To Re-light or not to re-light that is the question

Hi everyone,
I have an AHS 130 that I just got up and running back in January. It has done a beautiful job keeping my house in heat and hot water. From what I have read on here it is in the unit's best interest to run it year round if possible and that was my intention. Unfortunately, the other day hit almost 70 here and my fire went out presumeably from lack of a heat call. I have noticed as the temps have gone up my manometer was reading .01 which is down from the usual .02 to .04 I usually get. I have my SV set at 120 and have not experienced any of those nasty puff backs that seems to plague many AHS owners. Would I be fighting a loosing battle by trying to re light the unit with only a call for hot water in the AM and again in the PM. Even when the temps drop at night my house is pretty well insulated and I don't think there is much of a call for heat. Any thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, NWB

I go through the same line of thinking. For me it comes down to the almighty dollar. If I calculate that it's cheaper to burn coal all year, then that's what I'm going to do. You gotta make hot water somehow! The AA's don't need much draft... but do make sure your CO detectors are working.

The problem is Freddy how do I keep it lite if there isn't a call. I am not as concerned about the cost of the oil versus the cost of the coal as much as the benefit to the coal unit burning year round. Oil is easier in the warm months that's for sure. And thanks for the CO advice they are one year old with fresh batteries, should be good to go. Very important!!

Unless you have a very strong-drafting chimney, you will probably need to install a repeat-cycle timer that periodically "fluffs" the fire and keeps it burning. Nearly every other stoker manufacturer includes a timer with their control package, but AHS does not.

Thanks Rob, do you know if I can get a recycle timer through AHS and are they difficult to install?

At this time AHS does not offer a timer for your boiler. Forum member lsayre recently posted that he called them to inquire and they said they are considering it. I have used Intermatic timers in several applications with good results, so they seem like an easy choice. The C8865 model is a 1-hour timer that you can set to run the fan for 1-2 minutes per hour.

You can read the rest of the discussion here: It's heading into the low 70's for 4-5 consecutive days ...

NWBuilder wrote:are they difficult to install?

That depends on how comfortable you are with basic wiring.

Thanks Rob, I will look into it.

NWBuilder wrote:I have noticed as the temps have gone up my manometer was reading .01 which is down from the usual .02 to .04 I usually get.

The lower draft #s would be expected on warmer days. If you are getting two calls a day for heat, you may not have a problem. The AHS and Axeman's fire will easily run a day or two with no power before they die. The draft reading doesn't mean much of anything at idle as the draft is bypassing the fire when the fan isn't running. The observation port door opens when the fan is off.
Keep in mind these beasts defy logic sometimes.

NW, the timer you are looking for is Tork (I think they bought out Intermatic some time ago, and my rep says this is the cross to the older Intermatics).
I have 6 of them in service and they are like night and day from older units to the new replacements.

Tork ACT30M 30 Minute Adjustable Cycle Timer, 1/2 min. increments' Look around for better pricing, but this is close to what I paid over a year ago. Bulletproof...nice timing device.

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/elect ... r-fs-box?u

Thanks Whistlenut, I will look into one. I need to get that bad boy fired back up again, I miss my hot showers. Oil just isn't the same anymore.

whistlenut wrote:NW, the timer you are looking for is Tork (I think they bought out Intermatic some time ago, and my rep says this is the cross to the older Intermatics).
I have 6 of them in service and they are like night and day from older units to the new replacements.

Tork ACT30M 30 Minute Adjustable Cycle Timer, 1/2 min. increments' Look around for better pricing, but this is close to what I paid over a year ago. Bulletproof...nice timing device.

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/elect ... r-fs-box?u

I tried the link that you sent and was not taken to a specific unit. Could you please tell me the exact unit you use as there are 8 or 10 variations on this unit. Thanks very much, Ken

Try model ACT120M. It says up to 62 minutes on, 62 minutes off, and it is 120 volt.

Rob R. wrote:Try model ACT120M. It says up to 62 minutes on, 62 minutes off, and it is 120 volt.

Thanks Rob!

I prefer the flexibility of the Intermatic, but he asked about the Tork units.