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106

HeatMaster / Re: Dealer Meeting...

« on: May 08, 2017, 08:23:54 AM »

Nothing wrong with coming out with a more affordable model with a few less features. With propane and fuel oil as cheap as they are now, I think its a good idea for both Heatmaster, and the industry in general. Its hard to justify spending $10000-$13000 on an OWB system. Unless you live in Minnesota and heat a 3000 sq ft leaky farmhouse,  the payback time stretches out many years down the road. More affordable options are going to be a good thing for the industry.

107

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Another one in the books

« on: April 17, 2017, 06:39:52 PM »

Seems kinda odd to not have the nightly chore of loading the boiler?

I was thinking the same thing. Let mine go out yesterday. Left for work this morning without loading, and didn't have to go back outside after supper.  Funny how you get into a routine.
Oh well, October will come soon enough and it will start all over again.

108

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Softened Water

« on: March 24, 2017, 06:18:28 PM »

For warranty purposes id go with what your manufacturer recommends, but I used softened water in both of my Central Boilers. IIRC, they recommend using it. Got 13 leak free years on the first one before i upgraded to a gasifier.

109

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Central Boiler damper solenoids

« on: March 06, 2017, 06:17:34 PM »

Not sure what could be happening. Maybe erratic voltage?  Ive never had a problem with them. Got 2 seasons on my Edge now with no problems and before that I ran a 5648 for 13 years on the original solenoid.

110

Central Boiler / Re: New Furnace Owner

« on: February 11, 2017, 06:53:23 PM »

My previous stove was a 5648.  Its a big stove, nearly 400 gallons iirc. Not sure how warm your back up heat is keeping your water, but when I'd start mine up cold late in the fall it took a good 3 hours. Sometimes longer. Its a natural draft stove so its going to take some time and some tending too to get the fire lit and get a big enough coal bed built to get a good hot burn going.

111

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: over temp creep up

« on: February 05, 2017, 10:11:32 AM »

Is the damper and solenoid operating smoothly? Maybe creosote build up on the damper keeping it from fully closing?

112

Central Boiler / Re: New Furnace Owner

« on: February 04, 2017, 08:05:50 PM »

If youve never ran the stove before I'd  turn on the pump and look for leaks first. If no leaks are found, shut the pump off and start your fire. The inside of the stove will probably sweat when you first build the fire as the water jacket will be cold so it helps to keep the pump off and warm the stove as quickly as possible. Once the stove is up to temp, turn on your pumps and start drawing some heat into the home. Watch the stove go through a cycle or two to make sure it starts and stops with what your water temp set points are set at.

113

Fire Wood / Re: Anyone become a "wood slave"?

« on: January 29, 2017, 06:05:52 AM »

Many times utilitys dont actually own the land they run across. Theres usually an easement placed on the deed to the land that gives them access to it, but the land owner still owns the property and everything on it.

If they happen to be cutting within the the road right of way it might be fair game, but if its beyond that, it probably belongs to the land owner. Either way, it wouldn't hurt to knock on some doors and ask permission.  If they don't burn wood, they'll more than likely be happy to get rid of it.

114

General Discussion / Re: New helper

« on: January 26, 2017, 06:10:50 PM »

Congratulations!
Children are one of life's greatest gifts.

115

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Protocol when come home after a long day water 98 degrees?

« on: January 11, 2017, 07:08:05 PM »

Maybe the house is just that drafty, but it might be worth it to check your line temps to rule out loosing heat to the ground. At 15 cord/year, you have a lot of btu's going somewhere.

116

Fire Wood / Re: First of the year

« on: January 03, 2017, 05:54:41 PM »

With the mild fall Im right around 2.5 cord here also. Daytime highs are forecasted to be around zero here til Sunday or Monday now so the piles gonna take a hit this week.

117

Portage & Main / Re: BL 28-40 blower fan making some noise.

« on: December 24, 2016, 07:55:53 AM »

Might be worth a look to see if some debris got caught in the squirrel cage, some motors even have a place to oil them.  But ya, good idea to have a spare ready on the shelf anyway.  I keep an extra blower motor, pump and solenoid on hand for my Central. Odds seem to favor it being -20 and after business hours when they fail. 

118

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Wife insisted on going somewhere warm for a week. Now have a frozen line

« on: December 20, 2016, 06:55:28 PM »

I would check where the lines leave the stove and enter the ground. Its under the stove but in an unheated space

119

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: HELP Boilover CB5036

« on: December 20, 2016, 06:09:30 PM »

Check the damper over good for creosote build up and make sure its seating good and tight against the door. I'd also give the solenoid on the damper a shot of wd40 and work it in good, sometimes they can stick open.
Also, give a good look over where the metal is getting thin where the door seats against the boiler. Make sure its not deteriorated to the point its letting air in

120

Central Boiler / Re: "Sometimes" disease.

« on: December 14, 2016, 07:43:31 PM »

Check and see if you can get the WiFi enabled firestar controler for your 1400. I have one for my Edge and its amazing. You can monitor your furnace from anywhere via your smartphone. You get your water temp and reaction chamber temp in real time. You can set it up to send you a text or email if you forget to shut the bypass. You can also have it notify you when you need to add wood, low water level, if you leave the firebox door open, high and low water temp alert, if the fire goes out.... I believe there's even more but can't remember them all.
Its a really cool option if you can retrofit your 1400 for one.

Hi Pointblank - I checked with my CB dealer about the WiFi enabled Firestar controller for my 1400 and it's not compatible.  I have access to a few electronic technicians and engineers who I know would be happy to help me set up an audible warning system inside my house.  Do you know if all of the new CB units are now being offered with the WiFi enabled firestar controller?  Which Edge do you have and do you like it?  Is it easy to clean?  Thanks - Roger

Im pretty sure you can get the Firestar WiFi on any of the new gasifiers they offer. Its not compatible with the old classic line, but that stove is no longer available in the US anyways.
I currently have the Edge 550. This is my second winter with it and ive been happy with it. Cleaning it is pretty simple. There are chains that hang down in the heat exchanger that you slide back and forth to clean them. Its accessible through the chimney tee and takes maybe a minute to perform.  I do that weekly along with cleaning out the ashes. Not much to it