Tarm finally online

[rfactor]

After 13 months, I finally got my Tarm and storage tank online. Using many peoples input from this board and others, I created a simple design that only uses four pumps total. One for the Tarm, one for the radiant floor section, one for the backup propane boiler and one for a boiler mate.

I do not have the backup boiler tied in yet but have it valved so that will be to do. But I'm getting my heat and hot water from the system. My wife was starting to lose faith that I'd ever get it burning wood. But now that the house is warm (especially the master bathroom) from wood there is peace in the family.

Most of the controls are off-the-shelf parts. I used a TACO ZVC-406 and switched from circs on each zone to zone valves and a TACO 008 pump to drive the loops. I am re-using my Taco 007s for the furnaces and DHW (backup from propane furnace).

The tank has a 1.5" square tube steel frame with 3/4" plywood and the 4" of insulation. I have a tie-in at the bottom of the tank but none at the top. The tank has spread about 1.25" at the top so I will have to fix that as it has ruined the seal at the top.

I'm now in the tuning/learning phase and am looking forward to winter burning no propane!

Rurik

 

[NHFarmer]

Congrats on the install. It sure is a good feeling being warm without burning propane or oil.

 

[pybyr]

Congrats-- if you got this far, it only gets (!!way!!) better from there! (I am heating my big old hard to heat farmhouse during some unusually early and severe cold snaps' evenings with one-to-two paper grocery sacks of wood per night).

Keep us all posted on your progress

 

[sgschwend]

Sounds like you ready for this season. Congrats

Burning propane was OK ten years ago, we held on till this year and now will be switch to wood boiler too.

 

[Birdman]

Nice job. This is my second season with Tarm 40 solo... no storage. Last winter ( Nov-March) I estimated i used 50 gallons of oil. Kept my drafty log cabin( 2000 sq ft) at 70 and made tons of DHW for 5. Used 5-6 cord. Filled it up at 6:30 am... checked on it at 5 pm( sometimes threw in a few pieces sometimes not) and filled it at 9 pm. Can't get any easier than that. All wood was in walkout basement. Slick. Way better than having my woodstove.... which i sold this summer. Now.... next project... pressurized storage... and making my house more heat efficient. Good luck with your heating!Great choice!

 

[flyingcow]

looks good. Just going out to put a few more sticks on the fire. Nice not hearing the oil burner banging away!

 

[twitch]

Congrats Rurik!! If you're anything like me, you'll end up spending more time in the boiler room than in the house, at least for a while. It really is some addicting stuff.

 

[RobC]

Nice clean layout. It's surprising how hot water, is so important, to keep us out of hot water. Domestically speaking !