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31

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Oh Crap, Water in my underground lines

« on: April 09, 2015, 08:21:45 PM »

Well we had a heck of a rain here in Michigan,  Water flooded into my underground pipes, I have no idea how much water has penetrated but I'm betting a lot.  Will this dry out over summer?  I paid to have ridgewood install it two years ago, looks like the pipe is too low.     Any ideas on how dry it out?





Thanks

32

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / How does your boiler perform in heavy Rain?

« on: March 30, 2015, 11:49:59 PM »

Getting heavy rain tonight, temps in the low 40's.  I have lots of steam rolling off, I'm surprised on well its keeping temp.  For the outside temperature tho I can tell the rain is effecting the boiler temp a bit.

33

RidgeWood Stoves, defunct, support only / Getting Close to Shut Down Might want to check for paint

« on: March 14, 2015, 10:08:56 PM »

Getting Close to shutdown.  A friend that has a Ridgewood said last year he found paint chips in his water.  Might be best if everyone who owns a Ridgewood, especially if its your first year or you never drained a few gallons off to take precautions.  Drain a few gallons in a clear vessel,   and check for paint.  He said the first symptom he had was white showing up in the site glass.

34

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Crap my Maul is burried under my Wood Pile

« on: March 11, 2015, 10:27:06 PM »

Had wood delivered today and had my maul at the edge of the wood pile.  It is now buried under a cord of wood that needs spitting to smaller pieces.   Just my luck, probably be easier to buy a new maul then try and move all the wood around to find it.

35

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Do People Really Burn Straight Trash in Boilers?

« on: February 15, 2015, 10:55:56 PM »

I keep hearing stories of people giving boilers a bad name by burning their home garbage.  I will admit I burn the occasional cardboard or paper grocery bags in the boiler.  In a dire situation to get a fire going I burned some scrap 2x4's.  I remember a guy that delivered wood to me last year.   I had a hard time getting the boiler going on some green wood, and his wife was with him and mentioned how some good household trash would get the fire going.  I looked at him, as he had a boiler too.. he said yes we burn all our trash in the boiler and sift out the metals and stuff that doesn't burn.  Months later I had a few discussions with OWB owners and they admitted to burning tires at night and even using used motor oil on the logs.  I'm shocked, I can't imagine wife telling me time to take out the trash and just dumping everything into the firebox.  On occasions I will use a bit of vegetable oil on the fire to help, seems to burn very clean with almost no smoke.

36

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Unexpected Wood Demand

« on: February 04, 2015, 12:20:38 AM »

I have been running a wood boiler for 2 years so I'm still green.  So here is what happened.  Woke up 7am, plenty wood house was warm, added a few logs.  I work later shift but, I get up to make sure the boiler is running smoothly was cold near 1-3 degree.  I went back to bed, got up around 1:30pm.. Good hot bed of coals no worries, outside temp around mid twenties... added my wood like I always do fire was roaring temps were good, I only had to be away for 8 hours.  I come back to ashes and small coal bed.. What the Heck?  First time in two years I miss judged this.  The outside temps actually warmed up.  I have no way to explain how this could have happened.  It was not windy,  very pleasant day.   

The water temp was at 100 degrees!!

37

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Anyone know the story behind Heiss Heaters

« on: January 28, 2015, 10:44:58 PM »

I almost purchased from them years ago.. They have a weird setup and design.   They use a reservoir tank inside the home.   Looks like the whole unit is comprised of masonry material.  Again the stove looks like it has no water jacket just a tank inside the home.  I'm from Michigan and seem to be from the Grand Rapids area.  I have not heard anything about this stove.  Was curious if anyone had more information, the design is much different from you see on most stoves..

38

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / OWB Efficiency?

« on: January 27, 2015, 09:13:14 PM »

You never see Efficiency numbers on OWB.  I understand that some are more efficient than others.  Would it be a safe bet to assume most around around 50%?

