Might I recommend a full load on full throttle this evening
I think that’s the tradition, now...
I went “supplemental” four or five years ago, and it’s been great. My wood usage dropped to ten cords per year, and I just load on a pre-determined schedule, which amounts to three loads per day between the two stoves. The oil-fired boiler modulates the last few degrees of heat requirement atop that stove base charge.I'm transitioning to being a supplemental heater this year... I feel like I'm being demoted out of the cool kids' club here, but I am sure my back will thank me.
No batteries since my utility will give me 1:1 net use credits (so my extra power generated during the day earns me free power at night). I am just doing a standard homeowner grade grid-tied setup. I already had a generator for power outages, and the idea of not maintaining and regularly replacing $15,000 worth of batteries is sure nice.
Piece of stainless sheet metal folded over and jammed into the crack. Thermal expansion is allowed for by the sheet metal being much thinner than the gap, and "hinged" on the fold.
Would be great if bk could figure out a Woodstock style reusable cat gasket. I don’t have cloggage issues but I would be more inclined to acid wash.Piece of stainless sheet metal folded over and jammed into the crack. Thermal expansion is allowed for by the sheet metal being much thinner than the gap, and "hinged" on the fold.
I imagine a small amount of air gets through but you sure can't tell the difference from watching the plume outside.
I wanted this because I found that even using small gauge rubber tubing, I could not reach to vaccum the entire cat out without replacing a $10 gasket, and the steel cat is requiring a couple vaccum jobs per year.
It does not carry the BK Seal Of Approval.
That certainly doesn’t sound Bk approved..Piece of stainless sheet metal folded over and jammed into the crack. Thermal expansion is allowed for by the sheet metal being much thinner than the gap, and "hinged" on the fold.
I imagine a small amount of air gets through but you sure can't tell the difference from watching the plume outside.
I wanted this because I found that even using small gauge rubber tubing, I could not reach to vaccum the entire cat out without replacing a $10 gasket, and the steel cat is requiring a couple vaccum jobs per year.
It does not carry the BK Seal Of Approval.
I didn't think so for a couple years, but when I pulled it to give it a vinegar bath, I discovered that it was ~20% plugged on the back side in the unreachable (top) corners. So short answer no, long answer a little. The amount that it plugged did not cause noticeable plugged-cat behavior; I was surprised to see it.
I won't need anywhere near the same amount of wood heat. Wood has been 100% of my heat in this house unless we're out of town; this year I plan to run the BK on 24 hour loads and make up the difference with electric heat.
In more interesting news, I dragged home another 5000 - 6000 lb of oak and hickory today. I’ve honestly lost count of how many trailer loads I’ve moved this summer, it’s been 2-4 loads per week since mid-June. This one includes a 22” dia x 15 foot stick of the densest white oak I’ve ever cut, it must have weighed close to 3000 lb, my tractor had a heck of a time dragging it off the trailer.
