -45
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: braveblaster on February 24, 2016, 06:56:39 PM
ok we are starting to get some bad weather that could bring down power lines. I dont have a backup generator. I am afraid if we do lose power my boiler will overheat. Am i correct in thinking this? If so how can i prevent this?
Thanks in advance

Not familiar with your OWB model but mine (ridgewood) as long as the flap door is closed shut (no air in) there is no fire in the firebox thus no overheating. I just went through it myself with ice storm a few weeks back and power out for just about 4 hours, no problems.
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: mlappin on February 24, 2016, 08:57:22 PM
What about freeze up on the lines[any exposed]

I have backup genny to run pump and Wheel of Fortune in case of blackout!!

Want one bad.

Would need a minimum of 24K one to handle all the single phase on the farm. 27K or 30K or would be better.

Have Nat Gas here, so most would say go with that.

However the small amount of prepper DNA I have says what happens if the crap really hits the fan and Nat gas supply gets flaky….

I usually have at least a few thousand gallons of diesel on the farm at all times….
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: willieG on February 24, 2016, 09:39:26 PM
just installed a generator this year, have not used it yet. 16 KW, enough to power the whole place here

guess I am waiting for the storm of the century to try it out   NOT
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: kommandokenny on February 25, 2016, 06:28:43 AM
These things are fantastic.
I got 14kw Generac.
 It comes on as soon as power goes out,and off when power comes back.
Had it 3 years and it gets used 3-5 times a year, where we are.
Runs off propane .
Don't know about nat gas but most oil based fuel is only good for a few months.
Propane is our backup for wood so it was here and an easy hookup.
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: mlappin on February 25, 2016, 08:45:22 AM
Diesel keeps for practically ever as long as you keep it treated to keep the algae out.

We fill both combines when done to help prevent condensation in the fuel tanks, both run just fine the next fall.

Never used to be a problem with regular diesel, but the new low sulfur and ultra low sulfur fuels are horrible for getting algae in it, especially since we run 5% bean oil to replace the lubricity lost from the lack of sulfur.

Sulfa used to be used as an antibiotic.
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: kommandokenny on February 25, 2016, 10:00:54 AM
The new fuels are  prone to getting gummy.
Didn't know about algie
I use a good stabilizer for all the small engines, all the time,not just for storage

K100- Seafoam work, but I'm not using any gas, no matter what ya put in it,, after a year
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: mlappin on February 25, 2016, 10:32:57 AM
Like I said, never had a problem with old diesel long as it’s algae free.

I rarely buy more than a few gallons of gas anymore, when I do it’s at least 89 octane for the small engines and it gets treated immediately with Stabil Marine.
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: kommandokenny on February 25, 2016, 12:34:29 PM
10-4 Martin.
Same here,, but 91 octane supposed to have no either.
Run 91  in my old British bike,the e- 10 gas is murder on the carb o rings and any other rubber.

Got off topic,,again,, but this forum is very forgiving.(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e212/kommandokenny/GreenGuy_1.gif)
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: MScott on February 25, 2016, 03:43:58 PM
The beauty of being off grid. My Daughter and SIL have been out of power most of the day, but my batteries are fully charged and the power is unaffected by the storm. :)
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: willieG on February 25, 2016, 04:14:53 PM
my 16 kw generator kicked in about 1 pm but was only needed for about 3 hours
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: kommandokenny on February 25, 2016, 06:16:50 PM
Gotta luv it :thumbup:
Title: Re: Could lose power can you help with this question PLEASE
Post by: willieG on February 25, 2016, 06:38:07 PM
just installed it in November...well now I know it does what it is supposed to do, not just that weekly test thing