Can the Econoburn EBW 300 be plumbed into a heat exchanger? I presently have an unpressurized outdoor boiler that is plumbed into a heat exchanger. It sits 250 ft from my house. I would like to put the EBW 300 40 ft from my oil boiler and run underground pex 40ft to my oil boiler. I can place the EBW in a shed that has a chimney in it. The EBW is a pressurized system.
Econoburn indoor hookup
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If your underground pex has an O2 barrier (which is unlikely) you'd be best off to plumb it without the HX -plumb the EBW and oil boilers together, both in the same closed loop, under pressure. I'd start by checking the pex to see if it is.
On another note, the 300 is likely well oversize for your heat loads unless you intend to install a large amount of storage.
EBW does make a unit intended to go directly outside but I would prefer to put it in a shed as you're thinking. This reduces heat loss and gives a dry place for your wood and for you to load and clean it in.
Bear in mind that it will need seasoned wood to work well -green wood should never be burnt in anything anyway.
On another note, the 300 is likely well oversize for your heat loads unless you intend to install a large amount of storage.
EBW does make a unit intended to go directly outside but I would prefer to put it in a shed as you're thinking. This reduces heat loss and gives a dry place for your wood and for you to load and clean it in.
Bear in mind that it will need seasoned wood to work well -green wood should never be burnt in anything anyway.
Thanks for the reply. My pex doesn't have an o2 barrier. What underground pex would you recommend?
The feeds off the EBW 300 are 2.5 inch. Can I reduce to 1 1/4 pex and be ok. Thanks
maple1
Minister of Fire
That is a huge boiler. What will you be heating with it? Unless you have a huge heatload to match, you'd likely be better off with a smaller one.
Re. your original question - you could do either, plumb it thru a HX or hook directly up, since it is pressurized as is your oil boiler.
Re. your original question - you could do either, plumb it thru a HX or hook directly up, since it is pressurized as is your oil boiler.
maple1
Minister of Fire
OK - that's likely quite a heat load. But still, if you reduce the piping to 1-1/2", you would be in effect reducing the heat output of the boiler from its full potential. It would then likely spend a lot of its time idling which would then likely increase creosote buildup. Are the lines from the current OWB that size too? It heats your house OK?
I certainly think though that you're on the right track moving to an EB closer to the house, from the current situation. With a house that size, you must be burning a pile of wood with the OWB? Have you considered also adding storage to the boiler swap? And if you can make the shed big enough to hold your winters wood that would also help a lot. Even though it's 'only' 40', don't skimp on the underground stuff. Thermopex or something similar that uses closed cell foam insulation - or check out the underground pipe sticky for info on foaming pex in place.
I certainly think though that you're on the right track moving to an EB closer to the house, from the current situation. With a house that size, you must be burning a pile of wood with the OWB? Have you considered also adding storage to the boiler swap? And if you can make the shed big enough to hold your winters wood that would also help a lot. Even though it's 'only' 40', don't skimp on the underground stuff. Thermopex or something similar that uses closed cell foam insulation - or check out the underground pipe sticky for info on foaming pex in place.
I used this for my outdoor econoburn
http://www.uponorpro.com/Extranet/L...spx?id={2335FDAF-8FCD-4773-9D67-CDBA0331B4EF}
The underground pex i'm using on my conventional CB are 1 1/4".It heats my house fine but eats a lot of wood. (25 cord) plus I'm heating a big work garage.I haven't considered storage but might add it down the road. The present heat exchanger has 1 1/4" bungs. Do you think I can run 11/4 pex from an Econoburn EBW300 thru my heat exchanger and back to the wood boiler?
maple1
Minister of Fire
Yes.
But then you will have two pressurized systems. So the EB will need it's own expansion tank. Along with a fresh feed/makeup supply and accompanying pressure regulator & backflow preventer.
But then you will have two pressurized systems. So the EB will need it's own expansion tank. Along with a fresh feed/makeup supply and accompanying pressure regulator & backflow preventer.
Maple 1 - would you mind sketching out a rough diagram of how you seeing this plumbed up? Thanks
maple1
Minister of Fire
Just use diagram on pg 11 in manual, and hook supply & returns to the HX. Likely the same as your current OWB is? But that diagram assumes it's hooked into the same pressurized system as the IWB and not using a HX. So you'd want to add an expansion tank, and fresh feed setup same as your IWB has. You could likely T that stuff into the return line inside the house.
DISCLAIMER: No EB experience, haven't even seen one in person, and no pro. The dealer should be able to set you up?
DISCLAIMER: No EB experience, haven't even seen one in person, and no pro. The dealer should be able to set you up?
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