So how user friendly is your heating system?

[peakbagger]

My wood boiler and storage system was designed by me over the years. It makes sense to me and in normal operation requires one switch to be operated manually during operation but since I have a wood boiler with storage with oil backup and a SHW system that is on the periphery, its decidedly more complex system than a standard household system. I expect it doesn't help that I have numerous hand valves in the piping that are used for service but don't have to be used for normal operation. The system is set up so that unless hand valves are closed deliberately, it will "fail" in a safe mode and if it isn't fed wood it revert back to the oil boiler with no action required by an operator. When I shut down for the summer, I switch off the power to the wood boiler controls and the system reverts back to an oil system. There is a seasonal switchover on the SHW system that requires two hand valves to be moved which allows house DHW system to run directly off solar.

Even though its simple to me, I don't know if I would trust someone else to operate it without some training. So how about your system?

My theory is someday when I sell the house, I will probably have to close off a few isolation valves and remove the wood boiler as I expect the system would be too complex for most buyers. Even though the operation is fairly simple, the underlying control logic and relays needed to make it simple are not simple. Luckily my storage tank can be broken down fairly painlessly but the wood boiler would be a hassle.

 

[stee6043]

If I ever sell my house my system will either have to go with me or be scrapped. I don't think the average homeowner would be comfortable operating my rig even though, like you said, it's very straight forward for me.

 

[avc8130]

Mine is pretty easy. I wrote instructions for my father in law and he had no trouble. With a wood gun it is pretty much "open door, throw in wood, close door"

Ac

 

[Fred61]

I think most people are unable to connect with mechanicals and be one with what is actually happening and understand the cause of the result. As I have seen right here, there are people operating these units that shouldn't be .I think mechanical sense is a gift that is not given to everybody. Analytical thought processes are also lacking in most of these same folks. Take my wife (please). A person with mechanical sense will find a stuck component and perhaps wiggle it to dislodge it. One without that sense will yank one it and break it off. Got to go fix the door lock

I have run into people who are detached enough so they couldn't connect with the lever inside the cab of a pick-up and the operation of the snowplow on the front of the vehicle. Totally detached!

My system is totally set up to work automatically but I do make periodic shortcuts since my oil boiler never runs anyway. I think someone with a little more mechanical sense than my wife could operate it with a little instruction but with my shortcuts in place I often wonder about suddenly expiring without giving those instructions to someone. I drew a schematic but for some reason there seems to be as many lines on that paper as there are pipes surrounding the boiler

The other question is ambition. Not everyone is willing to do the work associated with wood heat. I can remember back in the seventies my brother installed a wood insert. Wood vendor dumped the load in his driveway and my dad stacked it for him but he gave up because loading the wood and cleaning out the ashes was just too much work.

 

[goosegunner]

My wife runs ours on a regular basis during the heart of winter. She knows how to start and how long it will run. She does not know anything about the mechanical or even the basic cleaning.

My system would need to be sold or scraped if something happened to me or we moved. I have told her to do that along with sell the 5-6 year supply of oak that I have on hand.

Just remember if a potential buyer would try to use the complexity of the system as a negotiating tool. Just say "That is fine, It will be gone in less than a week"

gg

 

[Buzz Saw]

It would be a deal maker for me if someone had a complete functional system in place when I would go to buy a place. Give me a Digital Volt Ohm Meter, time and a hammer and I can figure out anything

 

[GENECOP]

I barely understand my own system....

 

[jebatty]

Maybe the near ultimate situation is Deep Portage, where staff get about a 5 minute talk and then they are qualified to fire and load the Froling FHG -L50, Wood Gun E500 and Garn WHS 3200. One digital temperature readout on middle of storage tank temperature is the guide for daily operation. Those who have no desire to understand any of these systems do fine. Those that want to understand, do fine, but then quickly progress to earn their "Minister of Fire" certificates.

 

[peakbagger]

I am not worried about someone operating my system, but diagnosing it is another story

 

[maple1]

I think mine is very user friendly.

Others in my household beg to differ, for some reason.

Writing up a quick manual is on my to do list, somewhere...

 

[flyingcow]

IMO My set up is very user friendly, but I did not install it. I helped a little being a basic grunt, but I do have a general idea of how and why it all works. I had the installer, my BIL, follow the layout the manufacturer had detailed.That way if anything goes wrong yrs down the road, we(myself and Tarm) are on the same page trying to diagnose it. But that cost myself some extra coin over a true DIY'r. I've just passed the break even point of fuel savings vs install cost.

But i agree with the these statements
Just remember if a potential buyer would try to use the complexity of the system as a negotiating tool. Just say "That is fine, It will be gone in less than a week"

The other question is ambition. Not everyone is willing to do the work associated with wood heat. I can remember back in the seventies my brother installed a wood insert. Wood vendor dumped the load in his driveway and my dad stacked it for him but he gave up because loading the wood and cleaning out the ashes was just too much work.

The area i live in is not a stranger to wood heat. The realtors wouldn't discount a professionally install system. Would it add value to the asking price? Doubtful, but it wouldn't hurt it either. But that said, on the chance I sell and the buyer doesn't want it, out it goes.

Don't tell the Pelletheads this, but I really like the newer style pellet boilers...........a little envious.

 

[JustWood]

Bought a boiler many years ago and the cost to hook it up to shop and house was staggering. Sold it and actually made a profit. Bought a new FA furnace and don't regret it a bit.
Spray foamed the shop (overkill) and heat it with a home made stove. Thermal storage in my biodiesel tanks helps prolong the heat transfer.
I don't have time to fuss with a boiler and glad I made the decision to axe the boiler and go the route I did. Payback on the furnace and HM shop stove was less than 1 season. The boiler pay back would have been close to a decade.

