I’m with you on most of those points except the loading unit? We have a detached garage that I figured could be used as a heat dump if needed.
An inexpensive genny would be the best plan for power outages IMO...doesn't take much power to run the boiler, or the circ pumps...and if you install heat storage, you'd only need enough power for the circ pumps...until the storage temp dropped anyways...but that could be a day or more, depending...
Loading unit is basically a “thermostat” in the piping, keeps return water temp at 145 or higher to prevent condensation. Mixing valve more or less. My garage is attached but also used as a heat dump, circulator kicks on when boiler reaches a set temperature. Again it’s radiant heat so it doesn’t take long to cycle it off. The heat dump that’s baseboard is for power outages but I could have just used the second floor heat to achieve the same thing.
Yup! I have a generator. I’m not relly a preppir or doomsday type but I don’t like to rely on others to stay alive. With the smoke dragon I can walk out the door and cut a tree down and throw it in. Might not be the most efficient but if in that situation efficiently won’t be a concern. My solution would be to keep the beast and if needed push the gasser out of the way and put it in service.
I need to look into this more. It makes more sense to me than trying to crank a big stove in the basement. When most of the piping is already there.
So many questions! Are you anywhere near Belgrade? Would you be willing to meet for coffee or beer so I could pick your brain? I’m not a stalker! Lol
Oh boy, the plot thickens. The only local person that I know with a gasser is having the people from a tarm dealer out on Wednesday. I’m going to call and see if they can stop by..
I’m an hour north, PM me and we can do something. I don’t know it all,just know what I have and what has worked. I do have a couple people that guided me that have some professional experience with solid fuel heating. Just for a background we had a wood stove in the basement at first then put in a central boiler (junk and wood hog) had enough and went to the indoor unit. So far it has been the best thing we’ve done.
I’m go Thanks. A gasser has been in the back of my mind for a while. I need to do some more home work, I’ll defiantly pm some time.
Listen to tree killer... I had a Tarm.. Multi fuel machine oil, wood and coal.. did none of above efficiently
Post up a thread...there are some knowledgeable boiler members here...and there is 10,001 ways to screw up a boiler system, so...
Are you saying avoid tarm all together or just the combo boilers. I had only mentioned them because they are who I have seen around and there is a fairly local dealer.
I would say just the combo boilers mine I think mine was around 2000. So they could be improved.. I did not purchase it was in a house that I purchased. But logically think about it, what size firebox would you need to keep xx Number of gallons water hot with wood? The firebox was around 4cf, How do you heat that same size fire box with oil or propane?? Then how do you explain it to the person that’s big on reading code that says you can’t use multiple fuels in one flu
I grew up in the house that we live in. Bought from my folks when they retired and downsized. When the house was built in the 80’s dad put in a terribly inefficient wood/coal/oil boiler. The only ting that I really remember is when it was cranking you could take an hour long steaming hot shower no prob if you wanted. It was removed and an oil boiler was put in its place.
How does your current stove do for the heat requirements in an uninsulated basement ? Do you have a problem with down drafts when starting the fire and reloading ?I went through three stove for my basement install before I found the right one that gave me great heat and resolved my downdraft problem on reloads.My basement is partially insulated and the only stove that gave me the heat I needed was the Hearthstone One.Before that stove I tried the Woodstock Classic,then the Woodstock Fireview,then the Hearthstone Mansfield,and then the One.Rebuilt the One cost me $1200.00 plus $200.00 for shipping from Vermont.Since your in New Hampshire shipping may be less.
The stove I am using now will heat you out of the house if you throw enough wood in it. No issues with downdraft ever.
So you have no problem with heating and no down draft problem so why are you getting rid of the stove ?
To cut down on wood consumption and a more even heat throughout the house. I won’t get rid of the beast if I change things. It will be put in the corner in case of emergency.