Hot water heat system questions

Danny D

I am building a outdoor wood burning water heater for heating my house. I have an LP forced air furnace for heat now. I am looking at options for getting the heat from the wood burner into the house. Maybe the easiest thing would be to install an A-coil type radiator in the forced air furnace and pump the hot water through. My other thoughts are to use cast iron raidators, that I salvaged, in each room. I could most likely set up a gravity feed system with them. I like that idea because its simple and does not require any outside power. The next option would be to run wirsbo under the hard wood floors. This would be the most work and most expensive as I would have to remove and reinstall the insulation under the floor in a craw space, about 1000 SQ. FT. and buy a lot of hardware. Any input and suggestions would be most welcome.

laurence salvatore_2

off the grid

I think the gravity idea is outstanding. you will need room for some large diameter main pipes (21/2" plus) and some fairly substantial branches (1"plus). Copper would be quicker but much$$$$ iron would be slower but much cheaper and your "pipes" will benifit. Also the boiler should be lowest piont on system. Consult Dan's book, How Come?

zeke

I think the gravity system is not a great idea because of the increased size, cost and work involved, Also, you would need a good calculation for sizing depending on the elevation of the heater with respect to the heated areas. And zone control, if needed, would be problematical.

I would personally go the hotwater radiator way, which is fairly standard with the smaller and cheaper piping and is easier to fit inside the walls.

mtfallsmikey

How 'bout this?

I'm getting a wood outdoor boiler, but am going with BB or panel rads,TRV's with manifolds and separate p/s feed with circ. and differential bypass. If I get tired of the wood boiler, then I can go with an LP mod-con with ODR.