Hello Wood heat Well I was getting tired of paying a Grand twice a year for propane and was looking into outdoor wood furnaces. I had a guy come out and price me a Central Boiler system and Daaaaammm $$$ It was a little out of my league So I kinda brushed the idea off until a buddy of mine called me and made me an offer on his that I couldnt refuse. He was selling his house and felt the appraisel didnt include his wood system, so he gave me a call since he knew I had been looking at them. I got his Heardy H2 stove, all piping, biggest heat exchanger Heardy has, all his wood, a carport to cover it up, and keep me dry on rainy days, and a brand new wood splitter all in one package. I have installed lighting under the carport and an outlet. I went cheap and even hand dug the trench all 42 ft 30" deep of it <<must be an animal to do this feat Eventually I will add another pump, lines, and heat exchanger going to the furnace in my 30X48 pole building just to knock the chill off when im working out there. This also heats my domestic water. The ground was of course not even close to level hence the 4x4 poles in concrete to level the building and anchor it down. It came with about half the wood you see here, the rest I have been cutting. I had to do some Tin work and reroute my vent pipes to get the heat exchanger to fit. He was heating 4,500 square ft with it. Im heating 2,500 sq not including my basement. I will heat it now! I also had to solder in some tee's and valves into my water heater piping.
Dang Blood, you are one handy guy! I am very impressed. I have been using propane for the past 7-8 years and it gets expensive as all heck when you have to pay that $700-$800 fill up charge, 2-3 times a year.
Awesome! I'm definitely jealous. My wood stove will have to do for now, but eventually, in my next house, I would love to have an outdoor furnace.
don't know anything about those, can ya fill me in on how they work?? when I build down south I'd like to consider one of these...
looks nice Dan, it's nice you got a good deal from your buddy and the timing was good; nice handywork!
Thanks guys! Jimbo, I did all but 5' of the trench Dalton found out he dont like digging He does do all the wood splitting though, and Tanner my 11 year old helped me lay in the lines and bore through the wall to the basement. seven mag::::Its basically like the heater core in a vechicle. Hot water circulates throug a heat exchanger and your furnace fan blows through it when calling for heat. The furnace is a double wall stainless tank with an insulated cover. Fire heats the water in the inner box to a controled temp, and a pump circulates the water through the lines. Its a 12 hr burn so I load it in once in the morning and once in the evening. When its idling it just smolders but when you call for heat it kicks the pump on and a fan comes on to stoke the fire for a hotter burn (very efficient) As for heating my water,,, Your incomming water to the water heater will have a shut off valve, then a Tee with valves above and below that valve. The middle valve is shut so the top valve goes out to the furnace and then back to the water heater. When using the domestic hot water, the level drops in the tank outside causing a float to operate a solenoid, opening a water valve until the level float sees full then cuts the water level off again. So the tank is always good on the water level. You never have to add, it does it itself.
Great set up blood. I love the idea of having the entire works covered by a carport. That will be so nice to have when the snow is flying. Very talented.
Good deal Dan. I looked at Central Boiler last fall for the same reason. I know it the long run it'll probably "pay for itself" but it's hard to pull the trigger. Now I know someone with the skills to install it I'll have to rethink the purchase Heck I'll even dig the ditch myself.
Just got back from picking out accs for the new house this spring. I will upgrading from my 1557 US wood stove to an outdoor wood stove myself. Cool digs Crick. I can't imagine paying for heat ever again.(at least monetarily) Nothing like some sweat equity. You are more of a man than I on the hand dug trench though. I am always looking for an excuse to rent the mini excavator at 265/8 hours on the machine. That's fun stuff right there.
Well guys, you are giving me some reassurance about the purchase seeing that some are already using one or getting ready to! flstnhd::::Keep dreaming bud, im retired as of now from the heating buisness
So when you've got eight inches of ice and snow on the ground... how often do you have to go outside and brave the elements to feed that sucker? :D
Just once in the morning and once in the evening Im going to con my son into some of the work,,,will bribe with allowance money if needed :D
I'll stick with my propane. My house is one of those "GREEN" thingys. It's so well insulated that it cost nothing to heat when compared to my cost in Maryland. You get it warm or cool and it stays that way. We have severe winters here. I heat all my water, cook top and heat the house for about $1500 a year. Besides that, it's clean and easier on the equipment.
wood is the cheapest. I have people who feel sorry for me. Or maybe they are just good friends, but anyway they cut and bust for me.
