Am I asking for trouble?

[muncybob]

With the mild weather upon us after the unusual warm spell that we had last month, we of course are wishing we had storage...but we don't. So lately we get a fire going in the morning and by 9am or so the sun is maintaining a decent temp in the house so the boiler gets shut down. In early evening it's fired back up again for dhw and some heat needed until bed time. If overnight lows are above 40 we can shut her down again and still have 66-68 degrees at 6am and the routine starts again. In previous years we used the cycle timer to keep some hot coals but I thought about this routine to save a little in wood usage, but am I possibly going to have problems with the continual heat up/cool down? Water temp usually does not get below 120 in the "off" period and will get to 180+ when we fire it up again.

 

[willworkforwood]

Unless there is something specific (i.e. unusual) about the Wood Gun, you should have no problems cycling the unit on and off. After getting the hang of this during the learning curve, we now run this way regularly during both shoulder seasons. Exactly as you described - I light a small fire late in the evening, and then again at dawn before I leave for work in the morning. Later in the morning (depending on temps), my wife may throw in another couple of splits, and then shut everything down for the day. And, having a large solar gain, we actually shut the boiler down on sunny days (daytime only) throughout the Winter. This has now become like clockwork, and I can get the fire back up and running in 2-3 minutes. One key to making this work well is to have LOTS of good firestarter on hand. I have a container of wood chips and shards, and also keep on hand lots of very small splits. This small, dry stuff gets a fire going almost instantly. My boiler doesn't have the ability to snuff out the fire like yours does, so this technique is really the only way (sans storage) we can burn efficiently throughout the shoulder seasons. Having a Wood Gun, I'm not sure how much this will help you, and how much wood you will save with this technique. It's a hugely helpful thing for us, but YMMV.

 

[muncybob]

I was concerned about the recurring swings in boiler temperature. Normally the temp does not get below 120 but there have been a few times that we hit 100 or less. Of course, during the heating season the temp rarely goes below 160 or so.

Our re-start is also very easy as long as there is some charred wood in the box...hit it with the propane torch, throw a few splits in and walk away.

 

[woodsmaster]

Mine goes down to at least 140 somtimes 120 between fires every time. I've been burning for two years with no problems. hopfully it will last another 28 or so.

 

[infinitymike]

Thanks for asking that question. I am doing the same thing as well. Actually about to go out and light it right know. I was wondering if it has any effect on the refractory. I guess time will tell. Hopefully tell us a good thing

 

[Fred61]

I start out with a cold boiler every day. I typically light up at 4:00 in the afternoon and heat up storage to around 180 and shut it down. The length of burn is about 4 to five hours, depending if the room thermostats are calling for heat at the time. When I start my fire the next afternoon, the boiler temp is about 70 to 80 degrees. Only my fourth year so I don't know if it's affecting the life or not.

 

[infinitymike]

House is at 65* brrrr....outside temp at 42*. just went to light it up. AAAHHHH NO COALS. There wasnt even any ash left. My son(17), trying to help and stay warm, lit a fire yesterday morning.
He used only the 2x4 studs I split for kindling. Talk about really starting from a cold boiler.

Thanks Fred, 4 years and issues is good for me. Really what could be effecting, but just the refractory. I'm not sure but how much expansion and contraction could there be? There does seem to be an old wifes tale about not letting an oil burner go cold because it will start to leak. Well at least thats what my oil burner repair guy told me about my old and half dead oil burner and he's not really an old wife

 

[infinitymike]

Started it up with the 2x4 stud splits and Reached gasification already, I love the clear heat shimmers coming out of the the top of the flue pipe. Almost up to 150* where my relay will kick in and not allow the OB to turn on loaded up with oak. ok I gotta go.

 

[muncybob]

Looks like no reason not to continue the shoulder season burn approach. Mrs asked me today why we don't just switch over to the evil fossil fuel instaed of lighting up twice a day. The look on my face was probably answer enough for her but then the electric bill arrived and I reminded her that the electric hot water heater does not run "for free".

 

[Fred61]

House is at 65* brrrr....outside temp at 42*. just went to light it up. AAAHHHH NO COALS. There wasnt even any ash left. My son(17), trying to help and stay warm, lit a fire yesterday morning.
He used only the 2x4 studs I split for kindling. Talk about really starting from a cold boiler.

Thanks Fred, 4 years and issues is good for me. Really what could be effecting, but just the refractory. I'm not sure but how much expansion and contraction could there be? There does seem to be an old wifes tale about not letting an oil burner go cold because it will start to leak. Well at least thats what my oil burner repair guy told me about my old and half dead oil burner and he's not really an old wife

I have a Peerless with a 40 gallon stainless Superstore that has been in for about 12 years. It's set up for "cold start" and has cooled down several times over those years, especially in the last four years since I installed the EKO. It now only runs in the summer to produce DHW. Still runs! No leaks