39

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Comments on how Good you smell from stoking your fire.

« on: January 12, 2015, 10:25:55 PM »

I run a bar, in the morning i rake the coals to the front and add my wood.  Not a day goes by at work or out shopping commenting how good I smell, or comments what is that burning smell?  I'm so tired of it, I just comment run a wood stove goes with the territory.   I think it puts some people off as they comment about the burning smell.  Makes me realize how few burn with wood these days.  Are most put off by the smell or just being kind?  I'm so use to it I don't even smell it on my coat or clothes.  I prefer to shower and get dressed before attending to the stove.

40

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Natural Draft Vs. Forced Air

« on: January 02, 2015, 01:26:40 AM »

Hi,

I checked the forum and very little information or much of a debate is on this topic.  I have a natural draft system and I must say its the most frustrating situation I have ever encountered.  Constantly opening the door for 30 minutes to get the fire going properly.  After closing the door the temp drops 10 degrees very fast.  I have a ridgewood and the natural draft is joke.  I'm tired of opening the door to get temperature up and to close the door to loose water temp.  Honestly I'm loosing my mind, I can't keep opening my door to achieve proper operating temps.  I hear they are now offering a upgrade with a blower.  What are the advantages of natural draft vs forced air?  In very cold temps it seems I need to be home all day to open the door to get temps back up.  I'm mixing green with seasoned...   maybe its my wood.  Lets not talk about the temp drop after the damper opens for heat.  In my situation the water temp with drop near 20 degrees before it gets the fire going to increase water temp.

41

Electronics / Anyone try using Remote grill Thermometer?

« on: December 23, 2014, 10:27:20 PM »

I was wondering if I could just use foil tape and wrap the probe parallel with the pex just before it enters the heat exchanger.  I could take readings from the actual the boiler compared to my probe temp and figure out the difference if its constant.  Remote grill monitor is $15 sold at walmart.  I know its made for meat and not sure if the probe well insulated and taped against the pipe will give a accurate reading.  Seems if it did work a cheap solution as the monitoring station wouldn't be too far from the furnace.

42

Fire Wood / Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood

« on: December 15, 2014, 10:26:33 PM »

Hi,

It has been a rough summer due to finances and time.  I have about another month of good wood, yet all I can find for my price range is green wood which is being delivered weekly to get my wood pile stocked.  So far I'm using my maul to split the larges pieces smaller.  From what I understand most of the moisture is in the center of the wood.  Been busy splitting most of the wood into smaller pieces exposing the center.  Not proud to be in this situation, just trying to make the most of my situation and not waste all my Btu's boiling off all the moisture.

Thanks

43

RidgeWood Stoves, defunct, support only / Solenoid leads keep comming off

« on: December 10, 2014, 11:10:06 PM »

Every few days one of my Solenoid leads somehow gets removed and the stove just idles all night long resulting in low water temperature.  Posting a picture.  I tried using a needle nose pliers to help crimp the connection but I seem to just bend the Solenoid lead connection, afraid to break it off.  Any suggestions?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3zVeNjEh5jKejlLbGUyc0lkMkU/view?usp=sharing

Thanks

44

Fire Wood / Nervous about Stolen Wood.

« on: December 10, 2014, 09:29:11 PM »

I'm getting two full cords of split hardwood delivered each week for awhile.  I'm just paranoid that someone might steal my wood pile or attempt to take some.  Each morning I valuate the tracks in the backyard, sometimes in my mind it feels the wood pile gets shorter.  Its my lively hood and how I provide heat for my family.  May seem silly but I'm sure some can relate.  I guess maybe the term can be obsessed, like animal instinct to protect his own.

45

RidgeWood Stoves, defunct, support only / Water Temperature?

« on: December 10, 2014, 01:03:55 AM »

I would like to set my water temperature to 185.  Seems in the program it won't let me go above 180.  Followed the instructions from the manual no luck.  Can anyone help