New Guy; forced into burning for primary heat.

[newburner]

So is there a difference in Eco bricks, bio bricks, and envi bricks? Or are these all just general terms to describe one product?

If they are different, which is better? With such a small firebox, my main concern is extending burn times as much as possible.

 

[JTRock]

I believe Begreen did a review on bio bricks which is found on the wiki and had good things to stay. I was told Envi's are great quality too

 

[BrotherBart]

Yeah those big pellets are outrageously priced, compared to the little pellets.

 

[tigger]

Newb- that little century will throw some heat. I have had mine 3 years and it's done 80% of our heating. It struggles in the dead of winter but for most of the time it woks quite well. You will get short burn times(4hours of useable heat) because of the small firebox. If someone is around to feed it you will be ok. What's the house set up....sq. ft?, layout? I am switching my century out this year to a blazeking. Looking forward to the longer burn times. Keep up the good work. There are a lot of free wood on CL out where you are. Keep looking.

 

[newburner]

Yea, I've witnessed the heat output already. When I did burn in July, our old furnace thermostat showed a 5° jump in temp after 2 hours. The thermostat is located two rooms away from the hearth room.

My house is a 1500sf single level ranch built in 1959. Typical of the era, its not an open floor plan. Every room is cut off and accessible by one, single wide doorway. I know, its going to be a challenge. I already have plans to open up the transoms to help warm air flow from room to room. I'll also make use of strategically placed fans. The rest of the house, including bedrooms will be equipped with oil filled radiator style room heaters.

 

[BrotherBart]

Gonna be fine. And warm in the joint this winter.

 

[Woody Stover]

little century will throw some heat. I have had mine 3 years and it's done 80% of our heating. It struggles in the dead of winter but for most of the time it woks quite well. You will get short burn times(4hours of useable heat) because of the small firebox.

Yours the 2500 as well?

Yeah those big pellets are outrageously priced, compared to the little pellets.

So how does that translate for weight, about the same as dry cordwood? ie, is 1000# maybe 1/4-1/3 cord depending on species?

 

[prezes13]

So is there a difference in Eco bricks, bio bricks, and envi bricks? Or are these all just general terms to describe one product?

If they are different, which is better? With such a small firebox, my main concern is extending burn times as much as possible.

They are all different brands. Try them all and find out which once work best for you. From all the once I tried Eco Bricks worked best for me. BT Enterprises have EcoBricks for $265 a ton plus $20 delivery. They are close to my house so I skipped the $20 fee and put it in my Tundra.

 

[Beer Belly]

They are all different brands. Try them all and find out which once work best for you. From all the once I tried Eco Bricks worked best for me. BT Enterprises have EcoBricks for $265 a ton plus $20 delivery. They are close to my house so I skipped the $20 fee and put it in my Tundra.View attachment 137521

Seriously.....how did the Tundra do handling that ton of bricks ??

 

[ddahlgren]

Ran some bio bricks last year and they sort of burn ok. A lot of heat at first the not so much after. They will get the secondarys going for a bit then not enough heat to keep them lit. Ok for a bit of a cold day to take the chill off. Buy the Mrs. some long johns to help keep warm 72 on a zero day might be a bit optimistic.

 

[prezes13]

Seriously.....how did the Tundra do handling that ton of bricks ??

Well it's about a 2 miles from my house so it did handle but I wouldn't travel across the state. It's a TRD truck so has a bit beefier suspension but still not a one ton truck.

 

[prezes13]

Ran some bio bricks last year and they sort of burn ok. A lot of heat at first the not so much after. They will get the secondarys going for a bit then not enough heat to keep them lit. Ok for a bit of a cold day to take the chill off. Buy the Mrs. some long johns to help keep warm 72 on a zero day might be a bit optimistic.

I didn't like bio bricks for the reason you just mentioned. EckoBricks are almost twice the size and maybe a bit more compressed I found them working great for me. About 8-10 of them in the evening had the house nice and warm. I would start from scratch about 3:30 pm when I got home from work and by 6 house would be 70 or more degrees, from low 60.

 

[JTRock]

I didn't like bio bricks for the reason you just mentioned. EckoBricks are almost twice the size and maybe a bit more compressed I found them working great for me. About 8-10 of them in the evening had the house nice and warm. I would start from scratch about 3:30 pm when I got home from work and by 6 house would be 70 or more degrees, from low 60.

How do they do on an overnight burn?

