Got out of wood; want back in!

[penfrydd]

I had an Eshland Wood Gun from '85 to about '95 and found it to be a lot more maintenance than I hoped for. Always needing new gaskets on the door. Lots of tube cleaning. But the worst was the fact that the draft fan was on the hot side of the fire, so the heat would travel down the motor shaft and fry the bearings. That along with ridiculous amounts of creosote on the fan which would make it squeal.

I switched to oil in '95, but this old farmhouse is just too much to heat. I've got wood, I've got a son (33) who burns wood, so I've got help in the woods.

There are lots more choices now than there were in '85.

I'm was looking at Greenwood, but am now leaning towards EKO.

I would like to know what sort of maintenance is required after the honeymoon is over.

Thanks

 

[Nofossil]

I've just finished my third season with an EKO. I clean out the ashes weekly. Two or three times per season, I slide out the refractory in the bottom chamber, clean the fly ash out of the HX tubes (light brushing), and do a thorough cleaning of the bottom chamber. Still have all original gaskets and my chimney has only a light layer of fly ash. So far, so good.

 

[Eric Johnson]

I think most, if not all, of the bugs have been worked out on the modern downdraft gasifiers. Greenwood is a completely different technology, and I really can't comment on it one way or the other.

 

[jebatty]

I’m was looking at Greenwood, but am now leaning towards EKO. I would like to know what sort of maintenance is required after the honeymoon is over.

With my Tarm I clean excess ashes out of the firebox and the refractory chamber once per week max, sometimes less often. Tarm provides a raker tool to do this and it is very easy; the ashes are much, much less than with a wood stove; also very fine, of powder consistency in the refractory chamber. In the firebox I first use a homemade scoop made with 1/4" wire mesh. This lets the real ash fall through for cleaning, and the charcoal I throw in a bucket. The ash in the firebox I just push through the nozzle into the refractory chamber for raking into the ash box. I also brush the hx tubes about once per month, sometimes more often. Tarm also supplies a brush to do that; takes about 15 minutes total time. The Tarm supplied metal ash container box is about 10" square, and I will fill that about once every two months.

The charcoal in the bucket I further mash into fines and then spread into the garden. Makes a great fertilizer. Or if not needed for the garden, I throw it back into the firebox for burning.