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[oz]

Hi, new to the and new to the owb world so any suggestions would be welcome. After my last propane bill of 1300 dollars, which will roughly last me about 5 weeks I knew i had to look at a different heat sourse. I have always liked the thoughts of the owb but up untill now thought they would take a little to long to pay for its self, plus the kids are older now so will leave me more time for wood prosessng and the sort.

so hear is what i am thinking, and once again, any info would be great. I am located on the bruce pensula in ontario on the shores of lake huron so lots of wind comming in of the lake, old farm house with not the greatest of inslulation and lot of new glass { windowsand doors } house is roughly 2500 sqf, 800 sqf second floor 1200 main floor and 500 in a finished basement.

OWB
Looking at the new BL2840, did a btu calculation and house is calling for a 166,752 load, {sound right?} so would the BL2840 be enough of a unit?

Piping

looking at the rehau 1 1/4" insulated or the logstor 1". would prefer the logstor as a little cheaper but nearest dealer is 6 hrs away one way same dealer who has the P&M dealership. Rehau dealer a few min. away. thinking I would like to put the pipe in first, than build the pad and wood shed than place the stove, kind of break up the cost over the spring, summer and fall.

Side arm for DHW and a 20x20hx. for forcedair furnace. buried line would be 80 to 100 feet with maybe another 30 in the basement to tie every thing in, so full loop would be some where between 190 feet and 230 feet.

pump

have access to two grundfos 15-58's so could tandem them up if you guy's don't think one would be enough.

Have my own bush lot or can buy mill logs that did not make the grade for about 115 buck a bush cord. might bea nice option asone gets a little older.
Are there any start to finsh step by step diagrams or drawings on the net that anyone knows of ie vales needed pex fittings needed wiring ect ect

Now that the winter is about half over, would be intersted in hearing how the bl series are performing wood comsuption ect ect

Thanks

Mark

[Crow]

 First thing -Welcome. You have come to the right place for lots of info.

The BL should work well for your calculation provided that it provides for heat loss due to "not the greatest of insulation".  It is rated for 225000 btu/hr but I will let other members with more experience chime in on that.

I am running a BL 2840, 115 ft 1" Logstor one way plus inside pex on a 26-99 pump on low speed (probably overkill ), 20 X 20 hx and a 20 plate water to water hx. I am not heating as much as you are but am planning on more in the future. So as this is my first OWB I cannot say how good it is compared to anyone else's but right now it is doing exactly what I expected it to do. I was in your position last year and so glad I made this decision.

On the "how-to" there is lots of good help here, also I found on the P&M website and Central Boilers site links to various designs showing plumbing and wiring. Another thing - you can't put in enough valves! Hope this is of help but don't worry more is on the way.

[slimjim]

  So far from what we are seeing is that those who bought them are very happy, there's a lot to be impressed with, suggestion , don't wait until fall to get it done.

[oz]

hey guy's, thanks for responding,
Crow, glad you are enjoying the BL and that it is working well for you, will definitely have a look in the how to's, have looked at many of the posts in the other headings but have not made it there yet.

SlimJim, my plan is to bury the pipe in the spring when the ground is still damp just to see what kind of moisture i will be dealing with, although i am not thinking it will be that bad  as my house is built on a gravel ridge which makes for great drainage. then build pad and wood storage early summer than boiler early fall. once again thanks for the suggestions and input.

[slimjim]

Watch for a spring sale or see us at a show if you are looking to get a deal' we'll be posting that on the website soon. Mark where are you at, I'll try to let you know if we will be nearby with a live burn demo.

[oz]

i am located in ontario about 3 hrs north west of toronto on the shores of lake huron at the western base of the bruce peninsula in a small town called southampton. the farm next to me has put one in a few years ago and another a few miles away. waiting for the snow and temps to get a little better before i go brain picking on them.

thanks

[Crow]

OZ, you should go and see them on a cold day and see just what you're missing.lol.
Slim is right, if you go ahead with the OWB don't leave it to late. I said I wasn't going to be one of those guys and finally got mine going in early Dec.

[ITO]

 I wish you good luck oz, you will be happy you put this together in the long run, it pays back very well. Have to tell you I have been through Bruce Pennisula on the ferry before on motorcycle trips and it's very nice over there, I always recommend that area for trips around the Great Lakes, I envy you to live over there, welcome to the site.

[slimjim]

I don't do a lot of shows in Canada but Brian has dealers up there that do and once in a while they will call me in to help man up the show, sounds like a really nice area for a road trip, I'm in southern Maine, just outside of Old Orchard beach, not sure if you know where that's at but it used to be a pretty hot summer destination for those vacationers from north of the border, if you are ever down here be sure to look me up.

[cantoo]

oz, I'm 20 minutes south of Kincardine. I have a Pacific Western that I bought used from a guy in Durham, I put it in last fall. Real happy with it, I did everything myself and it works so I guess I did it right. I installed Logstor and it was worth the money. I bought most of my stuff from Green Valley Heating, they had the best prices and have everything in stock that you would  need. I went to their shop and got everything but they do have a dealer network that you could get parts from. I prefer one stop shopping though, they will even install it for you. My nephew got them to do everything except dig the trench for the lines. They handle Heatmor, I think they have some used units too. I'm heating 2 houses, both domestic hot water and a 24x 56 shop. One run is 100' one way, it's logstor and the other run is 35' and it's a homemade one. I really had no idea when I started how to set everything up but by reading and just doing it I got it working. You can message me if you want any more info or pictures. I have a few pics on here in different threads. As for living in a small town, you have a Tim Horton's we only have Mary's in Lucknow. My brother lives in port Elgin.

[oz]

Cantoo, that's funny I must be living in metropolis than because we have a tims in southampton as well. thanks for the info guys really helped with  my end of the decision now just have to through it past the misses. i did come across the green valley web page when i was looking at the different burners but did not know that they sold fittings and such. will give them a call and price out some vavles and pipe hx side arm. i hear ya about one stop shopping.

cheers

[jefito]

Oz, I have a Bl34/44 going on  6 weeks now and very pleased. My place is in a very windy valley. 2 stories,lots of windows,( cheap ones too) and the 34/44 keeps it very warm. Very pleased with wood usage. I used logstor its worth the money. Best of luck, can't go wrong with P/M.