 

[JTRock]

By the way we are probably neighbors lol! When you describe places we are usually in the same proximity.

 

[prezes13]

By the way we are probably neighbors lol! When you describe places we are usually in the same proximity.

I never really tried to burn them over night because I was being frugal "cheap", but one evening I loaded the stove at 5:30 I had to put 10 or 12 of them and when I was leaving for work at 6:30 am next morning fan was still on. It was at least 40s outside but still impressive.

 

[JTRock]

Sounds like you could mow through a ton at that rate.

 

[newburner]

Buy the Mrs. some long johns to help keep warm 72 on a zero day might be a bit optimistic.

That might not be necessary. She always kept the thermostat at 62 anyway. We both like it on the cooler side. Her main concern is that it'll be too hot in the hearth room.

 

[infinitymike]

Hey, Newburner,
Sorry to hear about your oil burner.....NOT!
You'll be so glad not having to shell out money to the domestic terrorist oil companies.
Me personally, I don't buy a stick of wood after buying my first 2 cords of "seasoned" wood that was still wet to the touch.
I too came here as green as fresh split wood and never burned a fire other then a jobsite burning barrel full of framing scraps or a camp fire.
I now have 25 cord c/s/s and burn year round for heat and DHW
I have a pallet place that gives me for FREE 4'x4'x4' cribs of cut up pallet wood that are destined for the dumps. I use them only for summer hot water.

You'll do just fine.

I'm surprised, you and no one else as mentioned or asked, what are you doing for hot water?
I assume you have an oil fired indirect hot water heater?

 

[newburner]

Actually we have an electric water heater. The oil furnace used to heat our water but a couple of years ago, that portion of the furnace went. They HVAC guy said in order to fix it, a full furnace replacement was necessary. We opted for the electric WH. Glad we did cause we never run out of hot water like we used to.

 

[bholler]

I have a question infinitymike and i am not being critical i just have wondered for a while and you where the first person i came across to ask. Do you really think heating dhw with wood all summer makes sense? To me it seems like a waist of wood and effort. I used to run a coal furnace That heated my dhw all winter but i never even considered running it all summer i put in an electric tank for the summer and it really doesnt cost very much to run. But that is just my opinion

 

[infinitymike]

I have a question infinitymike and i am not being critical i just have wondered for a while and you where the first person i came across to ask. Do you really think heating dhw with wood all summer makes sense? To me it seems like a waist of wood and effort. I used to run a coal furnace That heated my dhw all winter but i never even considered running it all summer i put in an electric tank for the summer and it really doesnt cost very much to run. But that is just my opinion

Good question and I don't feel criticized at all.
There have been a lot of threads about this in the boiler room.

I don't use cord wood for fuel in the summer.
I use FREE pallet blocks that are already cut up.
It only takes about 10-15 blocks to bring the Wood Gun up to temp and charge the 40 gallon indirect tank.
Usually I will light a fire at 6am and shut the unit down when it reaches temp,15-20 minutes later.
Depending on how much laundry or dishwashing there is, my wife may have to light a fire around noon.
Then I will light a fire for the evening showers and start all over again, the next morning.

Really easy and not that I ever monitored it but I would guess the electric to run the Wood Gun, and circ pumps would be less then a electric water heater, but maybe I'm wrong.
But even still, if I went electric I would have to recoup my initial investment.

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[bholler]

I agree that straight out lay of money is definitely cheaper with wood but not at all if you figure any thing for your time. I did not notice the first time you were running a wood gun i just assumed you were running an owb those are the ones that make no sense to me smouldering away all day long just for dhw. Your setup is a totally different animal so not a wast of wood i just don't see the effort to have enough payoff in my mind.

 

[NewStoveGuy]

My wife is a bit more optimistic...

...because you're the one who has to deliver the woodpile, and ultimately, the heat!

Mine too this first season on wood only (we had the same story with the failed primary heating system and lack of funds to replace).

Take heart, she has faith in you!

 

[Enzo's Dad]

I dont Know About Mass, but In Ct there are alot of state subsidised programs to replace an old boiler. They offer financing rebates if you go with any energy star. I may get a heat pump for Domestic Hot water .....perfect for you wet basement since they act as a de-humidifier.


Found a link
http://www.mass.gov/eea/energy-util...ancing-and-tax-incentives-for-homeowners.html

 

[ddahlgren]

Never got any video just sound.