Boiler and storage placement

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chewy

Member
Nov 7, 2009
188
Indiana
Hello all,

I'm trying to figure out what the best coarse of action is for the location of my boiler and storage.
Boiler-95% sure it's an effecta 35
Storage-I'm getting 2 1000 gal anhydrous tanks. Not sure if I'll use them both, but wanted to get both while they were availabe. $330 ea. I couldn't pass up!

Option 1- I have a closed in porch that has a storage area underneath with 6' ceiling and 9'x18' area. I'll have to lower the floor so I can get 2 stacked tanks in there. Also, I'll probably add another9'x10'. For more space.

Option 2- putting the boiler in the basement, which is a walk out and keeping the storage under the porch (I can't get the storage in the basement).

Option 3- adding on to my pole building or house.

The reason I like number one is the ease of getting wood in and out. I can add double doors. And the the boiler is right next to the storage.

If I decide to go with number 2, is there any reason why I can't put storage side by side?

Any thought are greatly appreciated.

Ty
Erin
 
Here are my thoughts . Since boiler placement and storage placement are a one shot deal put them where they are the most logical and the most efficient to operate . One must remember that there is always a certain amount of heat that comes directly off of your boiler that can be a good thing in the winter as an extra bonus heat and can be a inconvience when used for domestic in the summer months . Of the most important is the convience of feeding your boiler that will never end . Carring wood some distance can get real old real fast , along with how many times you have to handle your wood .
My set up is as follows because of limitations I had to split my system . My boiler is in the back end of my garage in a walled off room along with my gas boiler , I also have enough room in there to store a full cord of wood , ( I burn 8 a year ) . I didnt put the boiler in my basement because of the convience of being able to back a trailer right up to the boiler room in the dead of winter and unload a few feet to pile it in the room ( no stairs and hardly any distance ) . I have 1500 gals of unpressurized storage in my basement about 20 feet away and another 370 of pressurized in a dead corner walled off in my garage about 8 feet from my boiler . My operation in the winter I actually have air circulation that pulls the warm air out of my boiler room and blows it in my basement and dureing the summer for heating my domestic hot water I exhaust any unwanted boiler heat by way of a window in the boiler room and of course watching the weather .
I am sure everyone has all kinds of ideas on how to do there set up and your setup , of course costs are of utmost importance too .
 
You're retiring the V-gun? that's a shame. but the effecta will do the job. I would think twice about 2000 gal of storage with the 35, unless situation really demands it. all the above considerations will be good ones for locating the boiler/storage/wood loading.

keep in mind that the laddomat loading circulator with the effectas is designed for gravity flow upon power outage and at the end of the burn. a tank located with the top below the top of the boiler will not do that, and you'd want a dump zone or backup power on the laddomat/boiler (cheaper and more useful than the dump zone)

the same goes for any other boiler/storage combination.

karl

PS, I like option 2, if you can easily load wood into the basement, assuming that would put the storage above the boiler top. for above reasons.
 
Thanks for the replys guys. I have been thinking about this for 2 years now, and can't make my mind up! I'm afraid to make a mistake and have to live with it.

Webie, I like the idea that you can pretty much pull right up to your boiler to unload wood. After all, I have been ruined by this owb (v-gun) bc of just unloading a backhoe bucket full right next to the door!
 
Karl, yes I'm sad to see the "free heat machine, hybrid fire" (v-gun) go!

I'm working with Brian right now on heat loss calc, ect. I basically bought 2 tanks cause they were available, and bc I read on here that you can never have enough. I hues I can always add to it if need be.

I like the idea of the boiler in the basement, but not sure if I want to fight a 36" door or not.

Ty again guys

Erin
 
FWIW, for me i like my set up. My boiler is next door(unattached garage). Piped underground to my storage. Yes, I loose the residual heat with the boiler not in the house. Which is a factor to consider, there is a decent amount of heat coming off the boiler, or actually off of the flue and piping. But I have a very easy way to get my wood to boiler. For me, it works well. In the most of the winter( I live in Maine) I start 1 fire a day. The sub zero days, maybe 2? Not very often. But it didn't take me long to figure out my firing times vs my leaving or coming home times. With storage, you can tailor these times.


I've been where you are now....good group here to sound off of...
 
You're only heating 650 sq/ft?
No, a total of 4200 sqft. My signature is all a joke except the biggest joke of them all is a reality.

The "free heat machine" hybridfire!

Erin
 
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