The dang kids got the best of me! EKO 40 up in smoke

[stee6043]

I've been a bit of a regular here on the boiler room since 2008/2009 when I christened my EKO 40. I had an absolute blast installing that thing. But what a difference 7 years makes. I've gone from 0 kids to 3 kids in that time and have come to learn that my time spent with them is one of my favorite things. This past summer we only had two weekends TOTAL that we didn't spend as a family doing something together. Quite a record I think.

As you can imagine there has been zero time for me to process wood. Actually this is the second year I've not touched the log splitter. Last year my boiler sat idle because of a lack of seasoned wood and as I work my way into October 2015, this year is no different.

I made the executive decision this week to try to sell my EKO 40. I'm not sure if there is any demand out there for used boilers but I actually feel a bit guilty letting her sit idle. She's a great boiler and deserves to be run!

If any of you guys know of anyone looking for a boiler I posted mine in the classified section. I may eventually sell my storage tanks as well but getting those back out of my basement will be a bit more involved than the boiler itself given their size.

Good times here in the boiler room. I fully expect to get back into the wood heating game at some point, maybe when my kids are older and start doing their own thing.

 

[NateB]

Say it ain't so. I am just about to finish my EKO40 install this week, and I have a 4 year old and a four month old. My hope is to spend some weekends with them collecting wood. I know what you mean about fun times with the kids, they are the best investment of you time.

 

[jeffesonm]

put those kids to work!

 

[laynes69]

It's hard to get ahead sometimes. I was working 50 to 60 hours a week, while my wife was working 48 hours a week plus going to school online for her BSN. We have 3 children, between ages 5 and 14. We burn wood because of the savings and comfort, buy find little time to process wood. We bought 3 cord to get ahead, and one weekend we processed another 3 cord. Luckily my 2 boys are old enough to help out.

 

[Highbeam]

Weird. I have two kids and raised them to this preteen level while burning, collecting, etc. Those kids have benefited from the wood heat lifestyle in many ways. They know how much nicer heat feels when you work for it.

Is it the wood processing or the stove loading that takes too much time? Buying wood and just feeding the beast is not unreasonable and usually still much cheaper than paying for central heat.

A guy still needs some physical activity. I thought the gassers with storage allowed minimal futzing around.

Can you mothball the thing for a few years? Kids grow up really really fast and you might appreciate a little hobby time burning wood as they become more independent.

 

[Wisneaky]

I have 4 younger children. Ages 4-8 and they love helping me. They will help stack it and help throw the wood in the basement. I even let them throw a log or two on the fire now and than with my supervision.

 

[Tennman]

Understand. I'm at the other end of the family cycle. My wood fetching partner, my son, is gone and I have long work weeks. When our kids were young woulda been really hard to find wood fetchin time or woulda missed a bunch of ball games (couldn't stand that). So, I'm leaving the paid-for wood boiler/storage in place and adding a pellet into storage. Holidays and weekends... wood... whenever else pellets. For us if not wood or pellets then back to propane... whew. Anyway, just an idea.

Hate to see you leave but best wishes, always enjoyed your posts and help. Your priorities are in the right place.

 

[arbutus]

Four kids here, 8, 5, 3, 1. I just sold an Empyre Elite that I had never fired for the same reason. Plus we use less than 800 gallons of propane a year

 

[GS7]

Sleep on it! Consider processing wood an hour at a time. One day cut rounds to length for an hour. Another day split for an hour. another day stack for an hour. Goes nice and easy this way. Manageable normal yard work.

 

[Buzz Saw]

Four kids here, 8, 5, 3, 1. I just sold an Empyre Elite that I had never fired for the same reason. Plus we use less than 800 gallons of propane a year

How many square feet on 800 gallons a year? What do you keep your Indoor temp at?

 

[stee6043]

All great feedback!

My other "problem" is that my main fuel source is natural gas. Natural gas (at least in Michigan) has dropped by about 50% since I installed my gasser system. With today's pricing I couldn't buy wood for what I can pay for natural gas. That was not the case in 2008.

