Temperatures
are already dropping pretty low here in Minneapolis at night. One sure sign
that winter is just around the corner. That means it’s time to start preparing
the outdoor wood furnace to keep you and your family warm throughout the
season.
And,
as an outdoor wood furnace owner in Minneapolis, you know all too well how important
it is to the warmth and well-being of your home. That’s why Strawbale Farms would like to
offer a few tricks as well as a few great benefits to owning a Portage &
Main Boiler this time of year.
At
the start of the heating season, the excess boiler water should be drained off
before heating the boiler. It should be kept for use as "top up"
water as it is already treated with boiler treatment for proper pH, Nitirites
and conductivity levels.
Also
consider your wood fuel. Burn only dry, seasoned wood. Wood is a type of
hydrocarbon, and common properties of hydrocarbons are; they produce steam,
carbon dioxide and heat during combustion. Therefore, the dryer the wood the
less moisture is created during the combustion process. Wood can/should be
seasoning all spring/summer. Some wood types like oak actually require two
seasons.
Build
a small fire, and add wood as needed. Be sure pumps are circulating when firing
the furnace. Once the furnace has reached 180 degrees, the furnace is
ready to be filled to capacity.
Also
remember to keep your boiler, fire chamber, heat exchanger and ash collection
area clean and dry. Check and clean regularly, even if it is the off season.
When cleaning your furnace, pay attention to the heat exchanger and area behind
the fire chamber liners.
Outdoor
wood boilers also have a thermostat control that keeps the heat at a constant
level, which is sometimes difficult to achieve with an indoor woodstove or
fireplace.
Each
product we sell provides the needed energy for heat with the use of much less
firewood or coal than conventional stoves. While energy efficiency is one of
the very best benefits to owning an outdoor wood boiler, there are many other
great benefits as well!
For
more information about your outdoor wood furnace in Minneapolis or for assistance
firing it up this fall, just give us a call. Call Strawbale Farms today at
715-214-6683 or Contact Us today for more information.