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[Pinehouse4]

I have been reading quite a bit here lately and have been impressed with the support readily offered by the members.

I heat a 4000 sq ft house with 3 wood stoves and a 650 sq ft shop with another wood stove, this has gone on for far too long. I process my own wood and expect to use 12 bush cords this year.

Wood is stored in a 39 x 10 foot wood shed, steel roof and no walls.

As soon as possible I intend to install a OWB to deal with the above but also heat 2 hot water tanks and a small 500 sq ft aquarium room to 85 degrees year round and a 30,000 gallon inground pool in summer. ( wife won't stick a toe in unless it is 86 degrees.)

My research points me to the 250 or the 34/44. Rory at P+M says either will do but the 34/44 would be more forgiving.

However there is no dealer nearby to assist me. I do not have any duct work as half of my house is log, the other board and batten and very well insulated. I would want to heat via radiators, cast iron and some baseboard types. Not forced air.

I have no idea how to layout a piping system, in the proper zones, with proper pump sizing in order to operate efficiently and not donate all of my money to Ontario Hydro's pension fund.

Does anyone know of a company around here that can consult on this layout? The other two competitors offered to come here and " show you how to do it."

I designed and built the house and did most of the plumbing and electrical so I can complete this work if I was shown what to do it, and I have no problem paying for good advice.

Thanks,

Bob





 

[Pinehouse4]

Wow, I guess it would help if I said I live one hour north of Toronto, in Southern Ontario.

Bob

[merrellroofing]

General rule is take their Sq.Ft. rating and cut it in half. That's how much they will heat effectively.  May not apply to all stoves but most of them.

[mlappin]

Wow, I guess it would help if I said I live one hour north of Toronto, in Southern Ontario.

Bob

Okay, was wondering how you ran central AC with out forced air but I guess given you're location it's not required.

Given my wives medical problems she refuses to live without central AC.

[slimjim]

Pinehouse, perhaps I can help, I'll PM you my phone # for those quick questions that need attention right away and, the rest we can do right here, I do things a bit differently than some on here so be prepared for some growling. Rory is right about the 2 boilers, if I were in your shoes I would choose the B-L series and I think I would spend the extra jingle on the shaker grates.

[Crow]

Wow, I guess it would help if I said I live one hour north of Toronto, in Southern Ontario.

Bob

Okay, was wondering how you ran central AC with out forced air but I guess given you're location it's not required.

 Mr mlappin. Don't tell me you are one of those who believe there is always ice and snow north of the border, the Canucks wear long johns and mittens all year round types are you?? Have a look at a map and see how much of the US is further north than Toronto.

 If Pinehouse doesn't have a/c that is his choice and is mine also. I work outside year-round (with mittens and long johns Nov-Mar) and rest assured we get hot, humid, stinking weather in the summer that would make you hope the next "Polar Vortex" wasn't too far away!!




Sorry 'bout that, my apologies eh!

[martyinmi]

I'm glad Slim stepped in on this thread.
You would be SORELY disappointed with the 250. Your square footage and location would dictate a boiler with an output much higher than what the 250 is capable of UNLESS your home and shop are super duper (that's Michigan speak for "really well") insulated.
I've got 1733 sq ft combined on my 1st and 2nd story's that we keep as warm as we like, and 650 sq ft of Michigan basement that stays between 55 and 65 because of radiant heat loss from my pex lines and side arm heat exchanger.
My 250 is sized perfectly for the load I throw at it.

Welcome to the forum!

[Pinehouse4]

Thank you for your imput, having the opportunity to communicate with people that have experience like this is invaluable. I don't have any central air, when those heat spells come each year we use window a/c units and wear wet tee shirts.

I found that with the cold this winter I could not keep my home warm enough for my family. Feeding 4 stoves 24/7 takes a lot of time and effort.

I will contact you Slimjim and we can take it from there.

My attraction to the 250 was the super clean exhaust as compared to a non gasser, however reading a post yesterday  by jefito says the smoke is there primarily on initial start up. Can anyone else avise on how the Ultimizer smokes?

My wood is Maple, Ash, Beech, some birch and oak. Currently all split at 18 inches but my Wallenstien processor can do 24 inches and stored under cover.

My ground is all dry sand, some dampness occuring around 3 feet near the shop in spring.

Thanks for the imput marty, I gather it is better to have surplus capacity and you can adjust the wood to match the needs.

Slimjim, I thought the shaker grates were for coal use, can you explain their value to me if I don't use coal, is it the ability to filter the ash from the coals?

Bob

[jefito]

Pinehouse4, Bob I feel your pain. Prior to purchasing the 34/44 we lived in this house, 4000 sf, colder n a well diggers ass, up in elevation so its cold from
 mid sept to mid June. Upstairs was 46/49 degrees f. Day time temps. I'm new so I don't claim to know much.  For me the34/44 will heat you, the pool, and the forest too. It is unreal the heat that it generates. Regardless of the species of wood, the stove burns hot. All that oak is give longer cleaner burns. No more getting up and constantly filling my in door wood stoves. In a post by Roxanne a reference was made, to a fill it and forget it OWB. In my humble opinion the 34/44 is as close to that statement as at all possible. There is some smoke no doubt but at 193 f. With slimjims, 5 degree differential, out of 8-10 hour burn 90 percent is no smoke to barely visible very very very light 2 maybe 3 foot trail the rest is just heat signature
You can't go wrong with the 34/44. Best of luck

[Smeegs]

Hi there, I own a 250 and just letting you know what I heat with it . I am heating a 3600 sq.' home plus a two car garage ,my domestic hot water, plus a 1200 sq.' two story shop. all buildings are fairly well insulated . I heat them all to 20 degrees C. day or night. ( I hate puttering in a cold shop) So far the 250 has performed well under this heat load. I burn a lot of crapty spruce in the fringe season and birch, maple, and oak during those - 30 C days and nights with no problem at all. With the crapty wood ,I would load three times in 24 Hr. ,but with the dry hardwood just twice a day unless there is a lot of wind then there is a mid day top up. I am located in northern Ont. north of Elliot Lake.

Smeegs

[Pinehouse4]

Thank you jefito, I agree the Ultimizer does have the heating capacity for anything I have to heat.

I appreciate hearing your comments about the smoke. I have heated with wood stoves since 1980, and handled quite a bit of wood but this winter, with these real cold spells we have had ( and being 62 next month ) I crossed the line. Too much work and too much time and not enough warmth.

Bob

[Pinehouse4]

Hi Smeegs,

That is about the same amount of heating requirements I would have and I don't think it is as cold here as up north.

Thank you for that information it is important to me.

Bob

[slimjim]

  Pinehouse, I was just made aware that we cannot sell you a Shaker grate as you are on the other side of the border,  as I understand it shaker grates for coal up there are not allowed, Only reason that I mentioned them is they give you that option of coal if you like, Have you guys been talking to Obama?

[Brokenaxe]

Jefito  I drill wells for a living that explains my love for heated seats lol.

[slimjim]

Did I miss something, Heated seats, my wife loves them in her car.