My challenge is purely in the wood processing. Even though I only used 4-5 cord per year it's still a pretty considerable time investment to get the wood, bring it home, split it (and split it small), stack it and then move it closer to the boiler once it's ready. Loading and maintain the fire is nothing, minimal effort once the wood is in place.

I will not be sad if the boiler does not sell. That's the truth. But at the same time I just don't see myself using it for another 3+ years. My kids are 5, 4 and 9 months. The oldest did help me stack once or twice but he's only good for about 30 minutes of work!

We'll see how it all pans out. Perhaps in three years natural gas will have doubled, I'll still have the boiler and the kids can actually start doing a lot more of the work...

 

[arbutus]

How many square feet on 800 gallons a year? What do you keep your Indoor temp at?

2 stories plus basement, 800 square feet each.
First floor is 100% radiant floor, air temperature we shoot for about 68. With the warm floor you will overheat if the air temperature is above 70.

The second floor is bedrooms and bathrooms heated with panel radiators.
Half is kept about 65, the other half (kids rooms) is about 70.

The basement is bare block. One large panel radiator keeps the air temperature about 68 but unless you sit within 10 feet in front of it you can feel the cold block.

Water temperatures range from 70 at 35 outdoor to 145 at 25 below outdoor.

 

[Highbeam]

2 stories plus basement, 800 square feet each.
First floor is 100% radiant floor, air temperature we shoot for about 68. With the warm floor you will overheat if the air temperature is above 70.

The second floor is bedrooms and bathrooms heated with panel radiators.
Half is kept about 65, the other half (kids rooms) is about 70.

The basement is bare block. One large panel radiator keeps the air temperature about 68 but unless you sit within 10 feet in front of it you can feel the cold block.

Water temperatures range from 70 at 35 outdoor to 145 at 25 below outdoor.

I wish they built houses like that in the PNW. We (generally) have these lame single story or two story houses with 4:12 roofs sitting on ventilated two foot tall crawlspaces. Forced air heat.

No block. No basements. No hydronic heat.

 

[711mhw]

Hold on brother, in a few years you'll have a pretty good helper ready to have his or her Daddy show how to work and see the results, that's valuable quality time for sure. Momma & the younger ones can hang out as well. Just keep your priority's in order (like you clearly are). The boiler & it's food are just moved back to the 4th or 5th positon instead ot #1.

 

[shawntitan]

My other "problem" is that my main fuel source is natural gas. Natural gas (at least in Michigan) has dropped by about 50% since I installed my gasser system. With today's pricing I couldn't buy wood for what I can pay for natural gas. That was not the case in 2008.

I'm so jealous of you... No NG in my part of South Jersey....

 

[kennyp2339]

I'm so jealous of you... No NG in my part of South Jersey....

yup, no ng in my part of north jersey either

 

[jasonh]

All great feedback!

My other "problem" is that my main fuel source is natural gas. Natural gas (at least in Michigan) has dropped by about 50% since I installed my gasser system. With today's pricing I couldn't buy wood for what I can pay for natural gas. That was not the case in 2008.

My challenge is purely in the wood processing. Even though I only used 4-5 cord per year it's still a pretty considerable time investment to get the wood, bring it home, split it (and split it small), stack it and then move it closer to the boiler once it's ready. Loading and maintain the fire is nothing, minimal effort once the wood is in place.

I will not be sad if the boiler does not sell. That's the truth. But at the same time I just don't see myself using it for another 3+ years. My kids are 5, 4 and 9 months. The oldest did help me stack once or twice but he's only good for about 30 minutes of work!

We'll see how it all pans out. Perhaps in three years natural gas will have doubled, I'll still have the boiler and the kids can actually start doing a lot more of the work...

