Leisure Line Pocono to heat whole house - tips, advice

[coal_kid]

I have stove envy. Modern Stokers sound great, I'm saving money now with coal the old way, but as soon as I could I want to go with a stoker. I’d love to go with a stoker boiler.

This is how I do it. Here is a link to my post yesterday about my stove and collector. I'll elaborate a little more.

http://nepacrossroads.com/post5691.html

The fans are adjustable together, they are rated at 420 CFM and up to ~275 degrees. 840 CFM total, they run 24x7. If it’s cold and/or if I need the 2nd floor warm, they will be blowing max. I know a single 6 inch adjustable going into each second floor duct will help. But, I didn't get that far yet.

I didn't get anywhere with cold air returns either. The main and only cold air return (done before this was my house) actually acts as hot air now, as it blows the hot air though the gas furnace, past the heat exchanger, down into the cold air return, and up. Its only cold air when the gas furnace is running.


There are forced hot air collectors & fans sold by some stove companies, and some stoves have huge blower fans and thermostats. I want to know what a pro hooks these in tandem with existing hot air furnace. Can anyone chime in with this one?

[BinghamtonNY]

Coal_kid-

So you have you (2) 8" ducts going into the plenum of the furnace? Is that what I see in the pics. I have a similair setup I'd like to try. I have a stoker right next to my oil furnace. I was thinking of tapping into my cold air return. I already have one piece of duct work of my stove going to my living room. What I would do is move that to my furnace and tap in near the floor. Basically where the filter is, in the hopes of it being drafted thru the filter, thru the heat exchanger and down the main trunk of my heating system. I just hope enough air will flow. Probably need booster fan like you. Also with the hopes that the furnace blower would turn on to distribute if I can get it hot enough. I thought about tapping into the plenum but like you said, if the furnace blower turns on it'll blow back onto the coal stove. Guess I'm just looking for a better way to get heat to my 2 floor. basement and 1st floor are good. Thanks -Ryan (binghamtonny)

[coal_kid]

BinghamtonNY / Ryan

Yes there are two 8 inch ducts going into the plenum. On my post I link to, I have pictures of the finished project.

I answered my own quesion last night, and found what the pros do for installing hot air side by side. Look at this link, http://www.harmanstoves.com/doc/pf100m.pdf . See figure 33 on page 17. They run them hot side into hot side, cold side into cold side. They speak of an isolation damper. I tried to find one, but didn’t find one a quick search.

You might be fine with your oil burner running into the cold return, I've heard of people doing that. My gas furnace is a 92 efficient model with lots of fine circuitry. The manual says to use wire rated at 110 degrees if I need to replace anything inside, and that worries me blowing 130+ degree air though my unit. The PDF link says you can damage your furnace if you connect it to the cold air inlet. If your furnace just has old relays and valves, you can probably do it. Just don't burn up your furnace trying to save a few bucks.

If I'm burning coal, I'm trying my hardest not to let that furnace kick on. If it does kick on, the air is slowed down quite a bit by the fans... and what does get by just warms up my basement a little. The house still heats up pretty fast still. In the spring I'll put a manual damper in when the fires out so there is no back flow. This is all new to me, so I'm learning too.

[coal_kid]

I just picked up a wireless meat thermometer on half off clearance at Lowes for $10. The box said the probe would go up to about 400 degrees, that’s why I got it. However the receiver only reads up to 199 degrees f. I wanted to use this to watch my stack temperature, but I need to know above 199 degrees with my current setup.

Instead, I’m using this to monitor the hot air in my duct work. I already did, with a regular stationary digital. I’m hoping this when make it easier for my wife to monitor if I’m not around, I don't mind it either 8) .

[bric2000]

I am in the process of putting a blower in the duct insted of the incapable inline fans. My HVAC friend said to use the largest diameter duct you can and move a lot of air. Those duct fans just don't cut it. My other friend changed over to a blower and said there is a HUGE difference. Out of one vent he stabilized 80% of the house.

[coal_kid]

bric2000
Incapable inline fans? 16 inchs at 840 cfm blowing into my 8x14 main trunk really moves the air in my house. With the current weather I keep them about half power.

A blower is something I've pondered but can't see how to retrofit it with my old coal burner. My burner has a porcine cover 2-3 inches off the cast stove, I can't just seal up back and the top of the unit. If I could, I would probably build a filter box / blower box, and tie it into your cold air return.

I haven’t seen any pictures of anyone installing a furnace size blower fan standard space heating coal burner. I’d love to see pictures of your project when it’s complete, and it's progress.

[bric2000]

Sorry about that. I was referring to 8" fans.

[coal_kid]

I have two 8 inch fans pulling air off the burner, thats where I'm getting the 16 inchs from.

[coal_kid]

bric2000
I'm still trying to figure out how to use a furnace size blower with my stove and just can't see it. I get plenty of heat off my stove with the two 8 inch fans, but I want to tie in a cold air return system, and think that would be the ticket.

Did you figure it out? If so I'd love to see how you did it.