Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 19, 1999 09:37am | #1

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   Not to be too nosey; but why do you want to heat all that with Wood? I've used wood as my primary heat source and what you plan seems to be a LOT of work.

   Also, why external? If you put the boiler internal to a building you also benefit from the radiated BTUs in addition to the circulated heat. Plus, you will lose some heat when you move the fluid through the exterior piping: How much depends on how much money you want to put into insulation.

   Really not trying to be too critical. But I've seen installations like what I think you describe and they have never been satisfactory. Maybe there is a misunderstanding that will be corrected with more explanation.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 19, 1999 12:28pm | #2

   *Fritz,Several months ago another person started a thread on this topic. I tried to find it in the archives but it must be too old. In short, there were a number of posts and none of them were ver enthusiastic (except mine). Comments ranged from "cutting all that wood" to technical concerns for venting "waste" heat.Although I do not have first hand experience with these systems they are very popular in the hills of Northern Arkansas. Most use water to air heat exchangers in the duct work but I understand radiant heating is not a novelty.I am familiar with two manufactures. The first is the Hardy. They are manufactured in Mississippi. They have a web site [http://www.aesms.com/hardy/hardy.htm]. The second is the Taylor. I could not find a web site for them but I know that Richards Heating @ Cooling in Hardy, Arkansas (870) 856-3853 / 1-800-399-1556 is a Taylor dealer. They may be able to help you find a dealer close to home.I also found a site with plans for the do-it-yourselfer [httm://www.deb-design/com/prod01/htm]. I have no other information about the people or products at this site.Stay warm,Steve Hansen

2. 
   Neil | Apr 20, 1999 07:18am | #3

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   Fritz,

   I use an outdoor wood boiler to fire my radiant floor system & domestic hot water,and love it. It is safe, as all firing is away from the house. Some insurance companies will give a better rate.

   I also install the units and make repairs. All of the users I call on like the heating method (if it sized and installed properly.

   Aqua II, made in Winston-Salem,NC is a high quality stove. 1-800-762-4328. The Aqua II has a good heavy duty ash pan which lets you dump ashes while you have a fire going in the fire box. This can not be done with the Taylor as they have no ash box, a disadvantage! I have a 700 gallon size which has enough storage capacity get me through the nights without having to reload. You can not do this with a Taylor and the Hardy does not have a very large water capacity either.

   Get your-self a copy of "Modern Hydronic Heating" By John Siegenthaler, P.E. (JLC bookstore carries them). He address outdoor stoves, however, he is not enthallred with them.

   There is also another mfg. in Mount Ary, NC. Hicks Waterstoves 910-789-4877. These are are of high quality and come with a large enough capacity.

   The outdoor stoves use lots of wood and getting fire wood cut and delivered is becoming harder to do in WV. We use 12-14 pickup loads of wood per season (about $500. worth) to heat.

   You would want to insulate your pipes well and place the insulated pipes inside a 4" flexable drain pipe. Their is very little heat loss this way.

3. 
   fritz_bork | Apr 20, 1999 07:18am | #4

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   help!!!!! I am looking for any information on these boilers (manufacture or people to contact). I am planning to build a 32 x 56 shop and a 2500 sq foot home and would like to use this system to heat both structures. Shop will have radiant heat in the slab and the house gyp-crete.Any information on systems or different ideas would be appreacited