Wood Furnace Install Part 2

When you take on a project like this expect some Curves!



This is the first section of the old chimney below the roof line and you can see that rain water had penetrated the mortar down into the building.



Granny's house was built in the late 40s in the remote coastal community of Alert Bay. The only way to get supplies there was on a once weekly steamer.
The brick chimney was over 60 years old and the sand used in the mortar was beach sand and over time, the salt in the sand had broken down the mortar. The chimney was just a stack of bricks held together by their own weight. Taking the chimney apart was just a matter of lifting the bricks off.


The new chimney installed and water tight. Woodwidow assisted through out the project with good advice.



Finished and now waiting for the Wett Inspector.
The inspection is a important Step. As an amateur installer, I really like someone who knows to check the install over as mistakes here can cause house fires!


Wett inspection passed! The First FIRE!


Granny putting wood in the old furnace. Will have to get a picture of her putting wood into the new one.

 

Granny is a spry 88 years and don't you call her xxx!



She decided to go "uptown" and got a splitter for making kindling!

http://www.woodheating.ca/Ardent/brochure.pdf
This is the info on her new furnace. It burns a lot less than the old one plus it is thermostat controlled.
Don't think I will be sampling the smoke though!

 

I think I supply the grunt labour - not the good advice!

 

Top picture Woodwidow in Feb. bottom picture Woodwidow now! Over 50 lbs lighter and it is a miracle!!

 

nice to see some activity in here!

 

Looks good, is her first full season with it?

 

She will complete the first full season in March 2014. The climate here is mild so 5 to 6 - 5"x16" splits takes her through the night hours with coals for another small load in the morning good for the day! I have been impressed with its ease of operation.

 

Nice install. I am sure Granny is happy with the new burner.

The bench height splitter is a good idea.

 

Looks Great! Nice job

 

Unbelievable. But I see it and believe it. Awesome that she is staying active, heating with wood at 88! Wow. Hope I am doing that at that age! Hope I am still here and healthy at that age! Thanks for sharing Alan. Like usual, always good stuff.

 

Granny's New Furnace, with Granny at the controls "88" years young and not counting!



The wood stored under cover outside f0r 2 years gets the mosture content down to 17%.
The room next to the furnace holds 4 1/2 cords in three separate stacks. The basement is warm and dry so by the time the wood is burned, it is usually dry enough that the moisture meter does not give a reading.



The view from Granny's front window!

 

I would say the wood is dry enough Alan. Good pics.

 

Looking at the time of your post ! I'm not the only early riser !

 

LOL I am usually up by 5:15 or so. Just depends on the day.

Best time of the day is morning.

 

If I had that view of those whities, I'd be let go for sailing everyday instead of going to work.

 

Johnstone Strait Winds can be very deceiving. The wind is in the 35/40 knot range but the waves are small as there is a 4 Knot current with the wind. But it is also a very steady wind which makes for great sailing.
Our Ranger 29 was equipped with offshore sails for these type of conditions, but now those days of sailing are just some very pleasant memories as we sold her in May 2012!

 

Big wind and little waves? Sign me up because I like to plane

 

The new furnace is quite stingy on wood! The old furnace went through 10 cords per year just burning afternoons and evening; the new unit is looking at about 5 cords per heating season burning 24 hours per day!