 

[goosegunner]

The reason I say sell or scrap mine is the because of the look people have on their face when they see the piping in the boiler room. Is it that difficult to understand? no. Do most people care to put out any effort to learn, No. The reason the wood buying industry is going through the emissions troubles with the EPA is most people like simple, stuff it full and forget it no matter what the results.

On another site a poster asked about buying a used Heatmor 800. He said he did not have time to fill it so with its 135 cubic ft firebox he could fill it every 4 days, WOW!

gg

 

[muncybob]

I think our system is easy to underrstand and about as basic at it gets. My wife knows how to load the boiler and when to do it...that's all. She has made sure that I have in writing where our various investments are, what recurring bills we have, etc. but for wood burning she has already told me if I'm not in the pitcure she will switch it back to oil

 

[flyingcow]

Goosegunner-On another site a poster asked about buying a used Heatmor 800. He said he did not have time to fill it so with its 135 cubic ft firebox he could fill it every 4 days, WOW!


And i think the reality of that is the 135 cu/ft of wood will be gone in a day or a day and a half. Not 4. A couple of my buddies have OWb's. They have learned just to put enough in for a day or do a twice a day filling. It'll burn whatevers in the Firebox in a day.

 

[Fi-Q]

I have no boiler yet, and the only part of my syste, is the pex in my basement slab. i need to get my design figure out as I am hoping to take some time off this year to finish my house.

I will have radiant on all floor. Basement in slab. Suspended slab for the main and staple up for the 2nd. I will try to arrange build it simple. I will start with a electric boiler and suplement the heating with the basement wood stove and eventually build my shop with a wood boiler.

as I am not home to often, my wife WILL have to know EVERYTHING about the system. She is ok with it. I sure will have to write an instruction manual, and who knows , might have to trouble shoot it with a session of skype or facetime, but she should be fine. and hopefully my dad will still be around for 2-3 decade and he sure will know everything about it. that just how dads are, right .

 

[brant2000]

Like many of you, I would also be very hesitant to leave any trace of my system in my house if I ever went to sell it. I figure it works great for me and is simple enough for me to operate, but to try to explain to anyone else less mechanically inclined what the purpose of each sensor/controller/wire/valve/pump/UPS/etc. is and that if any of them might happen to fail the basement will flood and the house will probably fill with steam (if you're lucky), would probably be a tough selling point.

 

[mmudd]

These systems look more complicated than they are. My set up is pretty user friendly. We only have to build a fire and walk away since I did an upgrade with 500 gallons pressurized storage based on the tarm biomass diagram in 2012. No valves to turn or adjustments needed. I also have a solar draindown system incorporated into my boiler system. Trying to explain my system to non boiler folks causes them to go into brain freeze.

 

[BoilerMan]

I am not worried about someone operating my system, but diagnosing it is another story

That's a lot of MC and terminal blocks in there, with a couple of pushbuttons and several indicator lights. A small contactor, and what looks like a timer .


I've often wondered about the selling point/negative of m boiler system. All I have to say is "yeah I heated my place with 3 cord this past winter" and you'd be surprised how interested people get all of a sudden.

I completely agree with Fred though, the general public has so little connection to mechanical things it' a wonder they can function at all.... that's why it' nearly impossible to get a vehicle with a manual transmission anymore. Mechanical things are just in some people's blood. My dad didn't get it...... I still need to start the chainsaw for him.... but all my growing up years we burned wood and my dad always kept the fire going in that old Benjamin Dutch Oven boiler.

It's also quite amazing how so many people can do something for decades an do it wrong, experience does not always equate to knowledge.

TS

 

[kooslf]

Well, I am still planning my system, and you old pro's sound like you think it was all a waste of time. My boy seems pretty interested in what I am talking about. He has been paying for electric heat this winter, and isn't too fond of that expense either. He will be the next propriater here and should be able to carry on. I do enjoy the discussion here.

Lloyd

 

[huffdawg]

My wife hates our system and the infloor heating. But she does know how to light and operate the boiler. I think most women these days would rather just pay the money to heat with oil or gas then do what we do to save on heating costs . Its a long walk from the couch to the boiler you know. And god help you if you have to stack a little wood . I have almost paid for the cost of everything in 3 years. I'm almost glad I haven't reconnected the backup,I'm sure she would never light a fire if it was lol.

 

[velvetfoot]

Why would she hate the infloor heating? I thought that was an attraction to the opposite sex?

 

[huffdawg]

Well we had a blazeking wood stove in the previous house that kept the house at 75 to 80 degrees all the time. we had windows open quite a lot.
I guess she expected the same sort of heat... But I love the infloor , nothing better in my opinion. She is the sort of gal that would feel a pea under 10 mattresses .

 

[DZL_Damon]

"Fill 1200lb bag with pellets. When pellets are almost out, dump ash pan. Turn thermostat up/down as you wish whenever you want. If pellets run out, oil boiler will automatically take over"

 

[heaterman]

Goosegunner-On another site a poster asked about buying a used Heatmor 800. He said he did not have time to fill it so with its 135 cubic ft firebox he could fill it every 4 days, WOW!


And i think the reality of that is the 135 cu/ft of wood will be gone in a day or a day and a half. Not 4. A couple of my buddies have OWb's. They have learned just to put enough in for a day or do a twice a day filling. It'll burn whatevers in the Firebox in a day.

Some have yet to figure out that even if the damper is closed or the draft fan is off, the wood is still "burning", just not putting out much heat.