Hi All!
I’ve been following this site for a number of years, and learn something every time I read posts. . I appreciate the advice and answers that are offered by so many experienced people!
I have the Tarm model mentioned above, and this will be the third winter using it.
First winter: had a 600 gallon water storage tank, but didn’t stand up to the pressure, so not hooked up. (Not happy about that). Burned a fair amount of wood.
Second winter: Modifications made (not by me!), but couldn’t get it airtight, so not hooked up-
(again). 😠 (really not happy about that).
Third Winter (this year): 1000 gallon tank ‘in the process of being installed’…. so not hooked up yet. (REALLY REALLY not happy about that
😠😠)
Now… my friend who is doing this installation and I are having heated ‘discussions’ about the whole ‘water storage’ thing, so I’d like to hear people’s opinion.
I have explained (many times) that running this model (don’t know about others - I’m just speaking about this Tarm) without water storage is NOT GOOD.
•I’ve told him that Tarm would NOT honour warranties on their boilers if they were operated without water storage.
(that should be SOME indication of the IMPORTANCE of water storage! 🤷♀️)
•I have explained that without the water storage,
a) you burn far more wood
b) it needs to be stoked every 4 -5 hours (not fun trekking out to the shop in the middle of the night😒)
c) Constantly shutting down, idling, and reigniting not only causes more creosote, but more importantly- it is HARD on the boiler’s components. This will mean costly repairs and will shorten the lifespan of the boiler considerably.
However…my friend absolutely refuses to take my word for it that this Tarm gasifier NEEDS to have WATER STORAGE.
(He is a plumber (& had his HVAC ticket) and has installed outdoor boiler systems before.
He also knows someone with the same model Tarm I have, with NO storage.
BUT…it is inside their heated garage attached to the house that has radiant heating.
Whereas mine comes 110’ from my shop to my house and goes through a heat exchanger to supply forced air heat (to a 160 year old log cabin..that needs new windows but is otherwise fairly energy efficient).
So because this other guy doesn’t have a storage tank, my friend is adamant that it ‘won’t do any harm to the boiler’ to run it without water storage.
I have had to (very unwillingly) use it for the last two winters without the water storage.
He says I should just be ‘starting the boiler’…but I am putting my foot down and WON’T start the boiler until the water storage is there (and in the meantime, HE can pay the $750 a month it costs for propane (& that’s with the thermostat at 65°)
SO….I need some back-up from experienced Tarm owners 😊
He’s telling me I’m wrong, and shouldn’t be concerned about it- water storage is just a ‘recommendation’. 🙄
I, on the other hand, totally disagree, 🤦♀️ so this is causing some battles! 😣
SO…Can anyone provide me with detailed information about how the boiler is affected overall, and what specifically may be damaged/need replacement.
Can other people confirm that storage is NOT just a ‘recommendation’ but is a NECESSITY for Tarm gasifiers, to enable the system to operate efficiently AND not sustain damage (well, any MORE damage than has already possibly occurred.🙄)
Perhaps if he hears it from experienced Tarm owners it will be enough to convince him…and he’ll believe what I am saying
And if I’m wrong, you are welcome to tell me that too! 😊 I don’t profess to know everything about these boilers …but after reading and researching this model for a few years, I do think I know what I’m talking about when it comes to the water storage issue! 🤷♀️😁)
Thanks for any input!
(and for helping to stop World War 3 from happening! 🤣)
Patti
I’ve been following this site for a number of years, and learn something every time I read posts. . I appreciate the advice and answers that are offered by so many experienced people!
I have the Tarm model mentioned above, and this will be the third winter using it.
First winter: had a 600 gallon water storage tank, but didn’t stand up to the pressure, so not hooked up. (Not happy about that). Burned a fair amount of wood.
Second winter: Modifications made (not by me!), but couldn’t get it airtight, so not hooked up-
(again). 😠 (really not happy about that).
Third Winter (this year): 1000 gallon tank ‘in the process of being installed’…. so not hooked up yet. (REALLY REALLY not happy about that
😠😠)
Now… my friend who is doing this installation and I are having heated ‘discussions’ about the whole ‘water storage’ thing, so I’d like to hear people’s opinion.
I have explained (many times) that running this model (don’t know about others - I’m just speaking about this Tarm) without water storage is NOT GOOD.
•I’ve told him that Tarm would NOT honour warranties on their boilers if they were operated without water storage.
(that should be SOME indication of the IMPORTANCE of water storage! 🤷♀️)
•I have explained that without the water storage,
a) you burn far more wood
b) it needs to be stoked every 4 -5 hours (not fun trekking out to the shop in the middle of the night😒)
c) Constantly shutting down, idling, and reigniting not only causes more creosote, but more importantly- it is HARD on the boiler’s components. This will mean costly repairs and will shorten the lifespan of the boiler considerably.
However…my friend absolutely refuses to take my word for it that this Tarm gasifier NEEDS to have WATER STORAGE.
(He is a plumber (& had his HVAC ticket) and has installed outdoor boiler systems before.
He also knows someone with the same model Tarm I have, with NO storage.
BUT…it is inside their heated garage attached to the house that has radiant heating.
Whereas mine comes 110’ from my shop to my house and goes through a heat exchanger to supply forced air heat (to a 160 year old log cabin..that needs new windows but is otherwise fairly energy efficient).
So because this other guy doesn’t have a storage tank, my friend is adamant that it ‘won’t do any harm to the boiler’ to run it without water storage.
I have had to (very unwillingly) use it for the last two winters without the water storage.
He says I should just be ‘starting the boiler’…but I am putting my foot down and WON’T start the boiler until the water storage is there (and in the meantime, HE can pay the $750 a month it costs for propane (& that’s with the thermostat at 65°)
SO….I need some back-up from experienced Tarm owners 😊
He’s telling me I’m wrong, and shouldn’t be concerned about it- water storage is just a ‘recommendation’. 🙄
I, on the other hand, totally disagree, 🤦♀️ so this is causing some battles! 😣
SO…Can anyone provide me with detailed information about how the boiler is affected overall, and what specifically may be damaged/need replacement.
Can other people confirm that storage is NOT just a ‘recommendation’ but is a NECESSITY for Tarm gasifiers, to enable the system to operate efficiently AND not sustain damage (well, any MORE damage than has already possibly occurred.🙄)
Perhaps if he hears it from experienced Tarm owners it will be enough to convince him…and he’ll believe what I am saying
And if I’m wrong, you are welcome to tell me that too! 😊 I don’t profess to know everything about these boilers …but after reading and researching this model for a few years, I do think I know what I’m talking about when it comes to the water storage issue! 🤷♀️😁)
Thanks for any input!
(and for helping to stop World War 3 from happening! 🤣)
Patti