When did everyone tie-in? How about a test run?

[SIERRADMAX]

Wife won't let me shut down the oil boiler just yet. Nights here still dip into the 30's and I hear the oil boiler kick on around 4 am. Out of curiosity, when did you tie-in your wood boiler? If done so in warm temps, did you perform a test run to ensure everything worked properly? I'd hate to do a tie-in during summer months and wait until the fall only to find out something has to be altered.

 

[Tennman]

Replies this time of year are slowing down so I'll give my 2 cents. I'd say essentially everyone's system requires debugging; leaks, electrical, control issues, settings, etc. Doubt you'll be any different from most of us, so the sooner you start debugging the sooner you'll have a system. Just pressurizing my system the first time gave me 3-4 hours of leak fixin' work. Yep, if I was installing my boiler in July I'd fire her up asap. Enjoy.

 

[Coal Reaper]

i had first fire to test charge storage tanks a week ago. i was hoping to finish hooking up the plumbing to the house this weekend but it looks like it will wait until next weekend now. lady of the house dictates that filling in the trench across the backyard from barn to house takes priority...

 

[mikefrommaine]

When I added the wood boiler the first thing I did was cut into the existing system and added a couple T's and valves. Only took an hour or two and I had the oil boiler back running. Then I did all the rest of the piping to my wood boiler. Once that was ready it was only a matter of opening the two valves and getting the last bit of air out.

 

[kopeck]

My first fire was early winter, December maybe?

I had been full of water for a bit though.


EDIT: I did exactly what mikeformmaine did. The Tees were in during the summer, then I just worked back towards the wood boiler.

K

 

[Coal Reaper]

When I added the wood boiler the first thing I did was cut into the existing system and added a couple T's and valves. Only took an hour or two and I had the oil boiler back running. Then I did all the rest of the piping to my wood boiler. Once that was ready it was only a matter of opening the two valves and getting the last bit of air out.

thats exactly where i am at. got everything including the circ pump in place this weekend. i just have one more pex line to run across the barn to storage and some electrical connections to make.

 

[BoilerMan]

I've installed a few boiler systems in the summer. I like to get everything piped up (sweat and threaded). And pressureize the system with 25psi air and let it be for as long as practal a month is great! Any leaks will show up in gauge drops and can be found with your handy Windex spray bottle filled with soap and water. Personally, I like to do a job, air it up, and come back in a week or two and see what the gauge says. Repair accordingly, and air it up again for another good length of time until I'm back in the area. Much less strssfull than freezing pipes and electric heaters.

TS

 

[SIERRADMAX]

I wish I could easily shut down my OB and install a set of T's & valves but unfortunately, my OCD kicked in and I hated the current plumbing setup. I'm re-doing everything with the exception of a new OB. New piping from OB to a new supply/return boiler manifold loop.

 

[heaterman]

True story.........

Back in the early days of steam heat, the standard test was to raise the temperature of the house 70* above whatever the ambient outdoor was at the time. So if it was summer when the "dead man" fired up your new boiler, guess what temp the house had to reach. You can do the math......

 

[BoilerMan]

True story.........

Back in the early days of steam heat, the standard test was to raise the temperature of the house 70* above whatever the ambient outdoor was at the time. So if it was summer when the "dead man" fired up your new boiler, guess what temp the house had to reach. You can do the math......

I guess they figured then the house was good for at least 0. I love to hear how the dead men did it, and how their expierence built the foundation to modern hydronics!

TS

 

[OldStoneHouse]

I'm going to do a test fire in a few weeks (assuming I've got everything finished), and I'm hoping to be burning for domestic hot water over the summer too!

 

[mikefrommaine]

I'm going to do a test fire in a few weeks (assuming I've got everything finished), and I'm hoping to be burning for domestic hot water over the summer too!

Pics or it didn't happen.