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Author Topic: Using indoor furnace to backfeed  (Read 3265 times)

woodburner85

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Using indoor furnace to backfeed
« on: October 31, 2015, 10:46:04 AM »
How inefficient would it be to have my indoor boiler keep my outdoor lines and stove heated when I'm away from home? Approximate guesses of a percent of how much extra fuel oil I would burn.  The stoves fan and solenoid would shut off at a set temp and the pump will continue to run.  I have 100 feet to my house and the line is one year old thermopex, water to water 40 plate exchanger in the house.  Stove is a Heatmaster  MF 10000.  THANKS
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mlappin

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Re: Using indoor furnace to backfeed
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2015, 12:16:38 PM »
Well, maybe if you were going to be gone for any amount of time get it set up so the your indoor boiler isn’t trying to keep the outdoor one at 180.
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fireboss

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Re: Using indoor furnace to backfeed
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2015, 06:39:02 PM »
In my case it would be a disaster , iam not sure but my oil burner holds maybe 20 gallons of water
, so that would run constenly trying to heat the 350 gallons and keep my housewarming!
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slimjim

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Re: Using indoor furnace to backfeed
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2015, 12:59:41 AM »
How long will yo be gone?
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hondaracer2oo4

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Re: Using indoor furnace to backfeed
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2015, 05:49:01 AM »
I have a similar set up and this will be my first year with it so I am curious as well. My thoughts are that it shouldn't be more then a gallon of oil per day. Essientlally your owb is just acting like a buffer tank.
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CRJR

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Re: Using indoor furnace to backfeed
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2015, 07:44:30 AM »
What about just putting a flood light bulb inside of the owb and sealing off the exhaust with some insulation, leave the pumps running on a low speed
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RSI

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Re: Using indoor furnace to backfeed
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2015, 08:04:11 AM »
Quote from: fireboss on October 31, 2015, 06:39:02 PM
In my case it would be a disaster , iam not sure but my oil burner holds maybe 20 gallons of water
, so that would run constenly trying to heat the 350 gallons and keep my housewarming!
The capacity doesn't matter that much. It is the BTU output. If it already has a hard time heating the house then it could be a problem. Otherwise should work ok.
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hondaracer2oo4

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Re: Using indoor furnace to backfeed
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2015, 12:34:12 PM »
The standby losses for your owb shouldn't be bad unless you have water in your lines or your boiler is uninsulated.
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tinfoilhat2020

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Re: Using indoor furnace to backfeed
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2015, 05:22:40 AM »
when im gone my indoor boiler runs as is......the propane will automatically kick on when the OWB water temp drops below 160. I just keep my pumps running and it transfers enough heat to keep my lines from freezing...been doing this way for years...seems to work great
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hondaracer2oo4

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Re: Using indoor furnace to backfeed
« Reply #9 on: November 02, 2015, 06:01:36 AM »
How is your flat plate plumbed into your system? I would think you would be keeping the owb pretty warm?
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Bud Man

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Re: Using indoor furnace to backfeed
« Reply #10 on: November 09, 2015, 05:36:55 PM »
Last year we left home for 9 days in early Feb. I left the pumps running but shut off my fan. Can't say how much extra it cost me or remember how warm the water in my furnace was but it worked great. I had the LP keeping the house at 55.
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prormk800

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Re: Using indoor furnace to backfeed
« Reply #11 on: November 14, 2015, 04:32:25 PM »
I have been thinking about getting a mini boiler just to keep the system and outdoor boiler warm ( at or just above 140* ) when I am away.

Does anyone have a mini as a back up to keep the system from freezing? Or would this be a waste of time and money.... I would let my forced air furnace heat the house which will also back feed some heat to the OWB but sometimes when I'm gone it can get down to around -20f or colder.
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