Outside wood furnace.....

[mrcaptainbob]

This is unbelievable! Finally got the wood burner hooked up outside and filled with 350G's of water. It was at 54 degrees when it was filled. Took about 4.5 hours. SO I started the fire in it around 8 tonight. Figured it'll be warm enough by morning to throw more wood in and bring it up to temp (185). Went out at 9 and it was 94 degrees already! In the time it took me to throw in a small arm full of wood, it went up ANOTHER four degrees! By 9:30 it was at 127! I always knew there was a lot of BTU's in a piece of wood, but, my gosh! Annnnnd, the efficiency of this furnace! YIKES! This will definately put a dent in that 350 beans a month at LAST YEARS propane prices!

[LazyPup]

Some years ago while attending college to get my High Pressure Boiler license I had to do a term project on comparing the BTU content of different fuel sources. From that project I learned that one cord of seasoned hardwood has approximately the same BTU content as 100 gallons of No.2 fuel oil.

What I found even more amazing was that while the specific weight differs greatly from on type of wood to another, the actual BTU content per cord is within 5% of being the same.

No doubt your owners manual does recommend using hardwoods. Although the BTU content of soft woods is very close to that of hardwoods, softwoods tend to have a heavier content of sap, which results in a buildup of creosote resins and other combustable residue in flues and chimneys which is potentially a fire hazard.

Back in the days of steam locomotives and steam ships there were many studies concering alternative fuels. Although coal was abundant in the eastern states, many railroads had to resort to burning wood in the western states before the advent of the petrochemical industry providing fuel oils.

A silly bit of side trivia. Carnation Milk company once conducted a study on the feasibility of using powdered milk as a fuel source. To prove the potential they actually ran a steam locomotive from Buffalo NY, to Chicago Ill using powdered milk for fuel.

[mrcaptainbob]

That is some interesting stuff, LazyPup. I always wondered what the equivalencies were. What's really interesting is the 5% BTU value. I'd've never guessed that. Always thought oak, hickory and such was a hot slow burn and that the pines and such were a faster hotter burn. I had an experience with creosote build up onec. That chimney fire looked like an upside down booster rocket! There was smoke, cinders and fire belching from that chimney that looked to be past 15 feet straight up! It was, of coarse, a winter evening, the wife, kiddies and I are dressed to the nines and walking out the door and I see a glow across the snow covered front yard and heard this horrendous roar over the house......YIKES!!!! Threw off the coat, grabbed a bucket and whikle that was filling a threw a ladder against the eves, went back for that bucket, climbed on the roof with about 8" of snow on it and tossed that water down the chimney! Snuffed it out instantly. What and education that was! Had no idea I could've used a gallon milk instead! Wonder what the btu value of pwodeered milk is? That's a great story. Thanks for the info.....

[Hube]

Hi guys; If you do some research (as I have done) you will be surprised to know there is a lot more than a 5 % diffrerence in most wood btu,s.
For instance white oak or hickory has 24000 btu per cord.
silver maple or hemlock has 17000 btu per cord.
Almost a 30 % difference.
red oak and beech= 23000 btu
basswood and white pine= 14000 btu.
At least a 33 % difference
Btw, for some viewers information ;a STANDARD CORD of wood is 4' x 8' x 4' = 128 cu ft.

A FACE cord is= 8' x 4' x 1' Note; this 1' length can go as long as 16".

[imeduc]

From deep in the OZARKS. Always try and burn 1 year old cut wood.
Every now and then put some Chimney Sweep in the fire it will keep the flue clean for you. If you want a 1/2 cord here just ask for a RICK.

My .02 cents ED

My mistakes dont define me they inform me.

[mrcaptainbob]

You're right about the dry time on that wood. It took a while, but I found that 6 to 18 months is good for most. I liked how the Farmer's Almanac says to stack wood..."so a mouse can go through it, but the cat can't".
Well, it's been about 12 hours now since we've been 'officially' using the wood furnace. Had to get a replacement pump this morn. My wife went around the house and readjusted the thermostats "Just to see what a difference it makes". YIKES!! This is the warmest this house has been since I found out what the heating bill was! I purposely ran the 1" copper through the middle of the basement about 3" from any floor joists. It's all bare, by the way. I figured it could help in warming the basement, as well as the floor, on it's way to the furnace. That was confirmed by the H/C company I've been working with as a good idea and is usually done in most homes. My Texas born wife claims to be cold here in Michigan as soon as it gets below 80. She's ecstatic with this addition....