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[ambonci]

I have a ton of pine that I need to get rid off(all wood was free)   .  So my thoughts were lets burn it in OWB and not have to run hot water heater at all this year.  My question is what is a goo temp to run the boiler at?  Im running it on 165 with temp differential of 5.  Seems to me that that's too high just for hot water.  could I run it at 150 with diff of 5 degrees?  I have been told that anything below 160 is bad for the OWB because of condensation.  Can anyone help me with this theory and any suggestions on temps this summer.  Thanks.

[mlappin]

Personally I’m not a fan of running a OWB all summer just for DHW, can always save all that pine for this fall instead.

[ambonci]

Personally I’m not a fan of running a OWB all summer just for DMH, can always save all that pine for this fall instead.

can you explain why?  just a waste of wood or not good for the boiler.  I have about 8 full cord of pine.

[mlappin]

Personally I don’t think its good for the boiler, mine sweats a lot in the shoulder seasons, lots of water capacity and little heat load leads to a lot of idle time. I had a buddy that did the same with his boiler, heated his DWH and did some pool duty all summer, last real hot summer we had boiler sat there and just sweated all summer, rotted out shortly after. Of course though, mine was sized to heat the house and shop, once it’s consistently in the 50’s come spring we don’t heat the shop as 50 feels so much better than 0 we usually have all the doors open all day, the house however alone down’t require enough heat in the shoulder season to burn enough to keep it dried out, that and with jus the wife and I we don’t have an excessive use of hot water.

If you fell you must run it all summer, I’d keep the water set up at 180 to help keep the condensation at bay.

[RSI]

I would keep the fire small. Only put enough in for a few idle cycles. Pine makes a lot of creosote so I would not run it cooler. If anything let it get up to 190+ but only if you are keeping the wood in the firebox at the minimum so it doesn't overshoot the setting too much.

[ambonci]

well I really appreciate your guys expertise.  yesterday I loaded stove, got up to temp and once at temp I filled again.  wood lasted about 24 hrs.  this pine is really dry and is like paper.  I use tons of hot water dishwasher at least once a day 3-4 loads of laundry a day, dishes all day long and 2 baths and 2 showers a day.  I took your guys advise and put temp at 185 with differential at 5.  don't know if it matters but my circulator runs 24/7, dunno if that matters for condensation or not.  Thanks again guys, any other input with be welcomed as well.

[RSI]

If you are putting 24 hours worth of wood in at once I would watch it close to make sure it doesn't boil.

Do you have a coil in the OWB for DHW or a heat exchanger in the house? Running the pump 24/7 should help keep it from boiling as easily. If you have bare lines in the house, it will make it hotter in the house though. If you are circulating through a heat exchanger in the indoor furnace if will really add a lot of heat in the house and if you run the a/c they will be fighting each other.

[mlappin]

If you are putting 24 hours worth of wood in at once I would watch it close to make sure it doesn't boil.

Do you have a coil in the OWB for DHW or a heat exchanger in the house? Running the pump 24/7 should help keep it from boiling as easily. If you have bare lines in the house, it will make it hotter in the house though. If you are circulating through a heat exchanger in the indoor furnace if will really add a lot of heat in the house and if you run the a/c they will be fighting each other.

Very good points.

My lines are uninsulated in the basement, in the winter months enough heat radiates off them to keep the basement cozy with no additional heat required, in my case would add a lot of load to the central A/C to keep those lines hot all summer.

[ambonci]

RSI I haven't boiled over yet.  I am running through a heat exchanger in my garage.  since I started the OWB it hasn't been above 60 and today its cold and damp and the wife has the heat on inside, so when Its warmer out I will keep an eye on it.  Thanks again*

[Roscoe]

Dont run your water temp less than 180. I had the same thought as you thinking the DHW we use is around 105 degrees so why heat the stove to winter time temps? Well...I screwed myself out of a perfectly good Wood Doctor but running water temp around 145 during the summer. I had rot where the chimney meets the firebox. It didn't take long.......

[mlappin]

Dont run your water temp less than 180. I had the same thought as you thinking the DHW we use is around 105 degrees so why heat the stove to winter time temps? Well...I screwed myself out of a perfectly good Wood Doctor but running water temp around 145 during the summer. I had rot where the chimney meets the firebox. It didn't take long.......

 

[jamesbodeis]

I'm leaving mine right where I ran it all winter. 194 off, 184 on.