encouragement needed

[pybyr]

OK, here I am with my Econoburn 150 successfully in the basement, and in its final location, and my 1200 gallon 409 stainless tank about 2/3 built (I am deliberately leaving one side and the top off until I finalize my stratification baffle and 75 ft corrugated stainless DHW loop) (and at this point, given how fast winter is upon us, I think I am going to rig my system without storage first, and then get back to the storage once I am heating with wood again after pulling out my old wood/hot air furnace)

I have built my primary loop with twin tees, Wilo circ, and Caleffi microbubble remover and DirtCal. got my 5x12 x 70 plate Flat Plate and a Tekmar 4 way valve to keep counterflow going

the very big water to air HX is on top of the bonnet of the old oil furnace, and ducts are mostly hooked up to it

and I have received TONS of good input from all of you to help me get this far

so- nothing is going badly; indeed, I may be in the relative home stretch...

but- day job has been requiring me to pull extra hours (at least I still have the day job!) and so available time is shorter than expected and tasks on the wood boiler project inevitably take longer than I'd hoped

i.e. everything is going way more slowly than I'd have imagined when I launched into this in June...

and, I am at that "point in every big project" where the intellectual side of my brain knows, without doubt, that this is all worth it, but the emotions and soul all are feeling pretty heavily worn.

So, can y'all, who have systems up and running, please "testify," as the evangelists would say, as to the wonders of gasification and storage that I can look forward to

 

[DenaliChuck]

Can't speak for the wonders of gasification yet as I'm in the same boat as you.

As I (and my loving wife) know, these projects can be just a wee bit larger than we think when we begin (and they cost more). But my experience is that we all launch off on a project like this because the end result will be WAY better than were we we began. Keep a stiff upper lip, you're almost there!

Do what you have to do to keep the house warm (with wood preferably!) and take a day off and do something fun if it will recharge your batteries. You'll get to your storage setup soon enough.

DC

 

[mysticfalcon]

Well I cant attest to the benefits of Gasification since Ive only got a Biasi wood boiler but I can tell you that I sure would like storage to go with it. Being less of a slave to the fire sure would be nice. But on the up side my house hasn't been below 78 as per the Mrs. request and I've still got 3/4 of the oil tank I got filled back in June.

 

[Steamer]

How do you like the biasi boiler?
I was thinking of putting one in but the cost was getting close to a gasifier with installation.
Does it burn clean?
Thanks

 

[mysticfalcon]

It's a great boiler. It really heats up a lot faster than the old New Yorker I had but it doesn't get quite the burn times. Thats why Id really like storage. Install costs the same weather its a gasifier or a normal boiler so its just the price difference between boilers that really changes. The biasi burns about as clean as any conventional wood boiler Ive seen. Especially when its really cranking. I'm amazed at the amount of heat it can put out quickly. Thats why Id really like to get storage to go along with it. Last night Id spaced out on putting wood in the fire at any time after 5:30 and when I woke up this AM it was 68 in the house and in 35 min I went from no fire to the whole house back to 78 and all the hot water for my shower.

 

[MrEd]

It'll all be worth in when its 10-20 degrees outside, 70+ degrees in the house and its not costing you anything. Even with the drop in the price of oil, I still figure on 2.5 year payback on my investment, plus instead of keeping the house at 62 I can keep the house at 70-72. The children sleep in warm rooms and the wife is very happy.....yes, it is all worth it.

 

[jebatty]

What gets me through the big projects is focusing on the little steps along the way, one by one getting those done, and then celebrating (at least in personal satisfaction) as each of those gets done.

One plumbing let, a circ installed, flue pipe to ceiling, etc., and many more, all deserve their own credit and each give you "congratulations."

 

[EricV]

It'll all be worth in when its 10-20 degrees outside, 70+ degrees in the house and its not costing you anything. Even with the drop in the price of oil, I still figure on 2.5 year payback on my investment, plus instead of keeping the house at 62 I can keep the house at 70-72. The children sleep in warm rooms and the wife is very happy.....yes, it is all worth it.

ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT.

In addition to the above when the shower runs for 20 minutes shower after shower. Or the washing machine seems to never end on a Saturday OR you get to take a 20 minute hot as hell shower after working hard installing some portion of the machine and the oil boiler never comes on it is WORTH it. Even with oil prices down a bit I cringe when that SOB comes on.

And when it's 30 below zero outside and inside you have no clue because it's nice and toasty, it's worth it.

Keep plugging. I agree, get your boiler done, then work on the tank. I did the boiler in the later half of winter 2007 and the tank the following fall.

 

[WoodNotOil]

I echo all of the words above. I would add that the year I took the plunge I got the Tarm in October and was all excited! My new system wasn't running until March. I had a steam boiler and had to install all new hydronic stuff around it which took through January to get to myself. Then we took the plunge and converted the oil steam boiler to a hot water boiler and hooked it into the new hydronic system. This was supposed to get done in one day (no heat in February!). It took two and we had a cold night sleeping in front of my fire place (which puts out little heat). Once the hydronic oil system was working we began plumbing in the Tarm. I got to use it for a month or two and then it was too warm for it. However, I chipped away at it and heating quality improved every step of the way. Some landmark moments I remember are the first time the radiant floor on the main level heated correctly (warm toes!), the first time I brought the whole system up to temp from the Tarm, and the first free hot shower (as long and hot as you want it).

Get the boiler able to heat the house first and enjoy it. Then work on the storage tank. I think everyone could benefit from running without storage at first. That way you can really gauge the impact having storage has on your system. I have noticed a big reduction in wood consumption during this shoulder season compared to previous years due to the efficiency of storage. When winter really hits I expect to use about the same amount of wood (maybe a little less). The best part of storage for me was having free hot water all summer! My oil boiler hasn't fired even once since I brought the storage on line! Now that's a nice feeling! Good luck!

 

[stee6043]

Would it help if I said "I'm jealous"??? I just had the hole cored in my concrete basement wall last week so I can start on the chimney this weekend. My goal is to have my EKO running by Christmas. The fact that it's going to be in the 30's here all week and next week is not helping my patience! I've got wood and I'm ready to burn....but alas, I've got a lot of work to do.

Good luck and keep us posted along the way....

 

[taxidermist]

Same here working at it little by little ,I work 24hr shifts so when I get home I watch the kids until mom gets home from work. It is kinda like the reserves 1 weekend a month and a few days in between is when I get to work on it. Keep plugging along and it will be running before we know it.


Rob

 

[sdrobertson]

I'll testify that I really like my setup so far. Still a few issues with tank mixing but I'm working on this. Going from a CB to a gassifier has been interesting in that I had to relearn how to burn wood, but the wood savings and no smoke issues is really amazing. All the time spent and the hard work is worth it!

 

[Nofossil]

No matter how long it takes you, I've spent longer ;-)

It's really worth it. There's not a day goes by that I'm not thankful, not to mention bragging rights.

 

[Medman]

I'm in the same place you are - about 90% done and feeling VERY worn. I had one of those small victories Tuesday when I finished installing the W-A HX and I was able to run the new air handler/backup electric furnace for the first time. Just to feel warm air coming out of the ducts, even though heated by electricity, was great! Especially after four years of not being able to use the old electric furnace due to an improper installation. Yesterday I spent five hours in the attic running all new return ducts, moving the return plenum and insulating. I figure I will spend another four hours up there to finish it all. The last time I come down from that miserable space will be another victory!
This weekend I hope to finish plumbing the loop and apply pressure to the whole system to see if it holds air. If it does, then it will be time to fill 'er up with water and go on.
I have been telling my wife since the start that I will be running the system by Dec 1. I think with luck I can make it.
Also, take some down time for yourself. I did last week by putting up the Christmas lights (a private passion of mine). Tonight I'm going to see a movie with the kids. I know that when the last thing I think about at night and the first thing in the morning is a piece of machinery, its time to take a break!

Keep your head up. We're all in this together!