Print

[jack1243]

I must say I'm pleased with my unit for heating the house this Winter. It has paid for itself in less then 3 months as we have seen our electric bill go from $1700.00+/- a month to about $200.00 a month. Take that savings x 4 Winter months and we actually made money on the install. However, with warmer weather on the rise I'm wondering how often do you all fire your boilers to heat the hot water for the house. I know on days when we have 65 degree weather my boiler will jump to over 200 degrees if I don't keep an eye on it. I'd like to hear what you all do to keep that golden 180 in the Spring and Summer months when we are not heating the house.

[hoardac]

I set it at about 160 and it usually does not go over-temp. I have a older boiler not one the newer efficient ones so I do not know about those types.

[Scott7m]

If its spiking over, u have an air leak.  Try to look for air leaks, a good tight stove should allow you to to heat all summer if need be

[swede]

Much smaller fires in the summer works for us otherwise temps can over run.

[MattyNH]

I would have to agree with Scott..Your boiler shouldn't be spiking over because you have your boiler set at 180F on a 65F day

[TLuckoski]

Not having to put up with the hassle of keeping a fire going in the summer I'll pay the $30.00 a month to the power company.

[MattyNH]

I run my oil boiler for hot water during the summer months..OWB just doesn't run enough during the summer months..

[Scott7m]

Not having to put up with the hassle of keeping a fire going in the summer I'll pay the $30.00 a month to the power company.

$30?  You live alone?

In months such as April I have went and not used wv or heat the entire month, but by simply not heating my water the bill would go from $85-$100 up to $160-$175

[jam]

I burn mine untill the weather gets too warm (mid May) simply for the hot water. its not that its cheaper, its just so much hotter. we get spoiled

[Drivebymashing]

Same here after the two decently long showers no hot water left on electric.With the boiler
IT keeps getting hotter the more showers you take.NO cold baths for my 19 month old little girl.

[muffin]

I run mine year round.  Never had any issue with over temps.  Usually only load it every 3 days in the summer.

[mw10737]

i ran mine all last summer .  even when it was 95 degrees here in Iowa in the late summer it never overheated.

Only thing i noticed is i had to put about  a 1/2 gallon of water in it this fall.. i suppose it may evaoporated a bit through the summer.  but besides that as long as you have no air leaks you should have no problems running through summer.'

And ya i think i would throw a few pieces in it every 3-4 days.. kinda gives you a good feeling all summer,, but then when it gets cold it seems like its burning alot..  but by this time when i starts warming up again it gets put back in to prespective...

I love the hot continous showers all summer.... enjoy

[johnybcold]

I am probaly gonna install a electric water heater, last year I used a ton of oil over the summer

[mw10737]

Johny..

You dont have a plate  exchanger for your DHW?  Kinda confused what you mean by oil?

[yoderheating]

Many of you may not know this but some Hick Water Stoves don't have automatic drafts. If you are using a furnace where you manually open and close the draft it is very hard to regulate during the spring, summer and fall. Hick mostly uses the furnace design that was common 20 or 30 years ago with no ash pan or grates, manual draft, small fire box, large water jacket, DHW coil in furnace.