Well, I tried a pellet boiler, a Benjamin boiler, a Tarm Solo Boiler, and now finally a Garn (used but well cared for).
It’s my last ‘kick at the can ‘ - If it doesn’t make my life a whole lot easier than it has been with these other boilers, then I’m done with boilers and I’ll heat my house with a cookstove! 😊
So…a few questions for all you experienced folks!….
1) I have a 1200 gallon, 1/4” steel, insulated buffer tank inside my shop. The Garn holds about 2000 gallons I believe.
Can I/should I use the buffer tank as well as the Garn? (The less I have to stoke a fire the better!! 😉) It will be hooked up to a domestic hot water tank and (eventually) a hot tub and pool. I’d ‘like’ to think that I could get maybe three days before I’d have to stoke it again. Thoughts? Has anybody hooked up additional water storage to their Garns? If so, how much and how did it work? Also, I’m not quite sure how this would all mesh together because the buffer tank is a pressurized system whereas the Garn isn’t, so 🤷♀️.
2) How does one know if an air handler is the correct size? (I can’t find anyone that will do a heat load calculation, so that’s not an option. It’s. 2500sq ft (1857 log cabin) I close the loft and only heat about 1600 sq ft. The insulation is good, need new windows though. The Garn is 200,000 btu. In-floor heating in a 14’x14’ stone floor. Are air handlers measured by cfm? What size of air handler SHOULD I have? (I’m not sure off-hand what I have right now, but it’s pretty big 😊). I burn soft wood if I’m out working in the shop and can stoke it regularly, but usually it’s good dry hardwood (10% moisture content).
3) what is the best product to use to FLUSH the system to get rid of hard water build up and/or rust? Do you use the same treatment product to leave in the boiler as you do to flush the lines? Even though my Tarm was pressurized, I don’t think it was cleaned properly when it was installed, so on some of the clear piping along the lines you can see that it’s completely rusty.
4) I’m always hearing about flue gas measurements. I’ve never done them (or had them done) but I’d like to, so I know that I’m running it as efficiently as I can. Is there a tool for this (that isn’t crazy expensive!) ? Or does that kind of thing have to be done by a WETT certified HVAC guy? (I’m having trouble find a WETT certified person near me).
5) if you own/have owned a Garn, I’d like to hear about your experience: sq footage? Construction material of the house? Insulation? Heat loss? do you have multiple heat zones? Where you live and how often you have to stoke it in the throes of winter? (I’m in the Snowbelt - off of Lake Huron in Midwestern Ontario, with lots of -25°C stormy weather.) temps you keep your heat at? (I’m 66-68°) Domestic hot water? Hot tub? Radiant heating? How many cords of wood you go through a year (and if you burn winter & summer or just winter).
Is there anywhere to get Garn parts in Ontario or does everyone order from the States? I need some new door gasket material.
Any input, advice, or suggestions are all greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Patti
It’s my last ‘kick at the can ‘ - If it doesn’t make my life a whole lot easier than it has been with these other boilers, then I’m done with boilers and I’ll heat my house with a cookstove! 😊
So…a few questions for all you experienced folks!….
1) I have a 1200 gallon, 1/4” steel, insulated buffer tank inside my shop. The Garn holds about 2000 gallons I believe.
Can I/should I use the buffer tank as well as the Garn? (The less I have to stoke a fire the better!! 😉) It will be hooked up to a domestic hot water tank and (eventually) a hot tub and pool. I’d ‘like’ to think that I could get maybe three days before I’d have to stoke it again. Thoughts? Has anybody hooked up additional water storage to their Garns? If so, how much and how did it work? Also, I’m not quite sure how this would all mesh together because the buffer tank is a pressurized system whereas the Garn isn’t, so 🤷♀️.
2) How does one know if an air handler is the correct size? (I can’t find anyone that will do a heat load calculation, so that’s not an option. It’s. 2500sq ft (1857 log cabin) I close the loft and only heat about 1600 sq ft. The insulation is good, need new windows though. The Garn is 200,000 btu. In-floor heating in a 14’x14’ stone floor. Are air handlers measured by cfm? What size of air handler SHOULD I have? (I’m not sure off-hand what I have right now, but it’s pretty big 😊). I burn soft wood if I’m out working in the shop and can stoke it regularly, but usually it’s good dry hardwood (10% moisture content).
3) what is the best product to use to FLUSH the system to get rid of hard water build up and/or rust? Do you use the same treatment product to leave in the boiler as you do to flush the lines? Even though my Tarm was pressurized, I don’t think it was cleaned properly when it was installed, so on some of the clear piping along the lines you can see that it’s completely rusty.
4) I’m always hearing about flue gas measurements. I’ve never done them (or had them done) but I’d like to, so I know that I’m running it as efficiently as I can. Is there a tool for this (that isn’t crazy expensive!) ? Or does that kind of thing have to be done by a WETT certified HVAC guy? (I’m having trouble find a WETT certified person near me).
5) if you own/have owned a Garn, I’d like to hear about your experience: sq footage? Construction material of the house? Insulation? Heat loss? do you have multiple heat zones? Where you live and how often you have to stoke it in the throes of winter? (I’m in the Snowbelt - off of Lake Huron in Midwestern Ontario, with lots of -25°C stormy weather.) temps you keep your heat at? (I’m 66-68°) Domestic hot water? Hot tub? Radiant heating? How many cords of wood you go through a year (and if you burn winter & summer or just winter).
Is there anywhere to get Garn parts in Ontario or does everyone order from the States? I need some new door gasket material.
Any input, advice, or suggestions are all greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Patti