Stee I can understand both sides of your situation . You obviously like to burn wood and see a value in making your own heat. And spending quality time with your family is the most important. At the end it's whatever you feel is the best for you and your family. Yes gas is cheap now but will it be cheap in 2 years? Who knows. That's why they call them futures. I got some backlash when I posted some thoughts on getting a boiler because I don't like paying for ng. But that's my decision and people here accept that.

Anyways I applaud your decision whichever way you decide. My theory in life is money can always be made, kids grow up too fast and if you blink you miss it. My little boys just turned 3 and 1. It seems like we just delivered the 3 year old yesterday.

Good luck

 

[stee6043]

Based on NG pricing when I installed my system it would have paid for itself in the 4th year of operation. With natural gas dropping the way it did I probably broke even the day I threw the last piece in before letting it sit last year. Best case, most likely. I don't regret it. In many ways heating with wood is a hobby. Most hobbies provide zero return on investment.

 

[BoiledOver]

Congrats on having ng available and congrats and going through the entire process with your boiler.

Word is that ng will be easily available for at least 10 years, wish I had it here. With that said, ya never know, it could soar in cost.

Seems to me that an Eko 40 would go pretty easy to someone on propane, although that too is rather low priced for the time being. Is your storage going to be sold also? Maybe that fella that had such a tough go last winter near you could get a chance at the storage tanks. Sounded like he was in dire need of a storage setup.

Enjoy a warm home however it's fueled.

 

[cityboy172]

I hear you. I'm going to be re-evaluating where I'm at after this season... After I just put my eko60 in and dialed it most the way in during 2014-2015...

Wife's schedule is nuts, mine is erratic, and I'm always a nervous wreck when I work late or go out of town (Boiler and 2,000 gallons outside in a pole barn). Add in that our household income has quadrupled since I started burning wood in my OWB 10 years ago, with a 65% increase in the last 2-3 years. My tolerance and my patience to do things that don't make me money and / or enjoy is getting slim.

Add in that my body is starting to show signs from the abuse of my work and home life (i'm only 30, I know, I know man up)... It might not be all it's cracked up to be lately. I just cant help but wonder what I'm going to feel like by the time I hit retirement.

Natural gas company is in the process of running a line to my house in the next week. Cost should be way down from the cost to operate my old 1970 fuel oil back up that I was using.

I enjoy the wood burning, but am kicking around bringing it inside with a kuuma, or a stove that I can shut off / walk away from if I want to leave with out the fear of freezing.

Long winded, It's just been on my mind alot these last few weeks.

 

[maple1]

Same thing for most everything in life - if it was for everybody, everybody would be doing it.

Good luck!

 

[stee6043]

Congrats on having ng available and congrats and going through the entire process with your boiler.

Word is that ng will be easily available for at least 10 years, wish I had it here. With that said, ya never know, it could soar in cost.

Seems to me that an Eko 40 would go pretty easy to someone on propane, although that too is rather low priced for the time being. Is your storage going to be sold also? Maybe that fella that had such a tough go last winter near you could get a chance at the storage tanks. Sounded like he was in dire need of a storage setup.

Enjoy a warm home however it's fueled.

I nearly forgot about my local support efforts from last year. I hope he's all geared up for the coming cold season. He learned a lot last year, that's for sure. He has a solid boiler, he just needed to get his system "customizations" ironed out.

Pulling my storage system (if I choose to get rid of everything) will probably be a project for next year. I have one door that will need to be removed and then replaced to get the tanks out of the basement. It's not something I really want to do this fall. And once the snow flies....nothing leaves my basement. If the boiler doesn't sell before a few hard freezes I'll be keeping her for at least another winter...

 

[BoilerMan]

Try heating storage with oil/gas. It should make your heat plant more efficient, and save you some money, if it's there you can still use it.

TS

 

[woodsmaster]

Propane is even cheap at the moment !! for how long ? who knows ? still like my tax free wood heat though. I enjoy getting to the woods, etc. I do supplement by buying some of my wood because I burn 7 - 8 cord a year and my work schedule doesn't currently allow me to process that much. Best of luck with everything !