Greenwood 100 questions

[johnnyb]

Looking at purchasing a indoor Greenwood boiler in Fairbanks, Alaska where temperature do reach minus fifty. I have done research and looked at these boilers first hand. I was wondering if anyone has installed one inside a garage (not shed or detached unit). I am concerned with the smoke issues I read on the forum. One of the things mentioned in the owner's manual was to install a draft inducer. Did you find this helpful? Was it worth it or have do you have any other ideas? Also, I have to raise this boiler 18 inches for fire marshal code. Any suggestions on how to hold the weight of this unit? (concrete blocks?) In our house currently we have a wood stove and slab heat. Thought about outside boilers and ran across the Greenwood's. What are people thoughts? I know all products can have their pros and cons, just looking up more information. Thanks.

 

[sixroses]

I have a GW 100. I live in Wasilla. Have used the unit for 2 1/2 years. It is in a garage. I installed an attic fan and duct work above the door, attached a timer and have eliminated the smoke issue. I would think concrete blocks or short poured walls would support just fine.
Steve

 

[johnnyb]

Thanks-Quick questions if you don't mind. Did you stay with a six inch flue? or go to 7 or 8? Did you go with a closed or open system? Does the damper and/or stack need to be 18 inches high off the floor. Did you purchase and use a battery backup system? Thanks again.

 

[DKerley]

Hello Johnnyb,

I'm in Whitehorse, Yukon running a GW200 in my attached garage. Smoke can be an issue if you open the door at the wrong time. I have a draft inducer and turn it on prior to opening the the door to the Greenwood. Additionally, I have started to open the garage door as well just in case. Th greenwood heats up the garage for free so I don't mind letting in a little fresh air when loading. Our building code requires the same 18" clearance in a garage install but our inspectors interpret it as 18" to the lowest air opening i.e. the air intake or door. To get the required 18''s, all I had to do was elevate it on some bricks. FYI, I really like my greenwood and think that it is an excellent unit when operated in a climate that allows a 24/7 operation. Make sure that you have it professionally installed and include a return water boiler protection set-up to prevent your heat exchanger tubes from cooling down too much so that you don't have a creosote problem.

 

[johnnyb]

Thank you for the helpful information!!

 

[sixroses]

Thanks-Quick questions if you don't mind. Did you stay with a six inch flue? or go to 7 or 8? Did you go with a closed or open system? Does the damper and/or stack need to be 18 inches high off the floor. Did you purchase and use a battery backup system? Thanks again.

I use a 6" flue, open system with 800 gallons of storage in progress. I made my own battery backup with inverter. Would probablly be money ahead if I would have hired a pro...But I sure have learned alot along the way.

Steve

 

[jpowell1979]

I have a Model 100 in Fairbanks, AK. I installed the draft fan and it was well worth it. It cuts down on the smoke when loading but the biggest advantage is when you are starting a cold fire. It was a pain to get it started from cold without the draft fan. I got mine delivered for $164 I think. I wired it into the control box in parallel with the dampener motor so that it has power whenever the dampener is open. I turn it off when the fire gets hot. I got an old computer UPS and plugged the circulation pumps into this for power outage protection.