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1

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Removing Ash from Conventional Boiler

« on: February 02, 2016, 04:42:36 AM »

I use a silage fork in my wood furnace to sift the ash and get the coals to the top.

2

Plumbing / Re: ADD EXTRA PUMP??

« on: March 16, 2015, 08:18:47 AM »

I added a second pump this winter for two reasons. To see if it would increase flow and for a backup. I have an Alpha 15-55 just before my hx which was showing on it's readout 6 gpm and 43 hz. I added another 15-55 on the other side of the hx pumping back to the boiler. Both pumps showed 43 hz and 8 gpm with the occasional bump up to 9, I'm thinking because it is close and maybe water temp makes a difference.
After Kenny posted I decided to see what one pump would do, so I unplugged the second pump and left it alone for an hour.. The hx stayed at 43 and the flow dropped back to 6 gpm, so the second pump isn't causing much of a restriction.
It worked for me, and if it hadn't I would've taken the second pump out and  and saved it for a backup. A few years ago just for a hoot I bolted a 007 to the inlet of the 15-55, and I believe I gained a gallon or so of flow. I've got some pics somewhere I'll look up.

3

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Insulating basement ceilings

« on: March 12, 2015, 05:57:10 AM »

Dave, I used the bubble wrap, and Great Stuff and caulk and sealed up my foundation walls. Putting a heater in the basement helped me track down the drafts and seal them.

4

Fire Wood / Re: maple?

« on: March 11, 2015, 10:48:31 AM »

I burn lots of red maple. I have lots of it and it is so easy to process. Most of mine is small enough to just cut and throw in the boiler. And using rounds with smooth bark makes it easy to slide them wherever I want, I do save the good stuff for the colder weather.

5

Equipment / Re: Question for Skid Steer Owners

« on: March 07, 2015, 07:29:40 AM »

Going back to the op's situation. You said transporting after getting the logs out of the woods is your bottleneck. Would maybe a dump trailer be a better investment for you? It's a big timesaver for me. I would never try to talk someone out of getting a piece of equipment, I'm just throwing some options out there for you.

6

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Struggling like never before this season!

« on: March 07, 2015, 05:47:40 AM »

Yeah, I had visions of using my first winter of retirement getting a big jump on logs. Instead, I've done the unthinkable and flipped the oil boiler on for these sub zero nights. I'm hoping this thaw we have coming will melt this snow down to a hard base I can drive on before things turn to mud.

7

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Possible to damage boiler from throwing wood into firebox?

« on: March 06, 2015, 06:51:19 PM »

Mine rattles at the pin that connects the damper to the solenoid. No biggy.

8

Equipment / Re: Question for Skid Steer Owners

« on: March 05, 2015, 07:36:07 PM »

I've got both and can't see how a skidsteer is better for dragging logs out of the woods. More clearance, better traction, easier to get on and off and with a skidsteer you are dragging backwards, unless I'm missing something here. Skidsteer and grapple is great for moving logs around the landing and clearing the land. If I had to have just one piece of equipment I think I would have to pick a tractor. I'd go bigger than the 40hp I have to handle the grapple. And lots of times its nice to be out either mowing or tilling and having a loader on the other end.

9

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Possible to damage boiler from throwing wood into firebox?

« on: March 04, 2015, 03:16:40 PM »

It usually stops my blower soleniod from buzzing.

10

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Loss of BTUs from DHW

« on: February 23, 2015, 05:00:38 AM »

My dhw runs off my oil fired boiler and is set up so my heating zones have priority. Is there a reason I don't see owb's set up that way?

11

Plumbing / Re: Issues with water temperature

« on: February 18, 2015, 05:32:35 PM »

You said pretty bad stuff inside your pex fittings. Hard water type stuff or gooey algae type stuff? You could have flow issues from this as well. Someone with more knowhow than me will chime in, but I would be concerned. I ordered test kits and checked my treatment concentration and for algae, even though I didn't have any issues.

12

Plumbing / Re: Issues with water temperature

« on: February 18, 2015, 02:03:59 PM »

Chris, what is up with your water? You said you treated it, but did you test it also?

13

Plumbing / Re: Issues with water temperature

« on: February 17, 2015, 07:05:46 AM »

I had air trapped in the top of my heat exchanger. I had to put a valve in for a vent to get rid of it. If not there might be air elsewhere.

14

Central Boiler / Re: Draining boiler in winter

« on: February 17, 2015, 05:30:32 AM »

A utility pump, washing machine hose and a 5 gallon bucket makes an easy setup for getting rv antifreeze into your lines. If you have valves in the basement so you can send a slug down each line to the boiler you can give them a shot of air with a rv hose adapter. I've got black plastic lines laying around my campground that I winterize with a setup like that.

15

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Installing new door rope gasket

« on: February 11, 2015, 06:58:22 PM »

I did mine this fall and went silicone then rope, then mounted the door and used another layer of silicone, then wax paper and then closed the door.