Print

[slimjim]

I  run into the same problem on quotes now and then, not that anybody is getting raped, just that you get what you pay for. I like the job to look nice, copper and brass, anyway no it will not use more power. Here are a couple of suggestions on placement of the stove, first make it easy to get to every 12 hours for filling and cleaning, don't put a roof over it that does not allow removal of the unit without taking the building apart, keep fire safety in mind, ashes, hot coals, and flashback. next is smoke, no wood boiler works perfectly all the time and you don't want to p off your neighbors or wife, place a sappling in the ground where you want your stack to be about 10 feet high and tie a piece of flagging tape about 8 feet long to the top of the sappling, watch the tape, it will give you smoke direction at that particular spot. As far as the elevation goes most pump manufacturers want to see at least 5 feet of water over the top of the pumps and personnally I prefer to put the pumps and heat exchanger in the basement where they can be serviced out of the elements.

[nsflatlander]

Thank you for all the recommendations. Smoke/prominent wind direction is the main reason for going up the hill and away from the house. Your comment about being able to remove the unit without taking the building apart is something that I would not have thought of. Good point.

What do you mean by this "at least 5 feet of water over the top of the pumps"? Sorry I don't understand.

[slimjim]

The weight of the water is what keeps the circs lubricated, without this the pumps may burn out prematurely, it is OK to have more than 5 feet of water over the pump but if you don't have enough the pump may cavitate, this is one of the reasons that I prefer to put the circs in the basement as well as easy maintenance.