In door wood boiler???? Possibility???
In my neck of the woods many people build on slabs with in floor hydronic heat. The problem with this type of set up(my house is like this as well) is that people want to put in a gas fireplace. However, when they run the gas fireplace, they are heating the air vs heating the concrete mass that the hydronic does. Sooo, the thermostat will read a warm enough temperature, and the boiler won’t have to run. Problem being, the slab will in turn cool down. Then when the overall temp in the house drops below desired level, the boiler has to run a long time to heat the slab back up.
So, is there anyway to use a small indoor woodstove or gas fireplace and tie it into the infloor hydronic heat, so as it’s running it will be heating the air and the floor??? Somewhat like and indoor wood boiler????
upnorthframer
“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance!!!”
Replies
this could be done and could get expensive and complicated.
it would be a lot simpler (and cheaper) to get an experienced tech for the existing system(s) and have him work out the problem with a different set of controls.
carpenter in transition
Try hearth.com's outdoor wood boiler forum. There are some that can be run indoors; cozyheat.net is one distributor.
lot simpler (and cheaper) to get an experienced ....
Disagree 100% with the 'cheaper' (as in less expensive vs. 'poor high priced job') aspect, unless you mean the final job will be a cheap shot vs. what unframer implies he wants, for which he will likely have to DIY and read a few thermodyanamics books to get what he wants.
Heated for 35 years with an 'indoor boiler'. Custom built DIY waterwall fireplace (6 ft to be able to throw in pallets) with circulating water (either hydronic or HE to forced air) . Time spent considered education, actual cost <10% what a pro would charge, IF a 'pro' would even consider the job. Outside deck and door 10 ft from hearth for FW fueling with special walkway for wear resistance.
Ya always get more and better DIY if ya have any skill and imagination vs. hire out.
EDit grin <G> I'm available for hire out for this project at $250 hr + mat'l plus travel expenses from Seattle. <G>
Edited 4/2/2008 7:41 pm ET by junkhound
There is a fireplace/boiler , but I can't remember who makes it.
I did see an oil fired one made by Efel on this site.
http://www.customvac.mb.ca/heating_fireplaces.htm
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.†—Albert Einstein
well, i tend to read into every poster's comments.
i think what the framer is saying is that homeowners want the convenience of hydronic in-slab heat powered by a low maintenance boiler. (read that oil or gas)
i also think he is saying the homeowners want gas fireplaces which they can turn on for looks and some additional heat.
what i don't think he is saying is that these homeowners want to heat their house entirely with the fireplace which if it is gas, it won't do. and if it is a wood burner, forget it, only the most serious folks want to pile in that kind of wood.
i think his friends need some other form of boiler control that isn't only affected by air temperature near a gas or wood burning fireplace.
that would give them the convenience of boiler heat with the occasional use of a fireplace providing additional heat and ambiance without shutting the boiler system down for 3-4 hours.
i think this control ( secondary stat, exterior sensors, i don't know, this isn't really my area ) would be far less expensive than trying to pipe in a fireplace as another hydronic heat source.
but hey, whaddu i know.
sorry mike.
carpenter in transition
I just realized I posted that to you instead of OP------- oops , sorry bout that.
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.†—Albert Einstein
UpNorthFramer,
Here in New England, people have been heating their homes with indoor wood-fired boilers (or combination wood/oil boilers) for more than 30 years. Here is a good brand:
H.S. Tarm
Tarm USA
Nichols Hardware
P.O. Box 285
Lyme, NH 03768
800-782-9927
Fax: 603-795-4740
http://www.woodboilers.com
[email protected]