This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

1

Portage & Main / Cleaning the Tubes on the Optimizer Series

« on: January 03, 2013, 10:50:52 PM »

Thought some of you owners of the Portage and Main Optimizer series might like this bit of info.  I find the vertical tubes are not the easiest to clean especially if you are burning less than optimal wood.  In my case cleaning once a week is more realistic.  Anyhow to simplify the process once a week, I open the  damper on the Blower Motor up to approximately 1/2 inch and let it run this way for a couple of hours  You will also notice that a considerable amount of the creosote inside the firepot burns away as well.  Then use your brush to give the tubes a final clean out, reposition the blower damper back to where it belongs 1/4 inch open and you should be good to go.  Basically works like a Self Clean cycle! Cheers.

2

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: getting ready to buy my first owb any advice

« on: December 17, 2012, 11:01:01 PM »

True....More areas of the USA are moving to EPA Phase II units being the only type of OWF allowed. There appear to be only a few companies that have successfully ventured into this territory of obtaining approval.  Thus why I purchased the Portage and Main Optimizer 250, it has EPA Phase II approval as do all their Optimizer series and again they have been in biz since 1973, I think it is safe to say they will be around for a while yet.  These guys are selling lots into the North Eastern part of the USA yet made in Canada! Burns clean, less wood, more efficient. Happy with mine!

3

Portage & Main / Re: Creosote Buildup in the tubes of a 250?

« on: December 12, 2012, 10:51:41 PM »

Regarding  Creosote and the P&M Optimizer 250.  You should contact the dealer regarding the leaking door seal as this should be covered by your warranty.  In addition it is important to make sure that your airflow is adjusted correctly, these are the 2 handles on the airbox at the back.  The Optimizer is designed to burn clean, some people tend to close the airvalves up to smolder the fire and burn less wood, this will generally result in Creosote and Smoke.  The Optimizers heat exchanger is also suppose to be cleaned out approx ever 2 weeks to keep things clean and operating properly.  Most of this is in their operating manual, they have also just released a revised one specifically for the 250..Regards

4

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: getting ready to buy my first owb any advice

« on: December 12, 2012, 10:37:40 PM »

There are lots of things to consider. These are just a couple.... How much wood you have to feed the furnace, typically a furnace with an open heat exchanger with a single shot will consume alot more wood to reach and maintain the operating temperature (you don't want to be a wood slave).  The other thing to consider is not so much the thickness of the metal (as that is not what generally fails, do not recall ever seeing a peice of 1/4 inch plate steel with a hole rusted through it) WELDS are what fail.  I bought the Portage and Main Furnace they double weld all critical joints.  They also do not mix types of metal example stainless steel with cold rolled plate, this appears to never work as different metals expand and contract at different rates resulting in weld failures. They have been in biz since 1973. I would recommend giving them a real close look. Happy reading!