garnification, the short story is that a 9’ turbulator in the last pass creates too much back pressure and cools the flue gas too much, the 4.5’ turbulator seems a much better balance, however i am adding 1’ increments to see if it will do better, i will post results tomorrow. loggie, either way you get a good boiler, and with a switzer you get service after the sale!
loggie,
my switzer will be installed in the basement with an additional 2000 gal of pressurized storage.
As soon as i can reformat the video Gary sent I will post on youtube.
just from what I’ve seen with my unit, I would also recommend not putting in the basement. If or when it boils over, it can create a cloud of steam like an old Roman bathhouse. One of the downfalls of non pressurization. So Gary’s setup would be well suited for basement install. Garages or dedicated out building is definitely the way to go with a Garn.
I’m pretty much gonna go with the Garn WHS 2000. Simple, non-pressurized and has ceramic. Now I’d better start felling some trees.
Thanks for all the input.
Chris
End of story, right? -Nope. I left a 2nd message with Gary just to let him know that in consideration of his valuable time, I had pretty much made my mind up. He called anyway. -Gave me names of several locals that have his boilers, talked a bit about the features he incorporates, and is mailing me info. I really like the feedback loop he utilizes to make the boiler “self-modulating (my term)” in regards to the optimal airflow involved with the burn. It seemingly adapts to the individual fire/firewood just utilizing temp readings at various stages. -I don’t know his educational background (engineering, etc.), but he seems to have been given a large amount of common sense. So, now I’m going to check out a local install or two and see how the pendulum swings. I also like buying local when possible, so he now has my interest.
Also, it’s not going in my basement. I will be putting up a custom “woodshed” depending on what model we end up with. I have a superior walls foundation with only a narrow stairway to enter it from outside. He’d have to fabricate a boiler on site........
I received the info on the switzer yesterday and like stihlgoin said it has the ability to modulate according to wood quality and moisture content and save the coals for the next fire seemingly automatically being able to burn any type of wood and still generate the same burn temps.This is the downfall I think of the downdraft boilers as if your wood loads are not the same every fire will produce a different outcome.Gasifierwannabe did you calculate your btu load yourself and with 3kgal of storage what is your goal for burn intervals?I was thinking of garys 1050 model and will get him to give me a price on an additional 1k or so storage tank with expansion.this way if I could take the other tank out of the loop I could cut down the charge time maybe on a night I get home from work late and won’t have to wait 6hrs to bring the whole thing up to temp,what do you guys think about this idea?I am shooting fo 24hr burn intervals in winter.Garnification I looked at pictures of the boiler you built and it’s really impressive,If I had the ability to construct a unit like that I think I would enter the market myself.Thanks to you and Tcaldwell for your input in my decision process. I will be planning to go see the switzer maybe the weekend after easter.Another thing to consider is why build a separate building to house a boiler thus heating another space and all the heatloss and the underground lines and expence (if you don’t have an outbuilding your already heating)thus keeping the heat inth space I want to heat if only for not bringing wood dirt in the house?
loggie, the beauty of these boilers is that there is no need to isolate your storage, your charging ability , firing rate is at least 2 times your worst heat loss per hour. even with 2000 gal at 150deg you still have plenty of time to fire/recharge your storage and supply your heat loads, at the same time. I dont know what test garnification performed to get his garn to boil over, they have a overflow tube that dumps out of the front of the boiler that will condense steam and drain the water/condensate onto the floor, i have a drain underneath the overflow piped outside if it was to happen. you would have to fire the boiler already at 185deg or better with a stout load of wood to “stimulate” this.
I was stress testing it. I don’t have a good lid on the man-way access just 4” of styrofoam. I to have an over flow with 1” radiator hose that dumps into a pail. If I fire mine at 155* or above it will boil over. I usually don’t fire until @140* I know, I could fire with less wood, but I think it burns better with a firebox full not half full.
Tom, do you mean the secondary air inlet (top inlet) or the air collar?
Gasifierwannabe did you calculate your btu load yourself and with 3kgal of storage what is your goal for burn intervals?Another thing to consider is why build a separate building to house a boiler thus heating another space and all the heatloss and the underground lines and expence (if you don’t have an outbuilding your already heating)thus keeping the heat inth space I want to heat if only for not bringing wood dirt in the house?
Loggie,
I downloaded the SLANTFIN heat loss calculator program from their website http://www.slantfin.com
Although i must admit i only did a couple of rooms and finished my calcs on the back of a napkin.
My goal is to burn once a day at coldest time of year and much less in mild season.
I will be burning year round for DHW and outdoor hot tub.
I will be installing my system in the basement instead of the barn but will heat both buildings w/ the Switzer.
I like the idea of feeding the beast during a blizzard in my slippers
It also increases the chances of the wife learning what to do if I’m out of town.
I spoke with Gary today and he mentioned that the phone has been ringing off the hook since this thread has developed.
His wife is worried she will be seeing him less because of the increased business. Lets hope he earns enough $$ from the
increased sales to take her on a nice long cruise. She also asked that I not post the video on youtube for the same reason.
I can relate being self employed and too busy myself without any advertising so I will respect her wishes. If anyone here
is serious about his boiler Gary will mail you a copy of his video.
Garnification,
Gary’s plan is to build my boiler as a three pass. 9"x 5’ single tube with ceramic liner off fire box to 9/2"x8’ tubes back to front, then 9/2” tubes out the rear to flue pipe and two speed draft inducer bolted to existing masonry chimney. I might test the unit with and without firebrick in the firebox after burning a few months as is but who knows maybe its not needed.
Maybe we could have the thread removed by a moderator for Gary’s sake (and his wife’s). As the thread author, I don’t mind a bit since I’m leaning toward having him make my boiler. I don’t want him too busy...... We can resume discussions under a thread nam that doesn’t overtly use the Switzer name or something....
I’m not sure what you’re asking, but you can easily change the name of the thread yourself with the EDIT function on the first post.
If Gary (or his wife) are bothered by the increased workload and interest in their product, I’m sure they will let us know directly. I’ll be happy to remove his phone number (or you can) from any post if he asks me to.
I had a short chat with Gary earlier this week - He expressed that he hoped his video wouldn’t be posted, he said his phone call volume had increased since this thread began, but he is also quite a willing to explain and share more than I asked.
I’m not sure what you’re asking, but you can easily change the name of the thread yourself with the EDIT function on the first post.
If Gary (or his wife) are bothered by the increased workload and interest in their product, I’m sure they will let us know directly. I’ll be happy to remove his phone number (or you can) from any post if he asks me to.
-Didn’t think about a title change. -I don’t start threads on the guitar board I subscribe to. -Thanks for the help.
I’d just hate to have Gary so overwhelmed that he couldn’t take care of his local farmers/Mennonites, and hopefully, myself in the future.
We can resume discussions under a thread nam that doesn’t overtly use the Switzer name or something....
