Hi folks, looking for some feedback.
3400sq ft stone farmhouse with detached garage. Recent energy audit on home rates as average (minimal energy upgrades recommended)
200k BTU oil burner with 2 zones. 1 zone has additional loop underground to detached garage via 1 inch steel pipe - 80 foot run
Spare controller wires available from house to garage (glad I pulled extra wire)
Oil usage, about 1400 gal/year. Summer hookup for electric hot water heater. On cold days, (20F-30F), oil burner may cycle 2X/hour
Wife stay at home now with little ones, cannot turn heat off 8-3 like I used to :-( . Plan heat to run 6 AM to 10 PM <ugh>
I'd like to buy an old used Tarm for $1k from craigslist to experiment, but I don't want to smoke out the neighbors, New Gasification boiler in sites.
Wood supply practically free. I enjoy burning. We figure ROI in about 5 years w/o thermal storage.
1.) Will the 1 inch steel pipe be sufficient? (2 manufacturer feedbacks: pipe can only deliver 107k BTU-hour/1 inch is fine go for it/go bigger boiler to reduce cycling)
2.) Given Pennsylvania heating season approx October-April (4 months of COLD/3 shoulder), will additional $2k investment on pressurized thermal storage payback. I think this is a yes.
Thanks guys, great respect for the knowledge around here.
Frank
3400sq ft stone farmhouse with detached garage. Recent energy audit on home rates as average (minimal energy upgrades recommended)
200k BTU oil burner with 2 zones. 1 zone has additional loop underground to detached garage via 1 inch steel pipe - 80 foot run
Spare controller wires available from house to garage (glad I pulled extra wire)
Oil usage, about 1400 gal/year. Summer hookup for electric hot water heater. On cold days, (20F-30F), oil burner may cycle 2X/hour
Wife stay at home now with little ones, cannot turn heat off 8-3 like I used to :-( . Plan heat to run 6 AM to 10 PM <ugh>
I'd like to buy an old used Tarm for $1k from craigslist to experiment, but I don't want to smoke out the neighbors, New Gasification boiler in sites.
Wood supply practically free. I enjoy burning. We figure ROI in about 5 years w/o thermal storage.
1.) Will the 1 inch steel pipe be sufficient? (2 manufacturer feedbacks: pipe can only deliver 107k BTU-hour/1 inch is fine go for it/go bigger boiler to reduce cycling)
2.) Given Pennsylvania heating season approx October-April (4 months of COLD/3 shoulder), will additional $2k investment on pressurized thermal storage payback. I think this is a yes.
Thanks guys, great respect for the knowledge around here.
Frank